Seven cars took the grid for the first Spec3 Championship race since the advent of the class. Barry Battle earned pole for his two first-place finishes in qualifying races, yet posted a slower lap time than Anders Skandsen, who was supposed to start second, but arrived late to grid and had to start from pit lane. Jon McAvoy was in third also having posted a little quicker lap time than Battle.
Battle’s weekend started out a bit rough. His ABS went out in the first qualifying race, yet he still finished first. For the Championship race, Battle took advantage of his pole position and went on to win, despite immense pressure from McAvoy.
“John and I stayed nose to tail the whole time,” Battle said. “We caught up to the Spec E30 traffic, and every time I’d look in my mirror, John was right behind me and I couldn’t shake him. I just kept hoping for that white flag because John just kept getting closer and closer. But it was a great race. Everybody raced clean.”
McAvoy finished second, but a post-race inspection led to his disqualification for noncompliant parts. That moved Skandsen from his third-place finish into second.
“I was already way back,” Skandsen said. “I was hoping for a double yellow. I didn’t come but I’m on the podium. I’ve got to be happy with that. It was a tough end but it was all good.”
McAvoy’s DQ also moved fourth-place finisher Kyle Bacon into third place.
