Ryan Lewis clinched the Avon Tyres British Formula 3 Scholarship at Thruxton today, the 20 year-old from Royston taking win number 13 to take the title with five rounds still remaining. Starting the 16-lap race from second on the grid, the reigning FPA champion slotted in behind his series rival Stephen Jelley and pushed him hard until a stunning move around the outside at Club at mid-distance gave him the lead.

Thereafter he held off a charging Jelley for the remaining eight laps and despite Jelley's attempt to wrest the place on lap 13, the pair running side-by-side on the entry to Club Corner, Ryan held his ground and kept his head to take victory and the series title.

“That's a relief,” said a delighted Ryan at the flag. “I started off tentatively because I knew that this was an important weekend for me and this race could win it for me. I was a lot quicker than him in the last sector of the circuit and on the entry to the chicane I had to left-foot brake all the way round so I didn't run into the back of him.

“It's been a really good year but it would have been nice to have won with more cars out there like I did last year; you know you get more of a sense of achievement to beat 22 cars rather than just five. But it's what I set out to do, win the title before the season had finished and I was beginning to think win number 13 was never going to come.

“There was a bit of a heart-stopping moment when we were crossing the start-finish line three-abreast, because Marcus Marshall came through the middle of us, Stephen went to the left and I went to the right and I lost a lot of time. I really had to push hard to catch up with Stephen through the Complex and take Goodwood flat out, which gave me the advantage and a clear run down the straight. Then I was able to take him round the outside at Club and take the lead.”

Ryan's win and fastest lap give him maximum points and an unbeatable 118 point lead over Jelley, as the series resumes with Round 20 this afternoon.

Results of Round 19
1. RYAN LEWIS BES Dallara F301 Mugen-Honda 18:37.646
2. Stephen Jelley Dallara F301 Opel-Spiess 18:38.605
3. Ronayne O'Mahony Dallara F301 Opel Spiess 18:48.859
4. Vasilije Calasan Dallara F301 Mugen-Honda 18:52.607

Fastest Lap: RYAN LEWIS 1:08.541 123.74mph 199.14kph

Avon Tyres British Formula 3 Scholarship Points after 19 rounds
1. RYAN LEWIS 324
2. Stephen Jelley 206
3. Vasilije Calasan 144
4. Barton Mawer 134
5. Adam Khan 78
6. Ajit Kumar 70
7. Ronayne O'Mahony 66
8. James Winslow 27
9. Lars Sexton 23

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

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30 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