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Trophy Class:

1. Andrew Mill 60
2. Justin Tate 45

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Continued from News

2008 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship.
 

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SUPER START GETS GILMOUR HOME FIRST IN OPES PRIME NATIONAL CLASS

A tight battle for the Opes Prime National Class is evolving between Lee Farrell and Chris Gilmour in this years Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship following today’s second race at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

The pair are now split by just two points after Queenslander Gilmour (Drivebuy.com.au / Dallara F304 Spiess Opel) won today’s(Sunday 24 Feb) action-packed 12 lap affair on the streets of Adelaide in front of more than 80,000 spectators, holding off Daniel Schulz and Mathew Radisich in a close fight.

The pair look likely to duel this year for the class prize of either $40,000 cash or a funded Championship Class drive the in 2009, thanks to Opes Prime.

Meanwhile, 16 year-old Trophy Class driver Justin Tate drove a stunning race to record the class win and finish a staggering ninth outright in his Scud Racing Dallara F301.

Gilmour made a brilliant start to the 12-lap race by passing two cars off the start – jumping from third on the class grid to the lead before turn one.

From there he withheld brief pressure from Lee Farrell until Gilmour’s main championship rival had a lock-up and ran off the circuit at turn three.

Farrell won yesterday’s first class race but could only manage 6th in class today.

”I was pushing hard and hit the bumps before turn three when I was down-changing,” Farrell explained.

”It put me into the air and spun me around. I had a lot of speed and was looking to challenge Chris so it’s very disappointing.”

Gilmour went on to record a win ahead of Schulz, starting his last F3 race before work commitments take him overseas.

” I thought my prior experience would have given me some advantage but the class of driver is very high so I knew it would be competitive coming into the weekend,” Gilmour said.

”I’m kind of renowned for my starts and I got off the line really well. I got the two guys in front and that was it – from there I held my position. The car wasn’t that great but we held on and I’m very happy with the result. We’re right back in the battle for the Opes Prime National Class win which is great.”

Scud Racing’s Mathew Radisich was third – a strong comeback from an engine change earlier in the weekend – whilst Samantha Reid recovered from an earlier drama to finish fourth in class.

Reid’s TanderSport car was clipped from behind by R-Tek F3 driver Chris Reindler, his car launched into the air and into a complete 360-degree rollover.

Reindler’s Dallara landed on its wheels with the driver emerging unscathed – if shaken and stirred.

Transwest Racing driver James Crozier finished fifth in class after a consistent performance this weekend.

16-year-old Tate won the Trophy Class today thanks to a storming drive from last on the grid – after his engine failed before the second qualifying session on Friday.

Tate’s performance was even more impressive given he raced with – and passed – several newer cars in the Opes Prime National Class en route to his stunning top ten finish overall.

Andrew Mill (Property Solutions Group F301), however, leads the Trophy battle ahead of Tate and South Australian Jesse Wakeman.

Race 2 Results

1. Chris Gilmour (Gilmour Racing)
2. Daniel Schulz (Astuti Motorsport)
3. Mathew Radisich (Scud Racing)
4. Samantha Reid (TanderSport)
5. James Crozier (Transwest Racing)
   
   Trophy Class – Justin Tate (Scud Racing)

FARRELL ALL THE WAY TO COMMANDING OPES PRIME NATIONAL CLASS WIN AT CLIPSAL

Lee Farrell (Seen here leading Chris Gilmour) won the Opes Prime National Class at the Clipsal 500 today.

Dirk Klynsmith Pic

Lee Farrell has continued his love affair with the 3.2 kilometres of tarmac that make up the world-famous Adelaide street circuit after storming to an Opes Prime National Class victory in the opening race of this weekend’s second 2008 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship.

Though not fastest in practice, Farrell dominated qualifying yesterday and today led his class lights-to-flag to record his second class win from two races this year, and extend his championship points lead to 18.

Farrell started from pole and, despite a safety car intervention mid race, held on to win ahead of a resurgent Daniel Schulz (Astuti Motorsport F304 – Renault) and Chris Gilmour.

Farrell said that the enjoyment of racing on Adelaide’s streets made the win even sweeter.

”It’s brilliant, I’m really happy the weekend is going to plan,” The 20-year-old Melbourne-based Irishman said.

”I got an o.k. start – wouldn’t say it’s the best I have ever had – but I kept the lead and had a bit of pressure from Chris Gilmour for most of the race – he was pretty close most of the way through which kept it interesting.

“After the safety car I was able to get a break, and with Daniel (Schulz) getting past Chris at the hairpin I had a good margin to get to the flag and win. It’s been fantastic here so far, I’m really enjoying it. The track is amazing to drive and it’s been a great weekend so far and hopefully we can keep the momentum up.” He said.

