Buzaid quickest in British F3 testing

Adriano Buzaid topped the timesheet on the first day of a back-to-back British Formula 3 test at Silverstone today.

The Formula Renault graduate lapped the International circuit in 1m14.289s during three hours of running this morning, pipping Carlin's Oliver Oakes by just 0.019s.

The test marked the first time front running T-Sport team, which ran GP2 Asia race-winner Sergio Perez to four wins and fourth place in British F3 last season, has run the new 2009-spec Volkswagen engine in it's two new Dallaras.

Buzaid reported a significant improvement in performance with the engine, which is some 15kg lighter than the previous spec VW motor.

Buzaid's team-mate, reigning British Formula Ford champion Wayne Boyd, lapped seventh fastest but only 0.153s slower than the Brazilian, while the fastest nine drivers were covered by just 0.329s.

Formula BMW Europe graduate Carlos Huertas continued his recent strong form by going third quickest for Raikkonen Robertson Racing. The Colombian was quickest of all in the final sector of the lap, while team-mate Daisuke Nakajima (younger brother of Williams F1 racer Kazuki) was fastest in the first two sectors, but eighth overall.

Former McLaren Autosport BRDC Award finalist Nick Tandy, who has been second fastest at each of the previous two official tests, struggled to match that form in the new Mygale-Mercedes today and could only manage the ninth fastest time - albeit only just over three tenths of a second shy of the pacesetter.

Pos Driver Team Car Time 1. Adriano Buzaid T-Sport D/V 1m14.289s 2. Oliver Oakes Carlin D/V 1m14.308s 3. Carlos Huertas Double R D/M 1m14.329s 4. Max Chilton Carlin D/V 1m14.330s 5. Daniel Ricciardo Carlin D/V 1m14.346s 6. Henry Arundel Carlin D/V 1m14.381s 7. Wayne Boyd T-Sport D/V 1m14.442s 8. Daisuke Nakajima Double R D/M 1m14.542s 9. Nick Tandy JTR M/M 1m14.618s 10. Walter Grubmuller Hitech D/M 1m15.089s 11. Victor Garcia Fortec D/M 1m15.248s 12. Daniel McKenzie Fortec (N) D/M 1m15.386s 13. Hywel Lloyd CF Racing D/H 1m15.457s 14. Stephane Richelmi Barazi Epsilon D/M 1m15.604s 15. Gabriel Dias T-Sport (N) D/M 1m15.641s 16. Victor Correa Litespeed (N) S/H 1m16.041s 17. Max Snegirev West-Tec (N) D/H 1m16.479s 18. Jay Bridger West-Tec M/H 1m16.761s

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Ultimate pulls out of British F3

Ultimate Motorsport has abandoned its plan to compete in British Formula 3 this season.

The team, which joined the series in 2007 with Mygale chassis, had planned to switch to Dallara cars this year but today announced that it would not be running in F3 in 2009.

Team boss Barry Walsh cited the poor financial climate as the main reason and says he wants to concentrate his efforts on Ultimate's Formula Renault 3.5 campaign with Miguel Molina and Greg Mansell.

"This was an extremely difficult decision but with the current state of the world economic climate, every company has to cut their cloth accordingly," said Walsh.

"Our World Series team has been setting the pace in pre season testing and with Miguel Molina and Greg Mansell we have a good shot at both the teams' and drivers' titles, so this is where our focus for 2009 must lie.

Ultimate scored the first F3 victories for the Mygale chassis when Michael Devaney took both wins at Snetterton last year.

"We are all extremely proud of what we achieved in just two seasons of British F3 and we certainly don't rule out a return to the category in the future.

"Looking to the future, we are also planning to contest the Formula Renault Eurocup from 2010 to run alongside our World Series team. Ultimate will continue to provide aspiring young drivers with a clear motorsport ladder from karting right up to the ultimate goal of Formula 1."

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Merhi tops final Euro Series test

Roberto Merhi played down suggestions that he could be a title prospect in his rookie season of F3 after topping the timesheet on the final day of the Euro Series test at Valencia today.

The 17-year-old Formula Renault Eurocup graduate, who raced in the F3 Masters at Zolder and Macau Grand Prix last season, set a 1:26.989 lap during the morning session - more than quarter of a second faster than any of his 27 rivals managed.

Merhi was thrilled with his performance but is expecting things to be more difficult when the season beings at Hockenheim on May 17.

"Today could not have been a better way of ending two days of testing," he said. "Manor is carrying out stupendous development work and my adaptation to this single-seater is coming on rapidly.

"I know for a newcomer to have achieved this performance is out of the ordinary but, come the start of the season things will be much harder.

"For the time being, I certainly don't consider that I should be in the headlines as a title contender, although this ia presenting itself to be a promising year."

