British F3 2010: Runners and riders

Carlin - Dallara-Volkswagen

#1 Adriano Buzaid (BR)

Age: 21
2009: 6th in British F3

This is a big season for Buzaid. Has impressed in every junior series he's contested so far, without ever mounting a title challenge. Has a real chance now, having switched to British F3's top team after a mixed rookie season with T-Sport. He's quick, clever, and fearless, but tends to get ruffled if things aren't going his way.

#2 James Calado (GB)

Age: 20
2009: 2nd in Formula Renault UK

His Racing Steps Foundation backers were only ever going to choose one team with which to place Calado for his F3 graduation. Only has two seasons of car racing under his belt, but already combines blistering single-lap speed with an even temperament. Will want the title in his rookie season, but is up against a high-quality field, and some tough team-mates.

#21 Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB)

Age: 19
2009: 6th in Formula BMW Europe

Surname sounds Norwegian, but first name is quintessentially English. Ipswich native Svendsen-Cook returns to the UK after two seasons racing on the continent. Three years of Formula BMW (the first in the final year of the UK series in '07) has brought steady, but unspectacular progress. Should be a good bet for the odd podium.

#22 Jazeman Jaafar (MAL)

Age: 17
2009: 9th in Formula BMW Europe

The Malaysian teenager is another product of the Formula BMW school. Took the Formula BMW Asia title in 2007, but found the going much tougher during two seasons in Europe. Much will depend on how quickly he gets to grips with the UK circuits, and whether running six cars becomes a strain on Carlin's resources. Don't expect miracles.

#23 Lucas Foresti (BR)

Age: 17
2009: 3rd in Sudam F3

The Roberto Moreno protege made a late switch to Carlin from rival squad Hitech on the eve of the final pre-season test. The Brazilian has previous category experience from his native land, but the spec of the cars is quite different, and the level of competition rather lower than in Britain. Says he is "here to learn" and should do just that if he can keep his head down and his nose clean.

#31 Jean-Eric Vergne (F)

Age: 19
2009: 2nd in Formula Renault Eurocup

No Frenchman has ever won the British F3 championship, but this rookie could well become the first. Succeeds reigning champion Daniel Ricciardo as Formula Renault Eurocup runner-up, product of SG Formula, and Red Bull-backed future superstar at Carlin. Has shown ballistic speed in testing (he lapped over three tenths clear at Oulton Park last month!) and is a definite title favourite.

Hitech Racing - Dallara-Volkswagen

#3 William Buller (GB)

Age: 17
2009: 10th in Formula BMW Europe

Hitech re-emerged as the closest threat to top team Carlin last season, but will they manage to keep pace without Walter Grubmuller's millions backing them up? The team is convinced of this wealthy Formula BMW graduate's talent, and Buller doesn't lack confidence, but Hitech's driver line-up lacks experience - something that hurt the team in 2008.

#4 Gabriel Dias (BR)

Age: 19
2009: 2nd in British F3 National Class

Learned the F3 ropes largely under the radar by racing for National Class stalwarts T-Sport in his rookie year last season. Showed some impressive turns of speed, but didn't finish enough races to challenge Daniel McKenzie for the title. Has moved to Hitech for an overall title tilt, but the team has struggled for pace throughout much of pre-season testing and Dias is taking time to find his feet.

Fortec Motorsport - Dallara-Mercedes

#5 Daniel McKenzie (GB)

Age: 21
2009: British F3 National Class champion

Beat a thin field to take the National Class title in his rookie F3 season with Fortec. Showed maturity and level-headedness during a campaign in which he occasionally finished inside the overall top 10. But stepping up to the main class brings a whole new kind of pressure.

#6 Oli Webb (GB)

Age: 19
2009: 3rd in Formula Renault UK

Last year was a breakout season for Webb, who has been racing cars since the age of 15. Didn't quite have the early race pace to challenge FRUK title protagonists Dean Smith and James Calado, but took two wins and was always there or thereabouts. Has decided to remain with the Fortec family for his F3 graduation and the team has high hopes for his future.

