With ASM, who have annexed both the driver and team titles for the last three years, not fielding a British driver for the first time since the Euroseries was founded in 2003, Manor have instead acquired the services of Jakes, who graduates from the British Formula Three Championship.

Finishing eighth in the standings for Hitech Racing, Jakes scored a best result of second place at Snetterton through the season, but perhaps most crucially he also took advantage of Hitech’s decision to race alongside the Euroseries regulars during the British round of the championship at Brands Hatch, the 19-year-old claiming a fourth and fifth on that occasion.

There was also a hint at a potential deal when Jakes joined Manor for the end of season Macau Grand Prix, where he claimed a promising sixth place finish on his debut.

Regularly the closest competition ASM have had to contend with in recent years, Manor secured three wins last season with a combination of Esteban Guerrieri, Kohei Hirate and Kazuki Nakajima.

However, with the latter two drivers at least moving on and up, Jakes will definitely fill one of the seats in John Booth’s eponymous team, while another two drivers are expected to be announced soon to form another three-car assault against the might of their French rivals.

The 19-year-old joined regular Manor drivers Kohei Hirate and Kazuki Nakajima in the Dinnington-based team’s three-car assault on this year’s Grand Prix, a race regarded worldwide as the blue riband event of Formula 3 competition.

Manor, won the 52nd F3 Macau Grand Prix last year with Brazilian driver Lucas Di Grassi and the team headed into this year’s event hoping for a similar level of success with Toyota Driver Development stars Hirate and Nakajima having both won races in this season’s Formula 3 Euroseries.

Jakes, meanwhile, has enjoyed a solid season in the British Formula 3 Championship and having been a finalist in the 2005 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, after finishing third overall in the Formula Renault UK driver standings last year, he is rightly thought of as one of the country’s most promising young single-seater talents.

“I’m delighted James managed to finish in the top six during his first ever run at Macau”, said Manor boss John Booth after Sunday’s race, “To come through from 20th on the grid showed great skill and a real strength of character, he beat some very established and experienced drivers with a remarkable performance.”

At the wheel of his Mercedes-powered Dallara, Hirate led the way during the opening practice session on Thursday and after both qualifying sessions to determine the grid for Saturday’s qualification race, the Japanese star ended up second only to Kamui Kobayashi, just a 10th of a second slower than his fellow F3 Euroseries competitor.

Nakajima, meanwhile, posted the seventh fastest time overall during qualifying with a quickest lap seven 10ths of a second shy of his front-row starting Manor team-mate and Jakes’ time of 2m 16.010 seconds placed him 19th on the grid.

After 10 laps of qualification race action, Hirate crossed the line in third position – just six 10ths of a second adrift of Estonian driver Marko Asmer – with Nakajima finishing in eighth place and Jakes in 20th position.

So, with Hirate starting the 53rd instalment of the Macau F3 Grand Prix on the second row of the grid hopes were high of a potential race victory for the Manor ace but fluid on his tyres and a subsequent collision with the infamous Circuito Da Guia barriers on the penultimate lap put the F3 Euroseries race winner into a bitterly disappointing retirement.

Countryman Nakajima also came to grief in a similar way, albeit on the 11th tour of the 15-lap encounter, but it was Jakes who unexpectedly proved to be Manor’s star driver with a superb performance.

Carving his way through the order from 20th on the grid, the Yorkshireman produced a terrific drive to end the 15 laps in sixth position; the second highest finishing British competitor and one of only 12 drivers, from the 32 starters, to lap under the 2m 13.8 second barrier.

Hirate and Nakajima obviously concluded the Macau weekend on a sour note but their pace throughout was impressive and both drivers would certainly appear to have a future in Formula One ahead of them.

“We’re all very disappointed for Kohei and Kazuki, both of them stood a great chance of winning the race or finishing in the top three at least but it just wasn’t to be”, added Booth, “The Macau streets are known for their ability to bite even the very best drivers and so it proved for both of them which is a real shame.”

While Jakes’ plans for 2007 are yet to be revealed, Nakajima and Hirate both look set to compete in GP2 next year. In addition, Nakajima was announced last week as a test driver for the Toyota-powered Williams F1 Team while Hirate looks set to enjoy several tests with the full Toyota F1 team over the coming months.