Schulz(pictured right-  pic Dirk Klynsmith) recorded his best finish of the season thanks to a pass with two laps to go, following the safety car period, a strong second in class elevating him to third in the championship with one race of round two remaining.

Gilmour’s third was a strong rebound from a persistent fuel pressure problem his Gilmour Racing team has been experiencing all weekend, second in the championship and the race for either $40,000 or a fully-funded Opes Prime Championship Class drive in 2009 – the prizes for this years National Class champion.

Scud Racing’s Mathew Radisich was able to finish fourth – taking advantage of an incident by R-Tek F3 driver Chris Reindler two laps from home.

Reindler, Local driver Troy Woodger and several other drivers were involved in an incident at turn one on the eighth lap, dropping down the order from the class top five.

South Australian Samantha Reid was another to come unstuck withy a few laps to go, spinning her TanderSport car at the final corner after being caught up in the earlier incident.

In the Formula 3 Trophy Class, Andrew Mill recorded his second win of the season – and 13th outright – but it was a stunning comeback performance from Scud Racing’s Justin Tate which was the classes’ leading story.

The 16 year-old Melbournian’s car had an engine failure on Saturday and his team went to extreme lengths – driving 18 hours to pick a replacement engine – to get the car back on track.

Tate rewarded the team by driving to second position in class, a just reward for the hard work.

Local Jesse Wakeman recovered from earlier dramas to finish third in class.

For more information head to www.formula3.com.au

Race 1 Results – Opes Prime National Class

1. Lee Farrell (Opes Prime Team BRM) – 9th outright
2. Daniel Schulz (Astuti Motorsport) – 10th outright
3. Chris Gilmour (Gilmour Racing) – 11th outright
4. Mathew Radisich (Scud Racing) – 12th outright 
5. Graeme Holmes (GKH Powdercoating) – 15th outright.

Farrell storms to Opes Prime F3 National Class win at Eastern Creek

Lee Farrell has come away with his first Australian Formula 3 Opes Prime National Class win, taking victory in the only race of the day at Eastern Creek after the second race was cancelled due to extreme weather.

Farrell began the race second in class, and after dropping down to third later he steered his Opes Prime Team BRM Dallara F304 Opel Spiess car to victory.

“After I got into the lead I didn’t ever really feel threatened so I was able to take it easy and it was comfortable in the end,” Farrell enthused.

The start of the race didn’t bode well for the Irishman, initially getting passed by Chris Gilmour and dropping him to third.

However, Farrell then passed Chris Reindler for second, and on lap five he passed Gilmour for the lead and never looked back.

“It just feels really good to come to the first race of the year and come away with the win!” he said.

Chris Gilmour began in his usual style, having an excellent getaway off the line to pass a couple of the Kumho Tyres Championship Class cars, and running as high as fifth overall.

Gilmour built up a small gap against his Opes Prime National Class rivals, but he was then was struck with a leaking fuel cell with scorching fuel spilling around his seat.

“I could feel it burning through my race suit and it became really uncomfortable and difficult to concentrate on the race because I was trying to lift myself up over the seat to get away from the fuel,” Gilmour explained.

The fuel problem was caused by a loose bolt on the fuel cell, which hadn’t been correctly tightened after a fuel pressure problem in qualifying yesterday.

Third position fell to Chris Reindler in his TanderSport Dallara F304 Opel Spiess after starting the race in pole position.

Reindler got slipstreamed on the second lap by Gilmour, and then was struck by a seatbelt problem that made it almost impossible for him to drive.

“I got a really good start, which I was extremely happy with, considering it was my first start in Formula 3,” Reindler said.

“Overall I’m really happy. It was a really positive weekend for us and I’m really pleased with what I learned about the car,” he said.

Youngster Mathew Radisich was pleased with coming fourth in his Scud Racing Dallara F304 Spiess Opel, while Daniel Schulz finished in fifth with James Crozier completing the Opes Prime National Class top six.

The second scheduled race of the day was cancelled in the afternoon after extreme weather halted proceedings, following a start behind the safety car.

With zero visibility for the drivers in their exposed openwheel cockpits, there was no option but to cancel the race.

The Trophy Class was won by Andrew Mill, with Jesse Wakeman doing well to finish in second, and John Boothman took third place.

The Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship was won by Nathan Caratti – who took the outright race victory, and he was followed by Opes Prime Team BRM team-mate James Winslow, with Leanne Tander finishing in third.

Race 1 - National Top 5

1. Lee Farrell
2. Chris Gilmour
3. Chris Reindler
4. Mathew Radisich
5. Daniel Schulz

Championship Class: 1. Nathan Caratti
Trophy Class: 1. Andrew Mill