Title favourite Jules Bianchi set the second quickest time for ART Grand Prix, ahead of Atte Mustonen who continued his impressive pre-season form for Motopark Academy in third.

Brendon Hartley was quickest of the Volkswagen entries in fourth place for Carlin Motorsport, with Valterri Bottas (ART) and Sam Bird (Mucke) completing the top six.

Pos Driver Team Car Time 1. Roberto Merhi Manor D/M 1:26.989 2. Jules Bianchi ART D/M 1:27.278 3. Atte Mustonen Motopark D/M 1:27.580 4. Brendon Hartley Carlin D/V 1:27.868 5. Valtteri Bottas ART D/M 1:27.929 6. Sam Bird Mucke D/M 1:28.048 7. Stefano Coletti Prema D/M 1:28.100 8. Cesar Ramos Manor D/M 1:28.149 9. Jon Lancaster SG D/M 1:28.155 10. Christian Vietoris Mucke D/M 1:28.163 11. Andrea Caldarelli SG D/M 1:28.179 12. Henkie Waldschmidt SG D/M 1:28.267 13. Christopher Zanella Motopark D/M 1:28.272 14. Pedro Ferreira Manor D/M 1:28.277 15. Marco Wittmann Mucke D/M 1:28.334 16. Jake Rosenzweig Carlin D/V 1:28.475 17. Alexander Sims Mucke D/M 1:28.604 18. Matteo Chinosi Prema D/M 1:28.631 19. Esteban Gutierrez ART D/M 1:28.671 20. Carlo van Dam Kolles & Heinz D/V 1:28.698 21. Mika Maki Signature D/V 1:28.794 22. Jean Karl Vernay Signature D/V 1:28.837 23. Kevin Mirocha HBR D/M 1:28.841 24. Johnny Cecotto HBR D/M 1:29.107 25. Tiago Geronimi Signature D/V 1:29.115 26. Jens Klingmann Signature D/V 1:29.286 27. Basil Shaaban Prema D/M 1:30.064 28. Adrien Tambay ART D/M 1:30.258

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Mustonen tops Euro Series test

Mustonen tops Euro Series test

Atte Mustonen topped the first day of this week's official Formula 3 Euro Series test at Valencia.

The Finnish driver is beginning his third season of F3, following two years with Raikkonen Robertson Racing in Britain before moving to Motopark Academy for 2009.

Mustonen's best time was one tenth of a second quicker than Manor Motorsport's F3 rookie Roberto Merhi.

ART Grand Prix's Jules Bianchi was third fastest, ahead of Carlin Motorsport's Brendon Hartley and Mucke Motorsport's Sam Bird.

Christian Vietoris has been confirmed at Mucke, completing the team's four-car line-up and the German was 11th quickest in the test.

The other additions to the field were Matteo Chinosi, who was 22nd fastest for Prema Powerteam and Jens Klingmann, who was 28th for Kolles & Heinz Union.

Pos Driver Team Car Time Gap 1. Atte Mustonen Motopark D/M 1:27.713 2. Roberto Merhi Manor D/M 1:27.819 +0.106 3. Jules Bianchi ART D/M 1:27.976 +0.263 4. Brendon Hartley Carlin D/V 1:28.325 +0.612 5. Sam Bird Mucke D/M 1:28.425 +0.712 6. Marco Wittmann Mucke D/M 1:28.437 +0.724 7. Kevin Mirocha HBR D/M 1:28.508 +0.795 8. Cesar Ramos Manor D/M 1:28.579 +0.866 9. Valtteri Bottas ART D/M 1:28.585 +0.872 10. Stefano Coletti Prema D/M 1:28.632 +0.919 11. Christian Vietoris Mucke D/M 1:28.659 +0.946 12. Chistopher Zanella Motopark D/M 1:28.774 +1.061 13. Alexander Sims Mucke D/M 1:28.784 +1.074 14. Esteban Gutierrez ART D/M 1:28.832 +1.119 15. Henkie Waldschmidt SG D/M 1:28.897 +1.184 16. Jon Lancester SG D/M 1:28.935 +1.222 17. Mika Maki Signature D/V 1:28.952 +1.239 18. Johnny Cecotto Jr HBR D/M 1:29.022 +1.309 19. Jake Rosenzweig Carlin D/V 1:29.256 +1.543 20. Pedro Ferreira Manor D/M 1:29.323 +1.610 21. Andrea Caldarelli SG D/M 1:29.405 +1.692 22. Matteo Chinosi Prema D/M 1:29.546 +1.833 23. Adrien Tambay ART D/M 1:29.598 +1.885 24. Jean-Karl Vernay Signature D/V 1:29.623 +1.910 25. Basil Shaaban Prema D/M 1:29.678 +1.965 26. Carlo van Dam Kolles & Heinz D/V 1:29.808 +2.095 27. Tiago Geronimi Signature D/M 1:29.932 +2.219 28. Jens Klingmann Kolles & Heinz D/V 1:30.365 +2.652 (D/M = Dallara-Mercedes, D/V = Dallara-Volkswagen)

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Ricciardo fastest in British F3 testing

A Volkswagen-powered car set the pace for the first time in British Formula 3 when ex-Formula Renault Eurocup frontrunner Daniel Ricciardo finished top of the timesheets during the third official pre-season test at Rockingham yesterday.

