JONATHAN Kennard took his maiden F3 National championship victory on his first visit to Mondello Park in Ireland at the weekend.

From second on the grid, Kennard made a superb start to take an immediate lead he was never to lose.

The 20-year-old Tunbridge Wells driver was robbed of what looked like a certain victory in the first race after leading for 15 of the 17 laps when he was involved in an incident with Ryan Lewis three corners from home.

However, the two results have elevated him to third in the points standings, making him the top British driver. He is also mathematically in with a chance of taking second in the national class championship.

Kennard said: "I'm absolutely delighted. It's an amazing feeling. The team deserve it, so a big thank you to everybody at Alan Docking Racing and now I'm third in the National Championship and top Briton which is great.

"After the incident in race one, I was pretty fired up for race two. That victory should have been mine, but it did make me very determined for the second race.

Kennard's F3 campaign concludes at Silverstone, Northamptonshire, on the weekend of October 8-9.