The Lola-Dome Formula 3 car once again showed its pace in testing at Brands Hatch yesterday with British driver Danny Watts and the Silverstone based Promatecme team finishing the day 3rd fastest out of 20 cars.
After proving to be the fastest combination at Oulton Park two weeks ago the Anglo/Japanese chassis was just over a tenth of a second away from again topping the time sheets. Setting a best time of 42.096s, Watts attacked the Brands Hatch Indy circuit from the start of the two-hour session and soon established himself at the head of the times, being beaten only in the final minutes when a red flag and rain effectively ended competitive running.
“It was another great session for us and we made more significant steps forwards with the car,” said Watts, a former BRDC McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Finalist. “The pleasing thing is that we have come to another circuit and proved that the car is ultra competitive.”
After starting his initial run on older rubber, Danny placed himself firmly in the top 10, before immediately vaulting to the front after taking a set of fresh Avon tyres. The Neil Brown prepared Mugen-Honda powered Lola-Dome, was only headed by Fairuz Fauzy and Alvaro Parente who posted their times just before the rain intervened. However Watts, in only his second meaningful test with the car, was in no doubt that he would have ventured in to the 41’s had the rain not intervened.
“There was more to come that’s for sure,” said the 24 year old. “ I believe that we made more progress at today’s test and now we head up to Donington where I am absolutely itching to continue the development with the Lola engineers and (Promatecme team boss) Chris Weller. Things look very promising indeed.”
Lola’s F3 project manager, Adam Airey, echoed those thoughts and said of the successful days running; “It’s pleasing to be right at the sharp-end once again and we are working extremely well with both Danny and the team. I can see a lot more time coming from the car yet, as we have a lot of ideas on how to extract further potential from it. I am confident that we really could take the challenge to the Dallara’s this season.”
Testing of the car continues at Donington today before a decision is made next week on this years British Championship programme. This weekend, three of the Lola-Dome chassis will be in action at Suzuka in the Japanese F3 series. Brazilian, Joao Paulo De Oliveira will be looking to capitalise on his impressive recent testing form in his Mugen-Honda powered M-Tec entered car.
Click here for the Official Formula Three Association web site - designed and built by Racecar
