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Manor Motorsport’s Sam Bird produced an outstanding raceday performance at Zolder in Belgium this afternoon, Sunday, 10th August, to finish a highly creditable seventh overall in the 2008 RTL GP Masters of Formula 3 – the most high profile F3 event in Europe.

Although an unlucky qualifying session left the 21-year-old with a literal mountain to climb in the race, he performed brilliantly in tricky, wet conditions by rising from 22nd on the grid – avoiding several incidents along the way – to claim a deserved top seven finish as the highest placed Manor driver.

For Bird’s three team-mates, Koudai Tsukakoshi, Niall Breen and Kazuya Oshima, the race was less favourable. Breen and Oshima both fell victim to tyre choice issues, the circuit very wet following earlier rain, while Tsukakoshi was forced out of the race mere yards from the grid following contact from Dutchman Renger van der Zande.

With pole-sitter Nico Hulkenberg making a sluggish getaway, both Tsukakoshi and van der Zande had an opportunity to make gains on the run to the first turn. As the Manor racer attempted to negotiate the German’s car following his tardy getaway though, van der Zande turned into the Japanese star to end his race there and then..... Click for more

12/13 April Hockenheim (D)
03/04 May Mugello (I)
31 May/1 Jun Pau (F)
28/29 June Norisring (D)
12/13 July Zandvoort (NL)
26/27 July Nurbugring (D)
30/31 Aug Brands Hatch (GB)
20/21 Sept Barcelona (E)
04/05 Oct La Mans (F)
25/26 Oct Hockenheim (D)

BP Ultimate Masters
09/10 Aug Zolder (B)

55th Macau F3 Grand Prix
13-16 Nov Circuito da Guia

2008 F3 Euroseries Driver Standings (after Rd 12)

2008 F3 Euroseries Team Standings (after Rd 12)