Formula 3: Hayes on second row as Gilmore tops scholarship qualifiers

At a somewhat windy Donington Park, Takuma Sato (Championship Class) and Northern Ireland’s, Matthew Gilmore (Scholarship Class) topped the qualifying time charts for the first of tomorrow’s British Formula 3 Championship.

In the Championship Class, Sato, with a 50-point advantage, claimed pole ahead of his Carlin Motorsport team mate, Anthony Davidson. Derek Hayes, second in the series, is on the second row with Jeffrey Jones.

Matthew Gilmore, with the Performance Racing team, did just eight laps to secure top spot in the Scholarship drivers.

Justin Sherwood gave one of his best performances of the season to secure second spot.

Series leader, Robbie Kerr, who has a 16-point lead over Gilmore and Michael Keohane (Meritus) are next.

Keohane, in his Weathermaster/Clonakilty BlackPudding/irishmobiles.com liveried car needs a top result this weekend to stay in touch with Kerr and

Gilmore.

The second qualifier takes place later this afternoon.

Elsewhere, there are a number of Irish drivers involved in the Slick 50 Formula Ford series and the Ford Fiesta championship qualifiers that are also

scheduled for this afternoon.

Championship Class:

Takuma Sato 1M. 28.262S.

Anthony Davidson 1M. 28.496S.

Derek Hayes 1M. 28.657S.

Scholarship Class:

Matthew Gilmore 1M. 29.748S.

Justin Sherwood 1M. 30.440S.

Robbie Kerr 1M. 30.532S.

Michael Keohane 1M. 30.556S.

Meanwhile, in Knockhill, Cork drivers, Mathew Griffin and Robbie Coleman and Meath’s Keith Dempsey will contest the latest round of the British Formula

Renault championship. Qualifying session takes place later today.