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REIGNING CHAMPION TIM MACROW TO RETURN WITH No. 1 ON HIS
CAR
FOR PHILLIP ISLAND GOLD STAR BATTLE
The 2008 Kumho
Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship is proving so competitive that
it’s luring out its former champions in the search of more open wheel
glory.
Melbourne team Scud Racing confirmed today that reigning champion Tim
Macrow will return to the series at Phillip
Island between June 13 – 15, the third former champion to do so this year.
The ‘champions reunion’ began at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide in March this
year, 2006 champion Ben Clucas linking up with his old mates at Team BRM
in a one-off return to his winning ways, taking his impressive F3 win
ratio to 12 wins from 14 starts.
Then, just two weeks ago, 2004-champion Karl Reindler hooked up with his
title winning engineer and mechanic at R-Tek Motorsport to take out the
F3 National Class in stunning fashion at Mallala; becoming the first
National class competitor to finish on the outright podium in the
process.
Even 2005-champion Aaron Caratti has been represented this season,
younger brother Nathan (Team BRM) leading the standings at the series’
halfway point.
Round five of the championship will witness something similar after Scud
Racing today confirmed that Macrow, the current CAMS Australian Drivers
Champion, will make a one-off return to the series he won last year.
Macrow will return to the familiar situation of challenging newer
machinery in an older car, as he jumps back into the drivers’ seat of
his venerable Dallara F301 – Spiess Opel that he used with great effect
in the 2005 and ’06 championships.
In 44 career F3 championship starts, 24-year-old Macrow has won seven
races and amassed an impressive total of 25 podium finishes – including
two pole positions and two podiums scored in his 2001-spec Dallara at
Phillip Island in the 2005 & ’06 seasons.
Macrow, who will proudly run the #1 on his car this weekend, said that
he was hoping for some of his old
Phillip Island form to boost his
chances at the ‘Island next weekend.
”It will be a bit like putting on an old sock!” Macrow said with
affection of his old car, which effectively proved his
championship-winning capabilities prior to jumping into the ’04 car he
won the series in last year.
”It’s been five months out of the seat for me and funnily enough the
work Ute just doesn’t cut it, so I’m really looking forward to jumping
back in the old girl at Phillip Island.
”It’s a great car and it’s always been really strong at the Island – I’m
going to go out, have a good time and try and mix it with some cars that
should be faster.”
Macrow, entered in the competitive F3 National Class that caters for the
2001 – 2004 generation F3 chassis’, said that qualifying would be the
key for a strong performance.
”The car has always been strong in qualifying,” he explained. “I doubt
that we will compete with the new cars because the ‘07s have such an
advantage in aerodynamics and grip that they should disappear into the
distance at Phillip
Island, but I think we can mix it with the ’04 cars in National Class.
”They are even stronger this year than they were when we last ran the
’01 against them, but if I can qualify the car well I know we can race
with them.”
Macrow continues to work behind the scenes on his international racing
aspirations having narrowly missed an opportunity to compete in the
US-based Atlantic series this season, following the merger between the
Champ Car and IndyCar series earlier this year.
Macrow will join a field – anticipated to be more than 20-cars strong –
at Australia’s fastest race track
when round five of the 2008 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3
Championship is contested between June 13 – 15.
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