The Lola-Dome completed a winning year with yet another victory in the Japanese Formula 3 championship at Motegi over the weekend.
Brazilian driver Joao Paulo De Oliveira took a conclusive win in his Mugen powered M-Tec Lola-Dome after claiming a clear pole position. JP's team mate for the weekend Danny Watts finished 6th in both races.
Meanwhile over at Misano in Italy, Coloni Motorsport's Toni Vilander had to endure the agony of finishing the 2004 Italian Formula 3 Championship with the same number of points and more wins than rival Matteo Cressoni although he still missed out on the title as a result of a bizarre ruling.
Because the talented Lola-Dome driver had only competed in six of the nine meetings, one short of the required minimum, he was not eligible for the championship title, despite recording six wins, six fastest laps and seven pole positions. He had started the season competing in the Formula 3 Euroseries before a mid-season switch to the Italian championship.
"Toni has done a mega job this season and it's not fair for him that he has not been properly rewarded as the Italian champion," said team principal Paolo Coloni. "He has proved he is the best driver with six wins and I am very happy for Alessandro who becomes the vice champion."
The final rounds of the Italian series proved fraught for Vilander as rival competitors twice took him out of the action. He was eliminated in race one and had to pit to change his tyres in the second race after being forced off the road. But his pace enabled him to rejoin the race and secure the points he needed to finish level with Cressoni and cement his position as the championship's most successful performer this year courtesy of his greater number of race wins in his Lola-Dome.
"The team can celebrate despite the rules," Coloni continued. "We have won seven races this season which is a great achievement and we know we have developed a competitive package. Our thanks go to all our partners for their support."
Next season will see the debut of the all-new Lola B05/30 Formula 3 racer which is set to race in the British, European and Spanish Championships.
