Ryan Lewis clinched pole position for the first of two Avon Tyres British Formula 3 Scholarship races at Knockhill circuit near Edinburgh tomorrow. An incident in the opening laps of the second session though will force the 20 year-old from Royston to start the second race from the back of the grid after damaging his BES T-Sport Dallara Mugen-Honda on the second lap of the second qualifying session held today.

The reigning Formula Palmer Audi Champion, on his first race at the Scottish track since 2001 set a stunning pace in pre-event testing on Friday and posted quickest time in today's first 30 minute session but was caught out by cold tyres in the opening minutes of the second. “I just put if off at the blind chicane, “said Ryan. “No excuses, I was just caught out on cold tyres and that was the session finished for me. There wasn't much damage, just the steering and wishbone but it means I have to start from the back again.”

Ryan was relegated to the back of the grid and incurred a 10 second penalty in the second race at Croft two weeks ago - he recovered from that to take a storming third place, chasing the leaders across the line, after some inspiring driving by the Hertfordshire youngster.

Twenty year-old Ryan will line-up for his fifth pole of the year and will be aiming for his fifth win also to help consolidate his 27 point lead in the points standings. “In the first session I think I could have been a bit higher up the grid, I'm sure the time was there, but every time I was going for a quick lap, a championship car would just move over in front of me - the standard of driving today was not very good.”

Tomorrow's two 25 lap races will take place at 11.10 and 14.40.

Qualifying for Race 1

1. RYAN LEWIS BES Dallara F301 Mugen-Honda 48.362
2. Barton Mawer Dallara F301 Opel Spiess 48.599
3. Stephen Jelley Dallara F301 Opel Spiess 49.001
4. Adam Langley-Khan Dallara F301 Mugen-Honda 49.222
5. Vasilije Calasan Dallara F301 Mugen-Honda 49.671
6. Ajit Kumar Dallara F301 Mugen-Honda 51.540

Qualifying for Race 2

1. Barton Mawer Dallara F301 Opel Spiess 48.634
2. Stephen Jelley Dallara F301 Opel Spiess 48.768
3. Adam Langley-Khan Dallara F301 Mugen-Honda 49.025
4. Vasilije Calasan Dallara F301 Mugen-Honda 49.382
5. Ajit Kumar Dallara F301 Mugen-Honda 51.443
6. RYAN LEWIS BES Dallara F301 Mugen-Honda 52.433

Avon Tyres British Scholarship Points after 5 rounds

1. RYAN LEWIS 96
2. Stephen Jelley 69
3. Barton Mawer 59
4. Vasilije Calasan 38
4. Adam Langley-Khan 38
6. Ajit Kumar 24

Ref: ml00083
14 May 2004

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

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