Motorsport: Sato wins Formula 3 Invitation Challenge

Takuma Sato is amongst the next crop of drivers heading for Formula 1.

The brightest Motorsport talent in Japan underlined his potential with a lights to flag win in the Formula 3 International Invitation Challenge.

The BAR F1 test driver was in a class of his own and after pulling clear of his closest rival and team mate, Anthony Davidson, Sato’s victory was never in doubt.

A performance without even a slight error allowed him extend his lead margin on each of the 15 laps.

Davidson outpaced Andy Priaulx into Copse with the latter having to adopt a defensive role to keep Ryan Dalziel at bay.

Derek Hayes, who secured his first F3 win last week, was fifth from Andre Lotterer.

Robbie Kerr, the British F3 Scholarship Class leader, won that particular category ahead of his Fred Goddard racing team mate, Robert Doornbos and Ernani Judice (parker F3).

Matthew Gilmore, who crossed the finishing line in third, was excluded from the race.

On the closing laps, his car touched the car of Michael Keohane and the impact spun the Cork driver out of the race.

It was a disappointing day for Keohane, who was over seven tenths of a second per lap down on his test day performance.

He was third at the time of the incident.

Donegal’s, Damien Faulkner finished third in the latest round of the Dayton Light Indy series in Toronto.

The race was won by Townsend Bell from Mario Dominques.

Richard Hogg (Escort Cosworth) took a two second win over the Sierra Cosworth of John McKeown in the Lark in the Park Rally in Derry.

Both the Kanturk and Millstreet Autotests were won by Waterford’s, Paddy Power (Mini Special).