 Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Mumwaka wa19961997, Lautowa akahwina mukombe wake wekutanga wepasi rose wevakuru kuKarl Schäfer Memorial. Achiratidza mumutambo wekutanga weChampions Series wakazozivikanwa seGrand Prix series, akaisa nzvimbo yechina mu1996 Skate America uye akapihwa menduru yesirivha mu1996 Cup yeRussia. Akaonekwawo kaviri pamwero wechidiki, achiisa wechitanhatu 12th muchirongwa chipfupi, chechitatu muhurongwa hwekusununguka pa1997 Junior Worlds muSeoul, South Korea, uye kutora sirivha pa1997 European Youth Olympic Festival muSundsvall, Sweden. Akapedza ari 16th pa1997 European ChampionshipsmuParis uye 8th pa1997 World Championships muLausanne, akaisa 5th muboka rake rokugadzirira, 11th munguva pfupi, uye 6th vakasununguka. 