Calado dazzles on international bow (From Evesham Journal)

Calado dazzles on international bow

12:10pm Saturday 6th March 2010

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PERSHORE-based track star James Calado enjoyed an encouraging debut in the international motorsport arena when he tested his new Formula 3 car for the first time.

Calado was taking part in a two-day test session at the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk for the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series, the 30-race championship for the Grand Prix stars of tomorrow.

Following success in junior single-seater formulae, including the Formula Renault UK series, in which he was runner-up last season, Calado has stepped up to F3 with reigning champion team Carlin, with backing from the talent-spotting Racing Steps Foundation.

The 21-year-old was in his element on in wet weather conditions, as he topped the timesheets all day and pipped his new Carlin team-mate, Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne, to the honour of best time of the day by a three-10th margin.

The youngster said: “We made a really good start, I’m pleased.

“The car felt great and we were very consistent, which is always a positive sign.

“It’s a pity it was wet, as that tends to hold you back a little bit, but we still made good progress.”

The weather improved the following day and Calado lost his grip on top spot, he ended the two-day test fifth overall, just over 0.1 of a second adrift of the pacesetter, Japan’s Daisuke Nakajima.

The opening rounds of the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series are scheduled for the Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire over the Easter weekend (April 3-5).

British F3 is sponsored by US tyre manufacturer Cooper Tire and is further supported by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and Mirror.co.uk.

Earlier this year, Calado was selected as one of 10 young drivers from across the UK to form a national squad under the Team UK name.

The group, announced by the Motor Sports Association governing body in the UK in January, form their driver development scheme this year.

Results: Cooper Tires British F3 official testing, Snetterton, Norfolk: 1 Daisuke Nakajima/JPN, RR Dallara-Mercedes one minute 2.109 seconds; 2 Carlos Huertas/COL, RR Dallara-Mercedes 1.02.117; 3 Adriano Buzaid/ BRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1.02.120; 4 Jean-Eric Vergne/FRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1.02.146; 5 James Calado/GBR-Pershore, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1.02.257; 6 William Buller/GBR-Scarva, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen 1.02.274.

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