Series leader Ryan Lewis was denied the chance of clinching the Avon Tyres British Formula 3 Scholarship at Silverstone today after ending Round 18 in the gravel trap following a collision with series rival Stephen Jelley. Twenty year-old Lewis from Royston started from pole to lead into Copse but lost the place at Luffield on lap 3 before retaking the position at Becketts.

The next lap Jelley again moved ahead at Luffield but Ryan retook the place, again on the run up to Becketts and race win number 13 and the title looked set to be his until lap 5 when the pair clashed at Luffield, resulting in a puncture which ended Lewis' victory hopes.

“I made a good start but it was hard for me to get a good jump because of the championship cars squabbling in front of me so Stephen managed to latch on the back of me at the start. Obviously I was conscious of trying to keep the car on the circuit as I wanted to win to sew up the championship today and I knew as long as I kept him behind me I'd be able to do that. But there were parts of the circuit where I was quicker than Stephen and parts where he was quicker than me, and normally he managed to get a better run out of Luffield.

“Then one lap I had a bit of a moment on the brakes into Luffield trying to get a bit of a gap and it gave him the opportunity to come round the outside and basically as I was getting onto the power we ended up touching, which punctured my front left tyre and both ended up on the grass. He managed to get back on the track easier than me and I needed to pit, but I'd passed the pit entry lane, so I planned to pit the next lap but then coming into Luffield next time round the tyre was completely flat and the car just wouldn't turn right and I was pitched off into the gravel.”

The series resumes in two weeks time at Thruxton circuit in Hampshire where Ryan needs just 14 points more than Jelley to assure himself of the championship before the final four rounds.

Results for Round 18
1. Vasilije Calasan Dallara Mugen-Honda 29:30.108
2. James Winslow Dallara Renault Sodemo 31:21.080
3. Ronayne O'Mahony Dallara Opel-Spiess 28:28.321 (1 lap)
4. Stephen Jelley Dallara Opel-Spiess 28:29.690 (1 lap)
5. Lars Sexton Dallara Mugen-Honda 28:35.123 (1 lap)

Fastest lap: Calasan 1:52.918 101.83mph 163.87kph

Avon Tyres British Formula 3 Scholarship Points after 18 rounds
1. RYAN LEWIS 303
2. Stephen Jelley 191
3. Vasilije Calasan 158
4. Barton Mawer 134
5. Adam Khan 78
6. Ajit Kumar 70
7. Ronayne O'Mahony 54
8. Lars Sexton 23
9. James Winslow 27

Editor's note: Copyright free images of Ryan Lewis are available from the website below. All requests for interview should be directed to Cathy Metcalfe at the details below

Ref: ml000112
15 August 2004

For media information: Cathy Metcalfe, MPR Associates, Tel: 01327 352199, Fax: 01327 352908
Mob: 07802 332398, E-mail: cathymetcalfe@mpr-associates.co.uk, www.ryanlewisracing.co.uk