SHAIKH Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa clinched his third podium finish at the British Formula Three Series by finishing second in the first race of the seventh round at Rockingham Circuit.

It was a fine line between luck and bad luck for the Bahraini champion and Unicorn Investment Bank driver.

It rained heavily during the qualifying sessions for the seventh and eighth rounds on Sunday but both International and National Class drivers rose up to the occasion.

Misfortune

Shaikh Salman claimed third place on the starting grid for the seventh round. But a bout of misfortune during the eighth round qualifiers saw him take eight slot on the grid for the eighth round.

The Bahraini driver got off to a good start in the seventh round Briton Andrew Meyrick, currently leading the scoreboard, and Jay Bridger in second place.

Shaikh Salman managed to overtake Bridger on the first turn and pursued Meyrick in right earnest.

But an interception by an international class car and a sudden downpour put a halt to the chase but Shaikh Salman was able to hold on to his second place.

The eighth round, by contrast, was a tough one for Shaikh Salman starting from eighth position on the grid. It continued to rain right through and the Bahraini was eventually forced to withdraw from the race after the fifth lap.

"The conditions were tough but we managed to maintain a good pace. The team did a fantastic job," said Shaikh Salman.

"I'm now looking forward to the upcoming rounds to close the gap with the drivers ahead of me in the points table."

The next round of the series will take place on the Snetterton Circuit in England on June 8.