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Practice Results (Combined Times)
1.Chris
Gilmour (Drivebuy.com.au) 1:21.7655
2.Lee
Farrell (Opes Prime Team BRM) 1:22.3674
3.Samantha Reid (TanderSport) 1:22.9008
4.Daniel Schulz (Astuti Motorsport) 1:23.0858
5.Mathew Radisich (Scud Racing) 1:23.4560
Championship Class: Neil McFadyen (Piccola Scuderia
Corse) 1:19.5426
Trophy Class: Andrew Mill (Property Solutions
Group) 1:25.7929
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Continued from News
TRACK KNOWLEDGE
GOOD FOR GILMOUR AS QUEENSLANDER TOPS NATIONAL CLASS PRACTICE
Chris Gilmour was fastest in the Opes Prime National Class today.
Dirk Klynsmith Pic
Chris
Gilmour, the only driver in the Opes Prime National Class to have
experience on the demanding streets of Adelaide, has put his track
knowledge to good use by topping today’s practice for round two of the
Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship.
The Opes Prime National Class – for the 2004-spec cars – features some
of the closest competition in the Formula 3 field and $40,000 in prize
money, or a funded Championship Class drive in 2009, for the winner this
season.
Gilmour’s 1m21.7655s lap topped his class in the second session and on
combined times – and left him an encouraging eighth outright on the
overall timesheet.
Gilmour raced at the Clipsal 500 the last time Formula 3 was on the
program, finishing on the podium on two occasions and scoring a pole
position in the 2004 championship season opener. He is the only driver
in either championship or National class this weekend to have prior
experience on the 3.2km circuit.
The Queenslander topped Irishman – and class points leader – Lee Farrell
on combined times today to set up a close battle for class honours over
the two races this weekend.
”I’m really pleased – looks like my laps here are paying off,” Gilmour
enthused. “We struggled with fuel pressure problems in the second
session so it’s nice to be that far up. I think this is right up there
as my favourite tracks so I really enjoy coming here. I think we can be
up for some good performances in qualifying to get as many championship
points as possible.”
Farrell’s second position backed up his round one win, whilst an
impressive Samantha Reid (TanderSport) was third overall today.
In her first drive for TanderSport and first in a National-Class
specification car, Reid’s performance bodes well for the TanderSport
team after Trophy-class winning performances in her brief foray into the
2007 championship late last year.
The 20-year old South Australian was third in practice one and fourth in
practice two despite having an engine cover come loose to curtail her
session early.
Astuti Motorsport’s Daniel Schulz was fourth overall whilst Scud’s
Mathew Radisich was fifth.
The young kiwi – nephew of Touring Car champion Paul – only contested
the first session, however, after a blown engine left his team racing to
change engines between both practice sessions.
Round 1 polesitter Chris Reindler – now with new team R-Tek F3 – found
the tyre barrier in opening practice but recovered well to finish the
day sixth in class driving his brand new Dallara.
Less than a second covered the top five today, qualifying tomorrow set
to be a close affair to decide the race-within a race battle.
In the
Formula 3 Trophy Class Andrew Mill was the dominant force as his rivals
found problems.
A litany of dramas set local hope Jesse Wakeman back in both sessions –
leaving him without a single lap heading into qualifying – whilst
16-year-old Justin Tate was another to struggle to get track time today.
For
more information head to www.formula3.com.au
mail your news to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk
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Features