Formula 3 season launches with a grid of 26 cars

The 2008 British Formula 3 season was officially launched at Silverstone on 6 March with a grid of 26 cars, 18 in the International Class and 8 in the National Class. Stefan's fellow competitors in the National Class include three from the UK and one each from Colombia, Iceland, Germany and Bahrain.

The first event of the season is at Oulton Park in Cheshire over Easter weekend, 22 and 24 March. Stefan raced at the circuit last year in Formula Palmer Audi and came close to dominating the weekend. He qualified on pole for both rounds and scored a lights-to-flag win in the first race, but then crashed out of race two. He's looking forward to returning to Oulton for his first outing in Formula 3.

"I can't wait till the season starts," he says. "We've been in the top three in testing, but that's when we'll get an idea where we really stand."

The rest of launch day at Silverstone was taken up with a photoshoot and a half-day testing session. The track action, though, was interrupted several times by red flags and Stefan and his team were not able to accomplish a great deal.

The final pre-season test takes place on Wednesday 12 March at Oulton Park, where Stefan will get a chance to find out how his F3 Dallara Mugen-Honda compares on track with last year's Formula Palmer Audi car as he works at preparing for his F3 racing debut.