MARCH 3, 2002

A man worth watching

WHILE the attention in Formula 1 has been focussed on Melbourne and all the shenanigans going on down there, it is worth noting the results of a recent test in Japan where Honda has been trying out youngsters for its GT program.

The test featured four young hopefuls including F1 test drivers Jonathan Cochet and Darren Manning plus the reigning German Formula 3000 Champion Toshihiro Kaneishi. The fourth driver was the little-known British driver Richard Lyons who emerged from the test faster than his three challengers. The 22-year-old is racing in Formula Nippon at the moment having not been able to get the money to continue his career in Europe where, as a youngster, he battled the highly-rated Williams F1 test driver Antonio Pizzonia for the Formula Vauxhall Junior title.

Lyons has been signed by Honda and it will be worth keeping an eye on his career, just in case he suddenly pops up in F1 circles.