Lola Formula Three cars return to Castle Combe in Wiltshire this weekend, exactly a year on from the victory that ended Dallara’s 11-year monopoly of wins in the British Formula Three International series.
Promatecme took Danny Watts to that famous win last June and this year they will be hoping to recapture that feeling with Northern Ireland’s Steven Kane. The 25 year old arrives at Combe after hitting an increasing rich vein of form since joining the series just days before the first race of the year in March, despite limited testing of his West Properties backed Lola B05/40.
Kane’s run of points scoring results in the British series were backed up by his stunning qualifying performance at Zandvoort two weeks ago in the International Marlboro Masters race. Steven had qualified 5th out of 36 entrants and was by far the best placed British runner. However, due to a suspected brake failure, he suffered a high-speed accident, which ruled him out of the race, one in which he believed that a podium was within reach.
“We were in with a chance but that chance was denied us,” he said. “Although we didn’t test at Snetterton last week I feel confident that we can make further progress this weekend.”
Kane, was badly bruised in the accident, but the supremely fit Ulsterman is one of the toughest competitors on the 2005 grid and has no hesitation in getting back in to the cockpit this weekend, despite being in constant pain.
“I am still sore and bruised but I will just have to see how it goes when I get out there,” said Kane. “The pace we showed at Zandvoort is just part of the improvements we have been making since the beginning of the year and this circuit should suit the cars characteristics.”
The 25 year old will see a specialist sports physiotherapist on the advice of his manager Damon Hill, immediately before the race weekend to help his injuries heal further before the action takes place.
Danilo Dirani was not entered in the Dutch race and after a months break is determined to get his title claim back on track at Combe. The Brazilian had a stunning start to the season with a double win at Donington but has since scored only 14 points. At Thruxton last time out, his close friend Bruno Senna unceremoniously took Danilo out of the race on first lap. After also been taken out by Dan Clarke at Croft in May, DD is due better luck this weekend and believes that after a few test days, his time away from the podium will soon be over.
“We have to get it together this weekend, it is very important for the title,” he said. “In some ways we have been unlucky but in terms of the championship nobody is really dominating, so for me this is good because I have not lost too much ground. I think that Castle Combe could suit the Lola well and both the car and the P1 drivers from last year went well there, so we should be looking good.”
In the national class Charlie Hollings’ usual Promatecme Lola-Dome will be joined at Castle Combe by the Fluid Motorsport Developments example of Ben Clucas. The highly rated former Junior Formula Ford champion will make his F3 debut this weekend and after a solid test at Snetterton last week could be a surprise package on Sunday.
“ I enjoyed the test last week and we were reasonably fast but there is much more for me to learn about F3,” said Clucas. “I have a deal for a number of races this year and I am really looking forward to making my debut in the British series. With the car that we have and an experienced team, I believe we can make a real impression on the national class, although realistically I am not expecting too much from Castle Combe this weekend.”
Charlie Hollings is currently chasing national class points leader Barton Mawer (T-Sport Dallara) and with the exact chassis that won last years Combe race, the Yorkshireman is expecting to make more in-roads in to the Australian drivers points lead.=
“I’m looking forward to it because the car is a proven pace setter at this track,” said Hollings. “We need to start chipping away at Barton’s lead and if we can score major points this weekend I think it will set things up nicely, because he (Mawer) did not qualify well at Spa, and those replacement races are coming up immediately after this weekend at Monza and Silverstone. It is up to us to add to that pressure and I am confident that both myself and the team can do that this weekend.”
The weekend’s track action kicks off at 11.40 with a free un-timed practice session.
Qualifying then takes place at 13.20 and 15.55 with the races taking place on Sunday at 11.25 and 15.15 respectively.