“Obviously, Kazuki and Kohei have had a great year with us in the F3 Euroseries and we’ve very much enjoyed working with them”, said Booth, “We’d clearly relish the opportunity to work with James next year, he’s a proven talent as this level so we’ll have to see what happens over the winter.”

The late Ayrton Senna’s win in 1983, the first year Formula 3 ran at Macau, put the Grand Prix firmly on the world-wide motor racing calendar. Multiple F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher quickly established himself as the hottest property in F1 after his win in 1990, while David Coulthard’s victory the following year brought him to the attention of the F1 fraternity. More recently, 1999 runner up Jenson Button jumped from the Macau podium, after finishing 3rd in that season’s British F3 championship straight to Formula 1, as did 2001 British F3 Champion and Macau GP winner Takuma Sato.

Provisional Entry List

James Jakes travelled out to the Tuscany track for rounds 17 and 18 of the Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series confident of a good result, on a track relatively unknown to all the drivers and teams. A superb performance in the weekend’s opening practice sessions, saw Team mate Salvador Duran post the second quickest time in the second session just 0.059 off the quickest time and James Jakes leading his other Hitec Team member James Walker to third and fourth in the first wet session.

Come qualifying on Saturday James was hoping to repeat (or better) the first free practice from Friday, where he finished with the 3rd fastest time, behind Maro Engel (Carlin Motorsport) and Yelmer Buurman (Fortec Motorsport).
It was looking good in the first session, with only 10 minutes to go the Hitec Team mates James Walker & James Jakes were provisionally holding onto the second row of the grid in second and third places. Then the track filled with furious competition for the top slot, finally Carlin Motorsport covered 3 of the top 4 positions, Oliver Jarvis getting his 3rd pole of the season. James finally sliping into 8th place, with Hitec Team mates Salvador Duran and James Walker recording 7th and 9th

See times for Mugello Round 17 Qualifying here.

For the second qualifying the sky opened and the track was well and truly sodden. James was setting the pace early for all the drivers, but lost his postioning as the session progressed. At the final flag he had improved his positioning on the grid compared to the first session finally coming in with the 6th fastest time. Above his Team mates Salvador Duran in 7th and James Walker in 8th. Oliver Jarvis talking another Pole for Round 18.

See times for Mugello Round 18 Qualifying here

For the first of two 16 lap races, the track had dried sufficiently to allow the drivers to start on dry slick tyres, although there remained a damp line on the outside of the track. As the race got underway, a first corner tangle between the leaders saw all the Hitech drivers capitalise in particular Walker who came through into fourth and was challenging Stephen Jelley for third.

Jakes drove a storming race to move up from eighth on the grid to a fighting fifth place at the flag, with Duran just losing sixth place to Champion-elect Mike Conway. Walker was subsequently pushed wide from his fourth place and dropped to 12th, although he recovered to finish eighth at the finish.

See times for Mugello Round 17 here.

After torrential overnight rain the second race was held this morning in treacherous conditions, with rain still falling as the cars ventured out onto the track. Poor visibility was to play a major role in the outcome of the race, with spray being a massive factor for those behind the leaders.

Despite that, all three Hitec drivers drove well, Walker making a remarkable getaway to move up from eighth into fourth at the start, only to have Yelmer Buurman drive into the back of him, forcing both out on the spot. Salvador Duran got ahead of James Jakes to lead his team-mate in fifth; until James found a way past. Duran held off the challenge of first round winner Christian Bakkerud before he moved ahead, dropping Salvador to seventh.

See times for Mugello Round 18 here.

With the next event at its home track of Silverstone just seven days away on the 24th September, James is hoping for a good performance as the championship nears its conclusion.

James Walker posted the quickest time for the team during testing at Thruxton last week to boost confidence within the team heading to the famous Grand Prix circuit – where the F3 championship will be racing for the first time since 2003.

However, with James, James Walker and Salvador Duran having not raced an F3 car on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, Hayle admitted the team was taking a step into the unknown – although he remained confident of success.

“This weekend is an unknown for us as our drivers have little or no experience of an F3 on the Brands Hatch GP track,” he said. “Salvador did very well here in A1GP, and James Jakes was very impressive in the Euroseries race here, albeit on the Indy track, so hopefully that will bode well for them.

