CONWAY''S CONFIDENCE HIGH AS HE HEADS NORTH OF THE BORDER
19 May 2005 - Motorsport Vision

British Formula 3 Championship - Rounds 7 & 8 - Knockhill, Scotland

Sevenoaks racing ace Mike Conway says his confidence is sky high after taking his first race win in the British Formula 3 Championship two weekends ago and he is determined to capitalise on his position at the top of the leader board.

Fortec Motorsport driver Conway, 21, became the first rookie to lead the prestigious British F3 Championship this early in a season since ex-Jaguar Formula 1 tester James Courtney back in 2001 after he took his maiden F3 victory at Croft in Yorkshire.

He now lies 10 points ahead of second-year driver Danilo Dirani, having trailed the Brazilian by 13 points going into the Croft meeting. Now he is intent on keeping hold of his points lead as the championship reaches its sole round in Scotland at the Knockhill circuit.

''I''m obviously pretty confident after the Croft meeting,'' admitted the reigning Formula Renault UK champion. ''I''ve just got to make sure now that I extend the lead by continuing to get podiums and win races. It was good for me that Danilo didn''t score any points at Croft, but we can''t rely on him being slow - we have to keep being quick.''

Conway also knows that it''s not just Dirani he needs to watch for in his Dallara''s rear view mirrors. Estonian second-year racer Marko Asmer is tied on points for second with Dirani, and Dane Christian Bakkerud is only one point further adrift of leader Conway.

''There are quite a few strong guys running in the top 10,'' he said. ''It''s not just Dirani we have to watch out for and that''s why I''m not really thinking about what they''re doing. I''m just staying focussed on what I have to do and my gameplan.''

Conway is given further confidence by the fact that he and his team already know what their optimum car set-up will be for the tight, twisty Scottish circuit, having spent a day testing there at the end of last year. Conway spent a further day testing at the track on Tuesday this week and will have perfected his set-up ahead of the meeting.

''We know exactly what we''re doing for Knockhill,'' Conway explained. ''We know how to make the car quick there. I like the track, although you wouldn''t want to drive anything faster than an F3 car there. It''s twisty and narrow so it''s tricky. But I''m sure we''ll have another good weekend there.''

Conway''s Knockhill weekend starts with qualifying on Saturday at 10-50am, with second qualifying at 2-40pm. Race one of the weekend will be at 10am on Sunday, with race two scheduled to start at 3-30pm.

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