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Fast Failures: A Formula 3 oddity in Britain

How could one project be so successful in Japan, but barely scratch the surface of its potential in British Formula 3? MARCUS SIMMONS retraces the life of the radical TOM'S 031F

Looking down to the Old Hairpin from the Craner Curves at Donington Park, the cars go left to right across your field of vision. You get used to a rhythm, a general similarity in the progress of the competing cars. When one machine breaks that rhythm, you get a shock. Did you really just see that?

Such a phenomenon happened back in April 1991, as qualifying for the circuit's British Formula 3 round highlighted the extraordinary cornering speed of the TOM'S 031F driven by Rickard Rydell, looking like it was in a sped-up film.

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