Scott Pye had a frustrating day at Oulton Park in the first of three British F3 International Series races at Oulton Park on Saturday.
Pye, a double winner at the circuit in Formula Ford in 2010, was second fastest in testing on Friday but struggled to recapture that form after heavy overnight rain change the track’s characteristics.
He qualified fifth but lost time on the opening lap and fell back to 10th place. He chased Kevin Magnussen for ninth, and inherited the place when third-placed Menasheh Idafar put his T-Sport Dallara in the barriers.
More frustration came post-race when first-time winner Lucas Foresti made the draw for the second race grid. He picked number eight, meaning that the to reverses, but Pye is condemned to start ninth on a track where overtaking is not easy.
Foresti (Fortec) took his first win in British F3 from championship leader Felipe Nasr and Jazeman Jaafar, both for Carlin.