The Australian Carlin driver's best lap of 1m11.038s, set in the afternoon, put him over four tenths of a second clear of the rest of the field and 1.5 seconds below the official lap record.

Ricciardo repeatedly lapped inside the 1m11.5s bracket - posting six such times during the test. His performance returned his squad to the head of the pack for the first time since it helped Spaniard Jaime Alguesari become the youngest ever British F3 champion last season.

Bedford-based Nick Tandy went second fastest at his home circuit, powering his JTR Mygale-Mercedes to a 1m11.458s best, with Fortec's Riki Christodoulou third quickest, just eight-thousandths behind.

Reigning British Formula Ford champion Wayne Boyd enjoyed his best official testing performance to date by posting the fourth fastest time in his T-Sport Dallara Volkswagen. Less than a second covered the top 11 drivers at the test.

Fortec's Daniel McKenzie ran quickest of the three national class drivers and set the 15th fastest time overall.

Reigning National Class champion Jay Bridger gave his new international class Mygale-Mugen Honda, prepared by Team West-Tec and upgraded with a 2009 aero package, a debut airing at Rockingham.

Bridger propped up the timesheets and struggled to string laps together due to minor mechanical problems caused by the late completion of the car earlier that morning.

Pos Driver Team Car Time 1. Daniel Ricciardo Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m11.038s 2. Nick Tandy JTR Mygale-Mercedes 1m11.458s 3. Riki Christodoulou Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 1m11.466s 4. Wayne Boyd T-Sport Dallara-Volkswagen 1m11.549s 5. Carlos Huertas Double R Dallara-Mercedes 1m11.556s 6. Max Chilton Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m11.645s 7. Victor Garcia Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 1m11.698s 8. Daisuke Nakajima Double R Dallara-Mercedes 1m11.784s 9. Henry Arundel Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m11.802s 10. Walter Grubmüller Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 1m11.803s 11. Adriano Buzaid T-Sport Dallara-Volkswagen 1m11.904s 12. Oliver Oakes Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m12.159s 13. Stephane Richelmi Barazi Dallara-Mercedes 1m12.423s 14. Hywel Lloyd CF Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m12.709s 15. Daniel McKenzie Fortec Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m13.686s 16. Max Snegirev West-Tec Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m13.762s 17. Victor Correa Litespeed Litespeed-Mugen Honda 1m14.898s 18. Jay Bridger West-Tec Mygale-Mugen Honda 1m15.373s

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Grubmuller tops Oulton Park test

Austrian racer Walter Grubmuller ended the second official British F3 pre-season test fastest after two days of running at Oulton Park this week.

Grubmuller, who is entering his third season of F3 with Hitech Racing this year, went quickest in the final session of the test on Wednesday afternoon in his Dallara Mercedes.

He pipped JTR's Nick Tandy, who made his first appearance of the season in the new 2009-spec Mygale Mercedes, by 0.054 seconds.

Formula Renault UK race-winner Riki Christodoulou set third fastest time for Fortec Motorsport in one of its Championship Class Dallara Mercedes cars. His efforts to tie up a race deal with the team are ongoing.

Carlin Motorsport's Daniel Ricciardo set fourth fastest time and was quickest of the Volkswagen-powered runners in one of the team's four Dallaras.

The start of the test was delayed while many teams struggled to pass noise tests. The cars normally run to 114db, but teams were forced to reduce this figure by 6db to meet Oulton's requirements and thus reduce their cars' engine power outputs.

Monagasque racer Stephane Richelmi was forced to sit out the second day of the test after crashing his Brazi Epsilon Dallara Mercedes heavily on day one.

The next official test is at Rockingham next Tuesday (March 17).

