Briton Ryan Lewis has confirmed that he will contest the 2004 British Formula 3 Championship Scholarship Class with leading F3 team T-Sport. At the announcement at Brands Hatch yesterday the 19 year-old Formula Palmer Audi Champion confirmed his plans at a presentation attended by MSV Managing Director and FPA series organiser Dr. Jonathan Palmer.

Ryan's performance in the 2004 FPA series did not go unnoticed by Jonathan who was understandably delighted that another of his drivers has progressed through the ranks, “Ryan was instantly quick when he came into Formula Palmer Audi, quite entertaining, but always quick! He's also very disciplined. I think he really has the potential to go all the way. He's confident but in a nice way and I think Formula 3 is a great step for him.”

Announcing the decision to run with T-Sport, Ryan said, “I knew it would be Formula 3 this season, the decision really was with which team. Right from the start I was very impressed with the T-Sport team and I think we'll all work well together. They have a lot of experience and are a very professional team”, said Ryan.

“I think the biggest challenge for me will be getting used to the standard of driving. Formula 3 is an international series and there'll be a lot of very quick and very experienced drivers out there who'll probably be a lot more aggressive. But the test with the team went well, they were very helpful and I'm sure I can learn a lot from them.”

“I've been really concentrating on my diet and working out a lot in the gym. I have a good training programme now and I've done a lot of research about what's required, which is a lot more cardio work rather than weights, to keep my own weight down. It's going to be a tough season, I'm under no illusions about that but I'm going into the series very determined, I want to win the title and I feel really fired up!”

T-Sport team boss Russell Eacott was equally enthusiastic about the coming season and full of praise for his new young charge, “Ryan has a lot of raw talent and quite remarkable high speed cornering abilities. He needs to be taught a little finesse but we feel he has a lot of potential, which we're all looking forward to helping him fulfil. We must remember he has very little experience, particularly in working closely with engineers, compared to the others out here this season,

but he learns quickly and more importantly he wants to learn. He has every chance of winning the Scholarship this year and we're all looking forward to working with him.”

Over the next two months, Ryan will undergo an intensive testing programme in preparation for the first of 24 rounds, which kicks off at Donington Park on 3/4 of April. Channel 4 television will be showing edited highlights of the Championship in the form of half-hour programmes, with precise broadcast times to be confirmed.

ENDS

Editors note: Copyright free pictures of Ryan are available at the website below and requests for interview should be directed to Cathy Metcalfe at the details below.

Ref: ml00057
6 February 2004

For media information: Cathy Metcalfe, MPR Associates, Tel: +44 (0) 1327 352199,
Fax: +44 (0) 1327 352908, Mob: +44 (0) 7802 332398,
E-mail: cathymetcalfe@mpr-associates.co.uk  www.ryanlewisracing.co.uk