Sato, Keohane set pace in Donington test.

Green Flag British F3 Championship frontrunner Takuma Sato was fastest man at Donington Park in testing yesterday [Tuesday], confirming his position as clear title favourite.

The Japanese driver and his British team-mate Anthony Davidson headed the times in their Carlin Motorsport Dallara-Mugens after a dramatic day punctuated by a number of spins as the teams went head-to-head for the second time this season.

"It's been a good day hasn't it?" smiled team boss Trevor Carlin, "Takuma did a great job again and Anthony is extremely impressive given his lack of knowledge of an F3 car."

Davidson, tipped by many as the man to watch this season, was just half a second slower than his team-mate with the two BAR F1 test drivers heading Prost Junior team driver Nicolas Kiesa (Denmark).

Guernsey driver Andy Priaulx was an impressive fourth for Alan Docking Racing and his team-mate Paul Edwards (USA) was sixth sandwiching Italian Gianmaria Bruni (Italy).

Despite the number of spins, only Atsushi Katsumata suffered damage after crashing his Promatecme UK Dallara Mugen Honda.

Irish driver Michael Keohane was fastest in the Scholarship class field at Donington, the Clonakilty driver, backed by Irish Cement, taking top time in both of the two three-hour sessions in his Meritus-run Dallara-Toyota for cars at least two years old.

Despite being an F3 rookie Keohane adapted impressively to the circuit and set the benchmark time early in the day.

Opposition came form top Brit Robbie Kerr who came within five-hundredths of Keohane's time in his Dallara-Mugen and Matthew Gilmore's Opel-engined Dallara, making three different engine manufacturers in the top three of the class.

Japanese driver Kazuki Hoshino's Carlin Motorsport Dallara was fourth ahead of Dutchman Robert Doornbos and Mark Mayall, whilst the class received it greatest number of cars for some time. Amongst those present were championship newcomers Stuart King (GB), Parthiva Sureshwaren (India), Brit Aaron Scott and the only Brazilian in the entry Ernani Judice.

Leading performances (6 March):

Championship Class

Takuma Sato Carlin Dallara-Mugen 1min 27.814secsAnthony Davidson Carlin Dallara-Mugen 1min 28.326secsNicolas Kiesa Prost Jr Dallara-Opel 1min 28.376secsAndy Priaulx ADR Dallara-Mugen 1min 28.407secsGianmaria Bruni Fortec Dallara-Renault 1min 28.608secsPaul Edwards ADR Dallara-Mugen 1min 28.631secs

Scholarship Class

Michael Keohane Meritus Dallara-Toyota 1min 30.347secsRobbie Kerr Parker Dallara-Mugen 1min 30.391secsMatthew Gilmore Performance Dallara-Opel 1min 30.577secsKazuki Hoshino Carlin Dallara-Mugen 1min 30.635secsRobert Doornbos Goddard Dallara-Renault 1min 30.677secsMark Mayall Diamond Dallara-Mugen 1min 30.709secs