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Practice Results (Combined Times)
1.Neil McFadyen
(Piccola Scuderia Corse) 1m19.5426
2.Ben
Clucas (Opes Prime Team BRM) 1m20.2983
3.James
Winslow (Opes Prime Team BRM) 1m20.3716
4.Nathan Caratti (Opes Prime Team BRM) 1m20.5683
5. Earl
Bamber (Opes Prime Team BRM) 1m20.8500
National Class:
Chris Gilmour (Gilmour Racing) 1m21.7655
Trophy Class: Andrew Mill (Property Solutions
Group) 1:25.7929
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Continued from News
McFADYEN DOMINATES, BUT MASSIVE CRASH DECIMATES ORAN PARK
FORMULA 3 FIELD
The wreckage of several cars following today's massive crash at Oran
Park raceway. The cars of Wakeman (Right) and Holmes (Centre) will take
no further part this weekend.
pics
- Dirk Klynsmith
One of
the largest pileups in the history of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula
3 Championship has marred practice for round three of the championship
at Oran Park today.
A five-car smash at a blind section of the racetrack badly damaged all
cars involved and eliminated three competitors from the 20-car field
entered this weekend.
All drivers involved were fortunately unhurt though the same could not
be said for the ruined mess of carbon fibre and components that littered
pit lane following the second of two practice sessions.
On track, Piccola Scuderia Corse driver Neil McFadyen dominated
proceedings, topping first practice by 1.1 seconds and the second by 0.8
– but it was the crash ten minutes into practice two that was the
talking point of the day.
National Class competitor Graeme Holmes spun exiting turn seven (in the
hollow just prior to the old Suttons corner) and was stranded in the
middle of the racetrack.
Unsighted, McFadyen was the first car on the scene and was barely able
to avoid the stranded Dallara – the same could not be said, however, for
Leanne Tander, who was following McFadyen at the time.
Tander, unaware of the stranded car and with no where to go, spun
sideways into Holmes’ car in a brutal initial impact. Scud Racing driver
Mathew Radisich also made contact and ended in the wall, whilst Mat Sofi
managed to avoid a majority of the crash yet unfortunately ended his day
after hitting the then-stranded Radisich.
South Aussie youngster Jesse Wakeman then ploughed into the opposite
side of Holmes’ car and was the last to be involved.
Radisich, Wakeman and Holmes will be forced out of competition this
weekend due to the severe damage caused to each car.
Jesse Wakeman and Graeme Holmes’ cars were virtually destroyed, causing
catastrophic damage to the engines, gearboxes and all four suspension
‘corners’ on each car. The impact on Holmes' and Wakeman's cars was
enough to tear the inlet trumpets from the head of each Spiess engine.
Radisich’s F304 suffered damage to three corners as well as hefty
bodywork damage.
TanderSport and Transwest Racing both said that - after an initial
survey of the damage - that they would be able to repair the cars of
Leanne Tander and Mat Sofi, respectively.
As a
testament to the safety of Formula 3 cars no drivers were injured with
the worse complaint was stiff arms, backs and necks due to the force of
the impacts.
Due to the days’ running being counted as a private practice session and
not part of the official race meeting (Which officially runs for two
days), only a limited compliment of track marshals were on hand and as
such drivers approaching the blind section of the Oran Park circuit had
no idea or flag signalling of the stopped cars ahead.
First aid and safety vehicles were on the scene of the accident quickly.
 McFadyen
(left) was relieved to have escaped the carnage today and said
that things were progressing well following his teams’ test last week.
”The car is running fantastically,” He said. “The team and I had a good
chance to test and we banked a lot of data which has progressed things
really well. Things went well, but thankfully we avoided that massive
crash.
”Thankfully no one was hurt. I saw the car in the hollow but its
completely blind there. I just caught a shimmer of yellow and I got out
of it (the throttle). I thought I would be able to slow down but it was
impossible so I had to go to the outside which was between the car and
the wall – which was a very fine line – and thankfully I made it
through.
”We are looking good for this weekend and we’re looking forward to
getting on it for qualifying.”
Leanne
Tander was second in both sessions whilst Nathan Caratti was third in
Practice one and James Winlsow – on debut for Astuti Motorsport – third
in P2.
16-year-old Justin Tate moved into the National Class for the first time
this weekend and so far it seems to be paying off – topping his class in
practice two and finishing an amazing seventh outright in his F301
Dallara.
Ash Samadi (Astuti Motorsport) topped the class in Practice one whilst
Jesse Wakeman and Andrew Mill topped the trophy class in each session,
respectively.
For
more information and a full entry list head to
www.formula3.com.au
mail your news to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk
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