PRACTICE SESSIONS
NOVEMBER 23, 2001

MONTIN MAKES A LIGHTNING START
Italy's Paolo Montin staked his claim as pre-race favourite for Sunday's International Formula 3 Korea Superprix after setting fastest time during Friday's free practice. Montin topped the timesheets in both periods for even-numbered cars, setting his very best lap at the end of the afternoon's session.

"We've had problems with the handling of the car in the first two corners," he said. "But I felt a lot more comfortable in the second session and we're now looking strong."

The TOM's Toyota driver set a new unofficial lap record of 1m10.866s and ended the day marginally ahead of British racer Andy Priaulx. The Promatecme UK driver was in fighting form throughout the day but was unable the equal the Toyota-engined car's top-end horsepower.

Frenchman Jonathan Cochet headed up both practice sessions for odd-numbered cars but finished the day in third overall. "We've had to build up an entirely different monocoque since my shunt in Macau," said the Signature driver. "It took time to adapt it to my individual needs but now I'm feeling confident because the car feels very good."

F3 returnees Narain Karthikeyan and Andre Couto suffered mixed fortunes in the day's sessions. The Indian driver, who was drafted into the Carlin Motorsport squad at the last minute after the team's regular driver Anthony Davidson was sidelined in a practice crash in Macau, failed to set any competitive times after slamming into a tyre barrier in the opening session. Last year's winner was forced to sit out the remainder of the day but will be back in action on Saturday.

Team-mate Andre Couto, replacing Carlin's Japanese star Takuma Sato, returned to Formula 3 for the first time since racing in Korea in 2000. He adapted steadily to the car, team and track but finished the day eighth fastest overall. The Carlin Motorsport outfit now faces an uphill struggle if it is to maintain its winning record in every International Formula 3 event this year. The British squad secured victories at Pau, Silverstone, Zandvoort and Macau and is now targeting an unprecedented clean-sweep at the Changwon International Raceway this weekend.

Practice continues for the third annual International Formula 3 Korea Super Prix on Saturday when qualifying times will be finalized for Sunday's prestigious event in South Gyeongsangnam-do Province.

TOP 10 TIMES - FRIDAY FREE PRACTICE
Paulo MONTIN 1m10.866s
Andy PRIAULX 1m11.064s
Jonathan COCHET 1m11.184s
Tiago MONTEIRO 1m11.260s
Yuji IDE 1m11.448s
Mark TAYLOR 1m11.493s
Enrico TOCCACELO 1m11.600s
Andre COUTO 1m11.797s
Derek HAYES 1m11.895s
Toshihiro KANEISHI 1m11.995s