Double R Racing enjoyed a highly successful conclusion to the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 Championship at Donington Park over the weekend, 13th/14th September, with Camren Kaminsky ending the campaign third overall while rookie Max Marshall raced to his maiden F3 podiums.

Formula Ford regular Marshall, embarking on only his third weekend in British F3, finished runner-up in the first and third races at the Leicestershire venue’s Grand Prix Circuit while Kaminsky was third in rounds 20 and 21 – having claimed fourth position in round 19 on Saturday.

“It’s great to finish off the season with some more trophies and we’re delighted Camren managed to wrap-up third in the championship”, said Double R team principal Anthony ‘Boyo’ Hieatt, “He’s had a huge amount to learn this year, F3 isn’t an easy formula to get to grips with, but we’re pleased with the progress Camren has made and happy to see him take a couple more podiums this weekend.

“Max was very impressive again, he showed some fantastic pace in the races and to finish second twice was a great return – we’re elated he managed to take his first podiums as we knew it was only a matter of time. With a full programme of testing, he’ll be a consistently strong force in Formula 3.”

Marshall started round 19 on Saturday afternoon third on the grid, with Kaminsky alongside on the second row in the sister Mercedes-powered Dallara F312, and both profited from a stall for second placed qualifier Matt Rao to climb into second and third respectively.

Running strongly, the team-mates circulated just over a second apart over the first half dozen laps but, on the ninth tour, American racer Kaminsky had an unfortunate spin which dropped him from third to fifth and a long way down on championship rival Li Zhi Cong.

The recovering Rao, therefore, moved into third and began to close down Marshall but the rookie raced with great composure and a terrific turn of speed to limit Rao’s progression. Responding well to the pressure, Marshall picked up his pace and on lap 14 sealed his first British F3 podium in only his seventh race in the category. Notably, his best lap was only 0.3 seconds shy of the quickest of all.

Kaminsky, who had a lot of ground to make up after his spin, reeled in Li and importantly passed the Chinese driver on the final lap to take fourth position and consolidate his top three placing in the championship standings.

Beginning the first of Sunday’s two races from pole position, Kaminksy was initially beaten away from the line by Rao but the Double R driver held the inside line for Redgate to maintain first place until Rao managed to edge past on the run up through Schwantz Curve. Then, at Melbourne Hairpin, he was edged back to third position.

Into lap two, Kaminsky began to come under pressure from team-mate Marshall – who had started the race third on the grid – and as the duo diced Marshall sustained a puncture from the lightest of contact. Resulting in an enforced pit visit just a handful of laps into the race, Marshall eventually finished in fifth place. Kaminsky, meanwhile, continued in third to take his second podium of 2014.

For the final race of the British F3 season, Marshall and Kaminsky lined-up third and fourth on the grid respectively and although a threat of rain was in the air initially just prior to the start, it didn’t materialise into anything significant.

Kaminsky made a sensational launch to slice his way through into second ahead of Marshall, but at the end of the lap at Melbourne Hairpin the latter tried to unseat his team-mate but ran wide on the exit. Undeterred, Marshall tried again on lap three at the same spot and pulled off a great pass on the brakes and that’s how they stayed to the chequered flag.

Final 2014 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 Championship Standings:
3rd Camren Kaminsky, 161pts; 6th Andy Chang, 103pts; 7th Max Marshall, 80pts; 10th Dan Wells, 41pts; 11th Roberto Merhi, 39pts