The Lola-Dome Formula 3 car scored a solid top 10 placing in the hands of Danny Watts and the Embassy Racing backed Promatecme team at Zandvoort in Holland over the weekend. In its first International race the Anglo/Japanese F106 chassis competed with the best F3 field assembled so far in 2004 and came away with a creditable 10th place.
After setting the 4th fastest time in the 1st qualifying session, Danny Watts showed the true pace of the Neil Brown prepared Mugen-Honda powered car, out-qualifying many more fancied runners. Slipping down to 6th in his qualifying group in the second session meant Danny started 12th just ahead of highly touted McLaren-backed racer, Lewis Hamilton.
“The start was very fraught indeed and I got quite badly delayed as a few cars touched at the first corner and then there was the safety car,” said Danny. “After that I was able to make good progress until I came upon Frank Perera who held me up badly (Perera was later shown the black and white warning flag) and that cost me a shot at the pack who I am sure I could have challenged.”
Despite the frustration of being stuck behind slower cars, Danny was delighted with the Lola-Dome’s performance over the two days. “ The car felt so strong in the race and also in the warm up where we were third fastest. It is good to show the Europeans just how much potential is in the car and that we can compete with the quickest around. We will now concentrate on the Silverstone races this weekend where I think we will once again be very strong.”
In front of over 65,000 spectators, including Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende and racing legends Jacky Ickx and Jan Lammers, Watts took the chequered flag in 10th place just three tenths of a second behind Euro F3 series leader Jamie Green in his ASM Dallara. Finishing ahead of 23 Dallaras the Lola-Dome, as it is in the UK, was a firm favourite of the large crowd.
The 25 lap race was won by French driver Alexandre Premat from his team mate Eric Salignon who spun out of the lead towards the end of the race.
RACE RESULT
1. Alexandre Prémat ASM F3 Dallara Mercedes 43mins 20.751secs 25 laps2. Eric Salignon ASM F3 Dallara Mercedes +2.130s3. Adam Carroll P1 Motorsport Dallara Honda +4.105s4. James Rossiter Fortec Motorsport Dallara Opel +9.334s5. Lucas Di Grassi Hitech Dallara Renault +13.270s6. Nico Rosberg Team Rosberg Dallara Opel +14.257s7. Lewis Hamilton Manor Motorsport Dallara Mercedes +15.103s8. Nelson Piquet Piquet Sports Dallara Honda +18.903s9. Jamie Green ASM F3 Dallara Mercedes +21.295s10. Danny Watts Promatecme Lola-Dome Honda +21.507s11. Franck Perera Prema Powerteam Dallara Opel +24.346s12. Daniel La Rosa Team Mücke Motorsport Dallara Mercedes +31.156s13. Giedo van der Garde Opel Signature Plus Dallara Opel +32.139s14. Loic Duval Opel Signature Dallara Opel +34.703s15. Roberto Streit Prema Powerteam Dallara Opel +38.337s16. Marko Asmer Hitech Racing Dallara Renault +38.535s17. Danilo Dirani Carlin Motorsport Dallara Honda +39.010s18. Charles Zwolsman Manor Motorsport Dallara Mercedes +41.797s19. Clivio Piccione Carlin Motorsport Dallara Honda +42.633s20. Adrian Sutil Team Kolles Dallara Mercedes +43.311s21. Alexandros Margaritis Promatecme Dallara Honda +48.783s22. Katsuyuki Hiranaka Prema Powerteam Dallara Opel +49.227s23. Hannes Neuhauser HBR Motorsport Dallara Opel +53.040s24. Marcus Marshall Fortec Motorsport Dallara Opel +53.333s25. Andreas Zuber Team Rosberg Dallara Opel +54.147s26. Ross Zwolsman HBR Motorsport Dallara Opel +57.758s27. Tom Kimber-Smith Team Kolles Dallara Mercedes +1m 02.016s28. James Walker Hitech Racing Dallara Renault +1m 05.880s29. Greg Franchi Opel Signature Dallara Opel +1m 08.389s30. Bruno Spengler Mücke Motorsport Dallara Mercedes +1m 10.845s31. Nicolas Lapierre Opel Signature Plus Dallara Opel +1 lap32. Maximilian Gotz TME Racing Dallara Toyota +4 laps33. Andrew Thompson Hitech Racing Dallara Renault + 4 laps
Not classified:
DNF. Alvaro Parente Carlin Motorsport Dallara Honda 12 laps completed DNF. Paulo Montin Ombra Dallara Honda 2 laps completedDNF. Fairuz Fauzy P1 Motorsport Dallara Honda 0 laps completedDNF. Ferdinand Kool Docking Racing Dallara Honda 0 laps completed