“Brands Hatch has always been a track which favours the brave and the committed, it’s a real drivers circuit and sometimes here you have to go beyond the limits of your beliefs to put in a fast lap, you have to take chances and it’s not for the feint hearted.

“It’s similar in many respects to Silverstone and Spa but at the end of the day it’s just another circuit, you just have to roll up your sleeves, shut up and get on with it, no excuses.”

James and his team-mates are all looking to add their name to the list of illustrious former winners. The winner of that very first Masters of F3 race back in 1991 was a certain David Coulthard, while his Red Bull Racing team-mate Christian Klein won the event in 2003.

James and the Hitech team have already contested two rounds of this year’s F3 Euroseries, which runs the same Kumho tyres as the BP Ultimate Masters, and in the last event at Brands Hatch last month were right on the pace, narrowly missing out on a podium finish. James, together with Mexican Salvador Duran and fellow Brit James Walker, will all travel to the Netherlands track straight from their outing in the British round at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday.

This is first time James will have raced a Formula 3 car round the track close to the Zandvoort beach but he is relishing the prospect of competing with more than 40 of the World’s top F3 stars.

The two-day event will kick off with four twenty-minute practice sessions starting at 09.00 on Saturday morning before the first of two qualifying sessions at 12.30 and 13.10 and again at 16.00 and 16.40. The 25-lap BP Ultimate Masters of F3 will take place on Sunday at 13.00.

Starting from third on the grid, his highest position in the UK’s premier single-seater championship, Jakes made a good start to hold position as the pack filed into Riches for the first time, and then found a way past Christian Bakkerud before the completion of the first lap to take second. Thereafter the 18 year-old F3 rookie trailed the championship leader and eventual race winner Mike Conway to the flag to take his first podium of the year.

“I’m really happy with that! My second and James’ third place is a great result to give the team, we couldn’t have predicted that before the race. I got a good start, I didn’t get that well off the line, I had wheelspin, but was able to get ahead of Bakkerud and had the pace to pull away with Mike and then the safety car came out. At the restart the car was really good and I managed to pull away from James (Walker) and although I was able to match Mike (Conway’s) times I couldn’t quite catch him. I’m delighted for me and the team, we’ve got some good points and hopefully we can repeat it in the second race.”

Walker meanwhile, who has struggled all weekend with a bad head cold, made a stunning start from sixth on the grid, to enter the first corner second. Entering the right hander though James was on the outside of the track, and lost places on the exit, dropping back to fourth on the run up to Sear Corner. A missed gear on the run onto the back straight dropped him to fifth but the 22 year-old dived through to third on lap six when two drivers ahead tangled. He went on to take third just behind his team-mate to collect his second podium finish of the year.

Salvador Duran from tenth on the grid, also made a great start, to move up a place on the first lap before the second-lap crash with Senna caused the safety car to be deployed. At the restart, the 21 year-old reigning British F3 National Class Champion held position gaining places over the next few laps to move into sixth on lap 19. For the remaining laps, the Oxford-based driver was consistently lapping quicker than the cars ahead and he crossed the line in a fantastic sixth place.

Hitech Racing team owner David Hayle was understandably delighted with the performance of all three drivers; “It’s great to get back on the podium and to have two of our three drivers there is a great morale boost for both them and the team. Salvador too drove very well to improve his position on the grid, so overall we’re all very happy. The team has worked very hard over the last few weeks and now we’re beginning to see the rewards. Race two will be harder of course, but if they can all keep their heads downs and keep out of trouble, another podium is still possible.”

Provisional Results of Round Nine – 27 laps

• 1. Mike Conway Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 29:59.324
• 2. JAMES JAKES Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 30:05.818
• 3. JAMES WALKER Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 30:09.298
• 4. Oliver Jarvis Dallara F306 Mugen-Honda 30:13.055
• 5. Yelmer Buurman Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 30:13.727
• 6. SALVADOR DURAN Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 30:14.593

James Jakes: “We’re making good progress after Brands and hopefully in the first race I can get a good start and challenge for the lead. The plan for the race is to get off the line well and battle it out with Bakkerud and Mike and hopefully get a good finish. Race two will be a bit harder, but a podium is still very much a possibility and that will be my aim. In qualifying I made a little mistake coming out of the Bombhole which cost me a tenth and a half. All credit to the boys though the car is great again and it’s all looking very positive for a good second half of the season.”

