KEY POINTS:
New Zealand rookie Brendon Hartley won both British Formula Three races at the daunting Thruxton circuit in England overnight.
The double victory on the Hampshire circuit at the mid-point of the international championship put the Palmerston North teenager into fourth place overall, and in title contention.
Hartley, 18, joined series leader Sergio Perez (Mexico) as the only three-race winner in the 2008 series. He has had five podium finishes this season.
In his previous race at Snetterton three weeks ago, Hartley spun off.
Hartley went to Thruxton lying eighth, his lowly position due to a number of retirements early in the season
His first Thruxton win elevated him to sixth overall and that improved to fourth when he went back-to-back. He is now just 10 points off the series lead.
In contrast to his fight back to the front of the field in the first race, he made a strong start from pole position in the second 30-minute race and led every lap.
Although he was not able to drop second-placed Oliver Turvey in the second race, Hartley kept his Carlin Motorsport teammate at a safe distance in the Red Bull Dallara-Mercedes team's domination of the race.
Before the race at one of Britain's fastest and most challenging circuits, Hartley had completed only a single wet-test session at the track.
"It was a tough second race," he said on his race website.
"I picked them off one by one and once I'd broken the tow I was away."
- NZPA