Pos Driver Team Car Time 1. Walter Grubmüller Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 1m 27.753s 2. Nick Tandy JTR Mygale-Mercedes 1m 27.807s 3. Riki Christodoulou Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 1m 27.903s 4. Daniel Ricciardo Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 27.924s 5. Henry Arundel Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 28.049s 6. Max Chilton Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 28.153s 7. Oliver Oakes Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 28.357s 8. Adriano Buzaid T-Sport Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 28.525s 9. Carlos Huertas RR Dallara-Mercedes 1m 28.693s 10. Daisuke Nakajima RR Dallara-Mercedes 1m 29.152s 11. Wayne Boyd T-Sport Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 29.294s 12. Hywel Lloyd CF Racing Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m 29.405s 13. Victor Garcia Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 1m 29.509s 14. Daniel McKenzie Fortec Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m 29.937s 15. Victor Correa Litespeed Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m 31.365s 16. Stéphane Richelmi Barazi-Epsilon Dallara-Mercedes 1m 31.606s 17. Max Snegirev West-Tec Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m 32.597s

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T-Sport to run Dias in British F3

T-Sport have announced that they will run Gabriel Dias in the National Class of British Formula 3 this season.

The team have entered into a partnership with engine supplier Volkswagen this season and will field Wayne Boyd and Adriano Buzaid in VW-powered Championship Class Dallaras, but they will maintain their presence in the National Class with 18-year-old Brazilian Dias in a Mugen-Honda-powered Dallara.

Dias was racing in the Formula Renault Eurocup last season until his campaign was cut short when he broke his back in a crash at Spa-Francorchamps.

"My original plan was to be a serious Eurocup contender in 2009," said Dias. "My recovery was on schedule but it meant I was unable to take part in the Eurocup pre-season tests, so I decided to move to British F3 one year earlier than the original plan.

"I'm sure it will take some time to adapt to the car and the tracks, but I am very confident that through testing and the proven skills of T-Sport I will hvae everything in place to be competitive by mid-season."

T-Sport boss Russell Eacott added: "Gabriel has come to T-Sport because he wants to get back to where he was before the accident. We can provide him with the right environment for learning all the skills he needs to step up to the Championship Class.

"He's a talented kid and we're pleased to be able to help him to rebuild his career. We also want that National Class title back."

T-Sport won the National Class title with Sergio Perez in 2007, but Fluid Motorsport's Jay Bridger claimed the crown last season.

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Vernay stays at Signature in Euro F3

Returnee Jean-Karl Vernay and Formula BMW graduate Tiago Geronimi have completed top Volkswagen team Signature's 2009 Formula 3 Euro Series line-up.

Signature took Edoardo Mortara to second in the championship behind Nico Hulkenberg last year, and also won races with Franck Mailleux and Robert Wickens.

They have already signed Mika Maki, who has moved across from Mucke Motorsport after taking two victories in his rookie season.

Vernay has spent the past two F3 Euro Series seasons with Signature, but is still searching for his first win in the category.

Brazilian driver Geronimi is making his F3 debut after winning three races and taking fifth in the Formula BMW Europe series last year.

Signature are one of three VW-powered teams in Euro F3 this year, with Carlin Motorsport switching from Mercedes power for drivers Brendon Hartley and Jake Rosenzweig, and the new Kolles & Heinz Union team also using VW engines for Carlo Van Dam and one driver yet to be announced.

VW Motorsport boss Kris Nissen expects their teams to mount another title challenge.

"2008 was a good year of learning for us," he said. "With three victories, ten additional podium positions and Edoardo Mortara's vice-champion's title, the year was an even greater success than we'd expected.

"Our goal for 2009 is to regularly compete for victory and to be able to again fight for the title."

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Motopark sign Zanella

F3 Euro Series newcomers Team Motopark have completed their line-up for the season by signing Swiss driver Christopher Zanella to partner Atte Mustonen.

Zanella, 19, won last year's Swiss Formula Renault title with six race victories throughout the season and will surprise many of the championship regulars with his speed, according to Motopark team boss Timo Rumpfkeil.

"Christopher is a truly gifted driver," said Rumpfkeil. "I have seen him doing things only the really great ones are able to do.

"No doubt, he still has to learn a lot but I'm sure that he will do so quickly. His goal should be to make it to the top eight [in Saturday races]. And should he succeed in doing so on Saturday, the reversed-grid order on Sunday will offer him the chance of doing even clearly better."

Zanella's signing means that only the Signature, Kolles & Heinz Union, Jo Zeller and RC squads have yet to complete their line-ups.

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Manor confirm Merhi for Euro Series

Spanish driver Roberto Merhi has been confirmed as the third signing for Manor Motorsport's 2009 Formula 3 Euro Series line-up.

The 17-year-old, a race winner last year in the Spanish F3 championship, will make his Euro Series debut this season.

Merhi is the first ever Spaniard to join the Mercedes-Benz Junior Development Programme.

"Roberto's signing is fantastic news for Manor. To have three drivers confirmed with well over two months still go until the start of the new F3 Euro Series season is very pleasing", said team boss John Booth.

"Roberto is held in very high regard. To have won races in Eurocup Formula Renault and Spanish F3 last year proves his pace and his talent."

Merhi joins Brazilians Cesar Ramos and Pedro Nunes at the Dinnington-based team.

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