Lola’s British Formula Three International series teams and drivers make their second continental journey of the season this weekend when they travel to Monza, a circuit commonly acknowledged as one of the most iconic in the world of motorsport.
Silverstone based Promatecme arrive in Italy with an overriding sense of optimism over adversity as their Championship class driver, Steven Kane, has shown increasing pace in the last few events but has ultimately been denied the chance to show he can challenge the leaders because of accidents beyond his control.
Like many, the 25 year old from Ballynahinch in Northern Ireland has never been to Monza but is relishing the prospect of competing on the track that has hosted all but one Italian Grand Prix since 1950.
“It will be great to race at Monza as it has so much history and tradition,” said Kane. “The track will be good for us because we are strong on quick corners, which means the Parabolica, the Lesmo’s and the Ascari corners should suit us nicely. When things come together we are right at the front as we showed in Holland and in practice at Castle Combe, so without anymore dramas we can be challenging at the front.”
With the cancelled third round of the championship at Spa back in April scheduled to take place at Monza on Saturday, Kane is hoping to collect a large haul of points, but will have to do so from 16th place on the grid for this race, after problems in Belgium. Steven will start the other re-scheduled ‘Spa race’, which is to be held at Silverstone next month, from pole position, after a superb display of wet weather driving at a predictably wet Spa.
Promatecme’s national class driver, Charlie Hollings, is also confident of a strong showing at Monza and is aiming to reduce the points gap to current title leader, Australian, Barton Mawer who has a 55 point advantage. However, the T-Sport driver starts both of the delayed Spa races from the rear of the grid after qualifying accidents. Charlie will start 2nd, behind Mexico’s Salvador Duran at Monza and on pole for the second race at Silverstone in August.
“Monza is a real chance for us to pull back that gap,” said Hollings. “I really fancy us at this track because the Lola-Dome gives you confidence in high speed sections and Monza certainly has plenty of those. Also, Barton will now find the pressure is on him because of such a big lead. So everytime we chip away, he will be looking over his back at how we are closing in.”
P1 Motorsport’s Danilo Dirani will be treating the Monza races as a home event, because the Brazilian driver has many Italian relatives and speaks the language fluently. Although having never driven at the Autodromo Nationale, Danilo’s precise and smooth style of driving is sure to reap dividends at the high-speed parkland track. He will start 10th for the re-arranged Spa race but is confidant that with improved straight-line speed, he can add to his Donnington Park double win at the beginning of the season in his Neil Brown prepared Mugen-Honda powered Lola.
“It is simple for me, I have to win this weekend for the sake of the championship. We have been off the pace in the last few races but I believe that we will have a solution for Monza and my aim is to score as many points as usual.”
One driver with previous circuit experience will be Fluid Motorsport Developments driver Ben Clucas who made a fine debut at Castle Combe last month. The former McLaren Autosprt Young Driver of the year finalist, adapted well to F3 and came away from Wiltshire with a 4th and 5th placed finish. He drove at Monza several times for Prema Powerteam when he competed in Italian Formula Renault last season and speaks fluent Italian.
“Now that I have a little running in the car I know what I expect when I get to Monza,” said Clucas. “The car felt good to Combe and I collected valuable miles so I just need to build on that for Monza and then the races after that at Silverstone.”
The action at Monza kicks off on Friday with free practice sessions at 12.00 and 15.30. Saturday begin with qualifying for the two designated Monza races at 09.00 and 13.15, with the re-arranged Spa race scheduled to start at 15.45. The first of the official Monza races starts at 18.10. On Sunday the second Monza race will begin at 10.20.
