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21.-23. November 2003
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HOME I 5TH KOREA SUPER PRIX I 2003 I PRESS RELEASE

5th Korea Super Prix, Free Practice

Date: November 21 - 23, 2003
Track: Changwon Circuit (3,014 km)

November 21, 2003 (prplus)

International Formula 3 Korea Super Prix

Free Practice Sessions
November 21, 2003
Weather: Dry, clear

HAMILTON TOPS PRACTICE TIMES IN KOREA

In only his third Formula Three race, British sensation Lewis Hamilton set the pace during the opening day's practice session for the International Formula 3 Korea Super Prix. The Manor Motorsport ace lapped the Changwon Raceway in a superb 1m 10.788s, just 0.05 seconds faster than his closest rival James Courtney. Third quickest was Courtney's TOM's team-mate Tatsuya Kataoka.

Hamilton set the fastest time of the day after working with his team to get the best out of his Dallara Mugen-Honda: "We've gradually made changes throughout the day to improve the car and I've found that I've been confident right from the first moment I sat in it this morning."

"Changwon is not as narrow as Macau, so you can attack the track with a lot more confidence straightaway, but it's still a challenge over the bumps," said the Manor driver. Hamilton made his only mistake of practice at the chicane: "It was nothing major, but I did just clip the tyre wall and slightly damaged the front of the car," he added. "We're quick today, but it's qualifying tomorrow which really counts."

James Courtney, who was leading the Macau Grand Prix before he retired with a puncture last weekend, was happy with second place after he spun in the morning. "It's been a good day and we've made a few slight changes to the set-up. My last lap was my quickest and I had traffic, so there's no doubt we can go faster tomorrow," said Courtney. "However it's been quite cold today and as the circuit is short, it takes a few laps to get everything up to temperature."

One thousandth of a second behind the Toyota-TOM's of Tatsuya Kataoka was the Menu Motorsport machine of Robert Doornbos. The Dutchman was unlucky not to finish on the podium at Macau a week earlier and he was looking very smooth on the track, driving with speed and precision over the bumps of the Changwon Raceway.

Another driver continuing his form from Macau was Richard Antinucci, who set the fifth quickest time of the day for Hitech Racing. He was five places ahead of his Dallara Renault-Sodemo team-mate Nelson Piquet Junior, who stayed clear of the wall during practice to record the tenth quickest time.

Last weekend's Macau Grand Prix winner Nicolas Lapierre was seventh quickest for Signature Plus, one place ahead of the leading Carlin Motorsport car, driven by Adam Carroll. The Ulsterman got an eleventh-hour call up from Trevor Carlin to replace Narain Karthikeyan at the team. His team-mate Nico Rosberg set the twelfth fastest time.

The tricky three-kilometre Changwon Raceway caught out a number of drivers throughout the day. Malaysian Fairuz Fauzy was the first to cause the practice session to be stopped when he hit the wall. Then both Rob Austin and Danny Watts caused further stoppages after they crashed. "I hit the first tyre wall at the chicane and then speared through the second set, damaging the front of the car and the sidepod," explains Watts. "We decided to call it a day after that."

In total there were four red-flags during the day, the final one appeared after local Korean driver Jin Woo Hwang hit the barrier and Italian Paolo Montin spun in avoidance.

Qualifying for the International Formula 3 Korea Super Prix will take place tomorrow (November 22), with the race, two legs of 25 laps each, being run on Sunday.

Kumho Tires, official tire supplier to the Formula 3 Euroseries and a long-time supporter of its home event, is once again Official Tire Supplier to the Super Prix. Other major corporations giving their backing to the event are Daewoo Engineering & Construction, GM Daewoo, BAT Korea, Posco Engineering & Construction, and SK Engineering & Construction amongst others. Hyundai Oilbank is the Official Fuel Supplier.

 
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