#9 Max Snegirev (RU)

Age: 22
2009: 4th in British F3 National Class

Spent his rookie F3 season propping up the grid with Team West-Tec. Finished his first F3 test 4.8 seconds off the pace and ended last season in a Brands Hatch barrier, having qualified... 4.8s off the pace. Also racked up a hefty crash damage bill along the way and has much to do to prove that he is anything other than out of his depth in this series.

T-Sport - Dallara-Volkswagen

#7 Alex Brundle (GB)

Age: 19
2009: 19th in Formula 2

The Brundle name returns to British F3 for the first time since Alex's father Martin ran Ayrton Senna close for the 1983 title. This will be Alex Brundle's first season not racing in a championship run by Jonathan Palmer, and many will be interested to see how he gets on having stepped down/across/up (depending on your view) from F2 after a disappointing first season in the re-launched series.

Raikkonen Robertson Racing - Dallara-Mercedes

#8 Daisuke Nakajima (J)

Age: 21
2009: 8th in British F3

Surprised many with his early-season qualifying pace last year, but tended to struggle to maintain that form in the races. Harshly labelled a 'roadblock' by rivals - failing to win at Silverstone having qualified on pole and led into the first turn did nothing to discredit that reputation. Should be a more consistent factor this year with increased familiarity and confidence.

#26 Carlos Huertas (COL)

Age: 18
2009: 7th in British F3

The Colombian teenager could be a dark horse for this year's title. Mercedes will want to bounce back after defeat by VW last season and Double R is banking on it. Showed continued improvement throughout his rookie season and was beating Nakajima regularly towards the end. Has been rapid in testing, and if the team can give him the right tools Huertas could be a real threat.

#27 Felipe Nasr (BR)

Age: 17
2009: Formula BMW Europe champion

Arrives in Britain as hot property, having been involved in a managerial tug of war between Red Bull and Steve Robertson during his FBMW title-winning campaign last year. Robertson won that war, so Nasr finds himself in British F3 for his second season in car racing. The team believes this kid is the "real deal", but inexperience could mean it takes time before he starts to show it.

Litespeed - Dallara-Mercedes

#14 Jay Bridger (GB)

Age: 22
2009: 15th in British F3

The 2008 National Class champion returns for a third season in British F3, hoping a switch from his troublesome Mygale-Mugen-Honda to an ex-ART Dallara-Mercedes will improve his fortunes. However, a serious lack of pace in pre-season testing suggests Bridger and Litespeed are in for another tough year.

Sino-Vision Racing - Dallara-Mercedes

#18 Adderly Fong (PRC)

Age: 20
2009: 16th in German F3

Fong brings two seasons of German F3 experience with him to Britain and will race one of two ex-Manor Motorsport Dallaras acquired by Chris Churchill's new team. His results until now have been nothing to write home about, and British F3 is not an easy place for a new team to cut its teeth, so expect nothing but an uphill struggle for this combination.

CF Racing/Manor Motorpsort - Dallara-Mercedes

#25 Hywel Lloyd (GB)

Age: 25
2009: 13th in British F3

The likeable Welsh privateer returns for a third season with his own CF Racing squad, hoping a switch from Mugen-Honda to Mercedes power, and a technical link-up with former category kings Manor Motorsport, will greatly improve his chances. The team will sport a Manor livery and also run reigning Formula BMW Pacific champion and Manor GP3 driver Rio Haryanto at selected rounds, to give the Indonesian extra mileage.

National Class

T-Sport - Dallara-Mugen-Honda

#43 Menasheh Idafar (GB/BRN)

Age: 19
2009: 24th in Formula Renault UK

The British-born Bahraini has bags of enthusiasm and has set the pace in pre-season testing. His three years of previous slicks and wings experience in FRenault should give him the early-season edge over his team-mate and make him the title favourite.

#44 James Cole (GB)

Age: 21
2009: British Formula Ford champion

Decided to enter the ailing National Class on the advice of Carlin team boss Trevor Carlin for his first season in a slicks and wings category. He also wants to remain eligible for the 2010 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award, but a lack of depth in the class may cost him, regardless of whether he wins the championship.

Read the full preview to this season's British Formula 3 championship in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, or in the digital edition.