Lola’s Formula Three car continued its pre-season development in Germany last week, with four examples of the updated B06/30 testing at Oschersleben.
Both HS Technik and JB Motorsport undertook their first test along with this years competition at the official sessions where the entire grid of this year’s German F3 Cup was present.
HS Technik are looking to sign talented British racer Joey Foster to be team mate to Martin Hippe this season and the 2003 Formula Ford Festival winner was a sensational 2nd fastest in his first official test with a time of 1m20.819s. Martin Hippe was 10th fastest with a best time of 1m22.469s after completing 41 laps.
Foster set a time just a tenth of a second off the fastest of the test but he believes that there is much more to come for the first races at Oschersleben on April 22/23.
"I am working very well with the team and learning more and more with each lap,” said the Cornishman. "We made lots of progress with the car and everything felt very natural with the team and also with (Lola engineer) Adam (Airey). We worked through lots of things with the car and kept making gains. I didn’t attempt a real quick lap so to be 2nd fastest is a good startfor me. The team are fantastic and my engineer Eric (Baumgartner) is a real professional. I really hope we can work together this season as I feel that we can be right up there."
Foster, who was a finalist in last years McLaren/Autosport Young Driver scheme has long been regarded as a future star and he is aiming to move up the single seater ladder with Lola and HS Technik in years to come.
Both Foster and Hippe also tested at Lausitzring on Saturday, continuing the development of the B06/30 chassis.
Adam Airey, Lola’s Formula Three engineer was satisified with the Oschersleben test and said: "It was a fruitful test for both the teams. Joey set a quick time but he was really still learning more about the car and how to use the Hankook tyres."
JB Motorsport also undertook many laps with their Lola B06/30 cars. As with HS Technik, the team are powered by Spiess engines. Dutchman, Ferdinand Kool used the test to get to grips with the Lola and was satisfied with the car's progress over the duration of the test.
Ferdinand Kool will be engineered this season by Michael Gommers and will be looking to add to last years victories at Assen and Lausitzring: "I am sure that it will be a good package," said Kool. "Lola works very hard to conquer the European market. So we will get absolutely competitive material to be able to win."
Both teams are also scheduled to contest the BP Masters race at Zandvoort in August in addition to their German F3 commitments.
TOP 12 TIMES FROM OSCHERSLEBEN
1. Harald Schlegelmilch (LT) HS Technik Dallara 304 Spiess 1m20.699s
2. Joey Foster (GB) HS Technik Lola B06/30 Spiess 1m20.819s
3. Nico Hulkenberg (D) Kaufmann Dallara 306 Spiess 1m20.982s
4. Renger Van Der Zender (NL ) Seyffarth Dallara Mercedes 1m21.442s
5. Cyndie Allemen (D) Seyffarth Dallara Mercedes 1m21.938s
6. Recardo Bruins (NL) Van Amersfort Dallara Spiess 1m21.961s
7. Ferdinand Kool (NL) JB Motorsport Lola B06/10 Spiess 1m22.056s
8. Franz Schmoller (D) FS Motorsport Dallara F304 Spiess 1m22.086s
9. Natascha Gachnang (D) Bordoil Dallara Spiess 1m22.385s
10. Martin Hippe (D) HS Technik Lola B06/10 Spiess 1m22.469s
11. Ho Pin Tung (NL) JB Motorsport Dallara F304 Spiess 1m22.651s
For more information on Lola products please log on to www.lola-group.com
For more information on Lola F3 teams and drivers please click on to:
www.jbmotorsport.com
www.joeyfoster.com
www.martinhippe.com.
