Esher's Viktor Jensen found himself at the mercy of the fickle finger of fate while making his Donnington Park debut in his GAC backed Formula 3 car at the weekend.

Following two splendid podium finishes at Oulton Park with Alan Docking Racing in the series' opening two rounds a fortnight ago, the 19-year-old struggled during qualifying and had to settle for a fourth-row start on the grid for the first race.

After two of the scheduled 26 laps, he moved up to fifth in the national class before being forced off the track.

The incident ripped off the air valve on his front right tyre and created a slow leak.

The puncture meant his car was slow and unstable; and he limped home in ninth on three wheels, having to abandon his vehicle just after crossing the finish line.

In the second race, Jensen had a blistering start, rocketing past four cars off the line and, from sixth place on the grid, rapidly found himself alongside the national class leader, Michael Meadows.

The track surface had actually been glazed over by a light rain just before the start of the race which created a slippery surface and at a blind corner, Jensen spun out, along with several International class drivers, only to rejoin the rest of the field a long way back in last place.

Within a few laps he had caught up to the back of the pack but, due to the faster International cars coming through, was unable to progress further than seventh.

"The weekend was disappointing. However, there were a few very positive things to take from the races, like my quick starts and determination," he said.

"The team and I will now work towards the next race, a never-seen-before street race in Bucharest on May 20, where I'm sure that I will be fighting for podium places once again."

Jensen's partners in his 2007 campaign are GAC Logistics, Custom TV, Motoring & Leisure and the Capital Gold UK Radio Network.