Brit returns to British F3

Kirkaldy, winner of the BRDC McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award in 1997, raced for the Stewart Racing squad in 1999, but is set to return to the series in an all new team after plans to race in America fell through at the last minute.

The Scotsman will drive for Team Avanti, run by former Paul Stewart Racing engineer Nigel Clyde, who was Ralph Firman¹s engineer in his F3 championship-winning season and has worked for AMG with Dario Franchitti and, most recently, the Benetton Formula 1 test team.

Backing for the project comes from AG Watson Autosalvage, Andrew¹s long-term sponsor, and the Scotsman intends to be on the grid for the Donington double-header meeting in two weeks time.

"We were hoping to be ready for Oulton Park, but we have been so busy getting everything sorted, we just ran out of time. We won¹t have done much testing, but I am still confident of being on the pace at a track at whereI normally do well. Avanti means 'front' in Italian and that¹s where I intend to be."

Like the majority of drivers in the Green Flag British Formula 3 Championship, Kirkaldy will drive a Dallara F300 chassis, but will be powered by a Spiess Opel engine.