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British Invasion Doubles As Charles Hollings Joins The Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship |
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Saturday, 27 January 2007 |
A last minute driver change has seen British driver Charles Hollings replace Andy Knight as Astuti Motorsport’s second confirmed driver for this years Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship.
Originally confirmed a week ago, New Zealand driver Knight has been forced to withdraw from the Astuti seat after deciding to focus on his existing campaign in his domestic Open Wheel championship.
Hollings, 24, joins fellow Brit James Winslow in an expanded English
lineup in this years Gold Star points race, both surely hoping to
regain some sporting honor for their homeland after an abysmal summer
for the British down under.
Hollings began his career, like many others, in karting and scored many
top results in both British and European karting champions between 1989
and 1998 before stepping into race cars in 1999.
Since stepping into cars he has successfully raced Formula Ford, Formula Renault and, in 2005 and 2006, Formula 3.
In 2005 Hollings finished fifth in the British F3 Championship National
Class, scoring four wins, eight pole positions and twelve podium
finishes racing the likes of Salvador Duran, Aussie Barton Mawer, and
2006 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Champion Ben Clucas.
Last year he contested the British F3 International series with Fortec Motorsport and scored a best finish of 7th place.
Hollings addition to the field looks set to – for now – complete the
international invasion that is set to be a major focus in this years
championship.
As the two representatives from Great Britain Hollings and Winslow
(Piccola Scuderia) will race Italian Marco Mapelli (Team BRM) and
Austrian Walter Grubmuller (Astuti) as well as leading Australian
contenders Tim Macrow, Leanne Tander, Stuart Kostera, Mat Sofi and
Chris Alajajian.
Astuti Motorsport team owner Sam Astuti was naturally pleased to secure Hollings for the championship season.
“We were disappointed to see Andy pull out because we had seen what he
was capable of and we were looking forward to working with him again
this year,” he said.
“But to be able to secure someone like Charlie at the last minute is
fantastic for Astuti Motorsport and the series. Charles has gained a
lot of Formula 3 experience over the last two years and I’m totally
confident that he is going to be very hard to beat at Eastern Creek
despite only confirming his participation a week out from the event.
“My original aim of an Astuti Motorsport 1 – 2 at the opening round stands firm!” Astuti said.
Hollings now rounds out a 19-car field for the opening round of the
2007 championship, up to nine cars expected to be contenders in what is
set to be one of the most fiercely contested Australian Open Wheel
championship in ages.
The series gets underway at the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport event at Eastern Creek on February 2 – 4.
A complete entry list follows this media release.
For more information head to www.formula3.com.au
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