Oliver Jarvis, runner-up in the 2006 British F3 series, has got off to a pleasing start in pre-season testing with Tom’s in Japan having completed unofficial sessions at both Fuji and Motegi circuits.   The 23 year old British driver from Cambridgeshire moved out to Japan earlier this month to join Tom’s, the reigning Japanese F3 Championship winning team, to embark on his campaign in the 2007 All Japan F3 Series.

These initial test sessions have been all about familiarising Jarvis with the car, especially as he is having to adapt to the very different Bridgestone tyres, and of course, learning the circuits that are totally new to him as well as getting to know the team.
The Tom’s team have been pleased with his progress to date with Jarvis setting some fast lap times despite having to overcome major differences between the Avon tyres he raced with last year in Britain and his new Bridgestone tyres.



Fuji 16-17

JanAs Oliver’s first day with the Tom’s team, the morning started as quite a shock with a substantial difference between the Avons that he ran last year in British F3 and the Bridgestones used in the All Japan F3 series.  This initial session was spent getting a better understanding of the tyres and learning how to get the best out of them, as well as getting to know his engineer and mechanics.

Having analysed the morning’s data and discussing the tyres with his engineer, Jarvis went into the afternoon session in confident mood.  His confidence paid off and he soon set the quickest time of 1.36.6 albeit a time that was later edged out by his team-mates who ran an extra set of tyres.

Times:

Oshima    - Tom’s                1.36.577
Ishiura -     Tom’s                1.36.614
Jarvis -     Tom’s                1.36.614
Sekiguchi – Now Motorsport        1.36.799
Streite -     Inging                1.36.967
Yasuda – ThreeBond            1.37.102
Asmer -     ThreeBond            1.37.301



Motegi  22 -23 Jan

Despite experiencing some difficulty in learning the circuit, hampered further with track conditions being wet and cold, the amount of dry running time proved to be limited.  By the afternoon of day two’s session, Jarvis had really got to grips with the track and the Bridgestones to finish narrowly behind Ishiura, last year’s Motegi winner.

Times:

Ishiura – Tom’s            1.45.340
Oshima – Tom’s            1.45.385
Jarvis – Tom’s            1.45.414
Sekiguchi – Now Motorsport    1.45.441
Asmer – ThreeBond        1.45.637
Streite – Inging            1.45.886

“I am very pleased with the way testing is going and the progress we are making,” says Jarvis who is clearly enjoying his time in Japan.  “As a team, we have already established a solid working relationship and I am continuing to adapt to the Bridgestone tyres, which I must admit was quite a shock to begin with! I was pleased to finish so close to Ishiura at Motegi and I am confident if we return to this circuit I can better my time.  Testing continues to go well and I must say how surprised I am by the fierce competition out here in Japan which can sometimes be under-estimated.  I look forward to the challenges that lay ahead.”

Testing continues in February in Sepang with the first Official Test taking place on 6 and 7 March, Fuji.

For further information, contact:
Rachel Lambert, Kingston PR
Tel: +44 (0) 1926 614696 Fax: +44 (0) 1926 614795   Email:rachel@kingstonpr.co.uk