Kerr returns to F3 for Brands race

The ex-A1GP frontrunner, who won the British F3 National Class title in 2001 before adding the overall crown in '02, will replace Jay Bridger in Litespeed's international class Dallara-Mercedes.

He will drive the car for the first time during an official two-day test at Rockingham next week.

"The team has asked me to come and help them out and I'm pleased to be able to do so," said Kerr, 30, who has only raced sporadically in sportcars since finishing third for team Great Britain in the 2007-2008 A1GP season.

"We are going to do a little testing and see if I can help them make some improvements."

Litespeed has struggled in its second season of British F3. The team acquired a chassis from F3 Euro Series superteam ART last winter, but has suffered a string of problems with the car and rarely been competitive.

"We've had a long-term relationship with Robbie, and as part of that ongoing relationship we've elected to put him in the car for Brands Hatch," said Litespeed team manager Steve Kenchington. "I have every confidence that he'll do a good job for himself, and of course for us."

Ex-National Class champion Bridger remains contracted to Litespeed boss Nino Judge. He feels the car is likely to be far more competitive at Brands following a number of revisions to its set-up.

"I'm very disappointed to have been replaced but we weren't progressing in the way we wanted to progress," said Bridger. "The car was difficult to drive when I was driving it.

"They have decided to bring Robbie in with his race engineer to help with the progress. It's disappointing because when the car was working well I got 'driver of the weekend', a fourth and a sixth at Hockenheim. It should have been like that for most of the year.

"I would have liked to have been able to work with a new engineer and I'm disappointed I can't do the last meeting. I'll work on a deal for next year and see what happens."