RYAN ROBBED OF VICTORY AT SNETTERTON

Ryan Lewis narrowly missed out on victory in the third and fourth rounds of the Visma Software Formula Palmer Audi Championship at Snetterton today, but leaves the circuit with the series lead in his pocket. The 19 year-old had led both races, and his first victory of the season looked to be a certainty until a rare error in the first race and a puncture in the second put paid to his chances.

With two qualifying sessions for the two races taking place on Saturday, Ryan posted the second quickest time for the day's first 20-lap race, alongside Adam Smith and took his first pole of the year for the second. A poor start in the day's first race dropped him down but by the end of the first lap he was in second, behind Stephen Young. Ryan found a way past on the fourth lap, which he held on to for nine laps, until a backmarker slowed him up and allowed Smith to close the gap. At three quarter distance the safety car was deployed, to retrieve a stricken car at Riches, and despite a last-lap dash to the flag at the restart, Smith went on to win, with Ryan crossing the line less than three tenths of a second behind.

“The first race was really frustrating because in the first part, before the safety car incident, I got held up a bit by a backmarker at Riches and I had to go round the outside which lost me all the time I'd built up between me and Adam (Smith). I was straight on the boost, lap after lap, to try and build the gap, then I got held up again and he closed up and passed me.”

“Then of course the safety car situation arose, and we had to hold station for four laps, with me second. After the car went in we only had one full green flag lap but I managed to get round the outside of Adam. I got the jump on him round Riches and held it all the way down to the complex, the Esses and back straight but then I ran a little bit wide and he managed to sneak up the inside of me and I just had to give him the room.”

In the second race, a fantastic start by Ryan gave him the immediate lead, and despite a strong race-long challenge he kept the others at bay until a slow puncture just two laps from home, enabled Ryan Hooker to take the win, with Ryan holding on to take second and jump to the top of the championship points table.

“I'm very, very happy to be leading the championship, although I would have loved to have had a win here this weekend,” said Ryan. “It would have been brilliant. It was hard work, driving out there in the dry and the wet. It started wet but after about three laps, it was pretty much bone dry and these cars can clear away the water so quickly so I was constantly trying to find every single puddle to keep my wet tyres in good condition.”

Results Race 1 - 20 laps

1 Adam Smith 27:29.534
2 Ryan Lewis 27:29.872
3 Stephen Young 27:30.505
4 Chris Hyman 27:31.340
5 Ryan Hooker 27:32.845
6 Sam Edwards 27:33.030
7 Jonathan Kennard 27:33.199
8 Emmanuel Crouvisier 27:33.479
9 Howard Spooner 27:34.862
10 Ben Lewis 27:35.177

Fastest lap Ryan Lewis 1:06.984 (104.90mph)

Results Race 2 - 20 laps

1 Ryan Hooker 24:07.912
2 Ryan Lewis 24:08.717
3 Adam Sharpe 24:11.484
4 Stuart Prior 24:19.340
5 Emmanuel Crouvisier 24:19.736
6 Stephen Young 24:27.937
7 Paul Warren 24:28.821
8 Terry White 24:33.999
9 Sam Edwards 24:34.802
10 Ben Lewis 24:37.338

Fastest lap Adam Sharpe 1:08.986 (101.86mph)

Championship positions after 4 rounds

1 Ryan Lewis 80
2 Adam Smith 66
3 Ryan Hooker 64
4=Chris Hyman 56
4=Stephen Young 56
6 Emmanuel Crouvisier 47

For media information: Cathy Metcalfe, MPR Associates
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