Lola Cars International Ltd return to this seasons Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series after a successful year in the German F3 series where the B06/30 chassis dominated, taking the title and winning 15 of the 20 races.

2007 will see Sudbury based Fluid Motorsport run last seasons National class runner-up Cristiano Morgado and if initial testing results are anything to go by, the South African will challenging at the front of the grid from the third and fourth rounds at Donington Park in two weeks time.

Last months test at Oulton Park saw Morgado finish as the fastest Mugen-Honda powered entry in what was his first time in an F3 car since the end of last season and Fluid Motorsport team boss, Lindsay Allen explains his optimism for the coming year.

“Cristiano did a stunning job at Oulton and was immediately at one with the car. We didn’t use any new tyres so there is still a significant amount of time from him and the chassis/engine package. As a team we really believe that Cristiano can achieve some top results this year and be a real thorn in the side of the Mercedes runners.”

After triumphing in four rounds last year, former world karting champion Morgado was the nearest rival to runaway National Class Champion Rodolfo Gonzalez, taking four wins and fourteen podiums in Lola-Dome F106/4. Morgado and Gonzalez will continue their on track rivalry this season with the Venezuelan also stepping up to drive in the Championship Class with last years team T Sport. Durban based Morgado is relishing getting his hands on the Lola which will once again be powered by a Neil Brown Engineering prepared Mugen-Honda engine.

“The car felt fantastic right away and was a marked improvement on the National Class car,” said Morgado. “I think the first few races will not be a true reflection of the cars pace but I anticipate being in the top ten again at Donington.”

The Lola B06/30 will compete alongside the Dallara F307 and the new Mygale 07 F3 for championship honours this year and with this British F3 becomes the only leading Formula 3 series in the world to feature three manufacturers.

Lola have tasted the victory champagne in British F3 when Danny Watts took the first of four wins in the British Series for the Huntingdon based manufacturer in 2004.

Fluid will also run two Lola-Dome chassis’ in the National class. One for up and coming South African Sean Patterson and one for rapid Mexican youngster Juan Pablo Garcia. Both have shown great promise in pre-season testing and will be looking to add more wins for the Lola-Dome in its last season of competition.

The first two rounds of the Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series took place at Oulton Park on Easter Monday. In race one Sean Patterson scored a morale boosting 2nd place in the national class, finishing right on the tail of winner Cong Fu Cheng. The South African failed to finish in race two after getting involved in a five car accident at Druids and his team mate Garcia came away from Oulton empty handed after being involved in an accident during the first race and his car catching fire on the grid of race two.