The two races will take place this afternoon at 12.00 and 16.10.

Qualifying for Round Nine

• 1. Mike Conway Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 1:02.088
• 2. Christian Bakkerud Dallara F306 Mugen-Honda 1:02.184
• 3. JAMES JAKES Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 1:02.212
• 4. Maro Engel Dallara F306 Mugen-Honda 1:02.218
• 5. Yelmer Buurman Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 1:02.278
• 6. James Walker Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 1:02.313

Qualifying for Round Ten

• 1. Oliver Jarvis Dallara F306 Mugen-Honda 1:02.040
• 2. Mike Conway Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 1:02.070
• 3. Maro Engel Dallara F306 Mugen-Honda 1:02.267
• 4. Stephen Jelley Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 1:02.295
• 5. Bruno Senna Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 1:02.308
• 6. JAMES JAKES Dallara F306 Mercedes HWA 1:02.359

Hitech Racing team-mate James Walker improved on his tenth place starting position and enjoyed a battle for position with championship regular Sebastien Vettel, with the 22 year-old from Jersey taking eighth place at the flag. On only their second European outing, on unfamiliar tyres, the team and drivers were pleased with their overall pace and delighted with the progress made in race set-up as they now look forward to the next rounds of the British championship.

Jakes’ two fourth place finishes mark the best F3 results for the Northampton-based Yorkshireman and the talented teenager was delighted with his performance. “Overall, not a bad weekend. It just proves I have the pace and if I can do it against the cream of Europe, then I should be able to do in the domestic championship. My own pace and the set-up of the car this weekend on new tyres was great although that first podium would have been good.

“It has given me the confidence though to know I can do it, so I can go to the next races, at Snetterton in two weeks time, determined for at least a podium, if not victory.”

For Walker, already an F3 race winner and second last time out in Ireland, his eighth place finish was not what he wanted but still he was happy to have been able to produce competitive times throughout the weekend. “I made a good start today and enjoyed a really good battle for seventh with Vettel. We had really good race pace again but unfortunately, the Brands Indy track is quite tricky for overtaking.

“We learnt a lot with the Kumho tyres and have been very competitive all weekend which means we can head to the next races looking for some good, strong places.”

Hitech Racing team owner David Hayle was equally pleased with the performance, “I think both drivers drove very well. Today’s result for James Jakes was better in that it was an earnt result and not inherited and both drivers have been very quick throughout the weekend. Now we need to ensure that we can replicate our performance in the British series.”

The Silverstone-based Hitech Racing team will return to racing action in the next rounds of the Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series in two weeks time, at Snetterton in Norfolk (July 15/16).

Throughout the race, which attracted the cream of Europe’s young up and coming drivers, both Jakes and Walker drove well to secure strong finishes in only their second appearance on the European scene. Jakes from Leeds, narrowly missed out on his first F3 podium, the former Formula Renault star crossing the line just behind Richard Antinucci, who had been excluded after a qualifying infringement. The rules however, allowed him to take part, under appeal, although his position at the end was not classified, leaving Jakes to take fourth.

With the first eight in the results being reversed to form the grid for the second race, Jakes will take up the fifth placed position but is still confident of a strong finish. “The leaders pulled away at the start and the driver behind was pushing hard but I was able to keep ahead. I stepped up the pace for the second half of the race but overtaking was a problem. Tomorrow though, I’m looking for my first podium!”

Walker meanwhile made a storming start, gaining three places at the lights, and for fifty laps pressured Romain Grosjean for ninth spot. The nature of the track however prevented the 22 year-old Jerseyman from capitalising on his early pace and he was unable to continue his charge through the field. The BRDC Rising Star crossed the line just over half a second adrift.

“The car was good and the race distance suited me fine. I felt fine and it was no problem. I managed to stay out of trouble and am now looking to take a top six position in tomorrow’s second race.”

The Silverstone-based Hitech Racing team will return to racing action for the second of two races tomorrow, which will take place at 12.15. Thereafter their British championship bid will resume with the next round of the Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series in two weeks time, at Snetterton in Norfolk (July 15/16).