The 2005 Marlboro Masters of Formula Three International race ended prematurely for both Lola runners at Zandvoort today. The JB Motorsport entered B05/30’s of Steven Kane and Ferdinand Kool both suffered cruel misfortune after the weekend initially promised so much.
After qualifying in 5th place on the 36-car grid, Steven suffered a serious high-speed accident approaching the Tarzan corner in the morning warm-up and was subsequently ruled out of the race on medical advice.
Despite leaving the circuit in excess of 150mph and hitting the barriers in mid-air, after skipping across the gravel trap, the Lola chassis stood up superbly to the enormous impact. Steven was extricated carefully from the car by the circuit accident response team and taken to the medical centre and then the local hospital, where after scans, he was discharged with severe bruising to his back and torn shoulder muscles.
“I remember everything about the accident,” said a sore Kane, on returning from the hospital. “I knew it was going to hurt and I just braced myself as best I could. I broke my back in motocross when I was younger and also hurt my neck at Donington in Formula Ford, so I know what pain to expect tomorrow morning!”
Missing the race was an enormous disappointment, especially after starring in qualifying. The Ulsterman, who had not completed so much as a lap of the former Dutch Grand Prix circuit before he arrived in Holland, was immediately on the pace and was only denied a higher grid position by an excursion in the second qualifying session when he came across a rain shower.
“I am absolutely gutted that I couldn’t line up on the grid,” said Kane. “I could have really put it among the leaders during the race. I just cannot believe my luck at the moment, I really can’t. The team did an excellent job this weekend and to not even get an opportunity to start the race is devastating. This can only make me even more determined next time out but at least we showed that we can be up there at the front with the Euro series runners.”
Ferdinand Kool, who races for JB Motorsport in the German based Recaro series had an equally frustrating weekend after suffering technical problems throughout the qualifying periods. After overcoming those, Ferdinand was looking forward to the race despite starting back in 29th position.
“I like a fight but even that race would have been tough to make an impression from that position,” said the 24 year old. “During the warm up lap I could feel that all was not right with the engine and it appeared that I had a misfire. It is sad but it seems to have summed up the weekend for the team and myself. Hopefully we can come back next year and have some better luck.”
The next Formula Three action for Lola is at Castle Combe on June 25/26. The Wiltshire circuit witnessed Lola’s first win last season when Danny Watts memorably became the first non-Dallara driver to win a race in the UK since 1993.
Full race results are available at - circuit-zandvoort.nl/evenementen/2005/masters/results/run-179.pdf
