|
Formula 3 Australia Statement Regarding Frankie Muniz |
|
|
|
|
Friday, 16 February 2007 |
Formula 3 Australia, on behalf of Team BRM, has today confirmed that Hollywood actor Frankie Muniz will not compete in the Australian Formula 3 races at the 2007 Formula 1 ING Australian Grand Prix, following speculation in the media recently discussing his potential entry into the event.
Muniz, star of the hit TV Show ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ and a number of popular Films, is this year competing with Jensen Motorsport in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship and had made enquires to Australian Formula 3 outfit Team BRM and owner Bronte Rundle to explore the possibility of competing in the Non-championship Formula 3 races at Albert Park.
Unfortunately, the close proximity of the Australian Grand Prix to the
final official Champ Car Atlantic Test at Laguna Seca, when coupled
with traveling time from his United States base, made crucial pre-event
testing impossible to organize prior to the Grand Prix.
As such Muniz and Eric Jensen recently confirmed to Team BRM and
Formula 3 Australia that they have decided to no longer pursue the
Australian option at this time.
“Eric Jensen from Jensen Motorsport contacted us on behalf of Frankie
with a view to having him contest the Australian Formula 3 Support
races at Albert Park, to help him gain experience in different cars and
at different tracks as he works towards a professional racing career,"
Team BRM owner Bronte Rundle said.
“Team BRM and Formula 3 Australia were very keen to have him compete at
the Australian Grand Prix and we worked hard to make it happen.
“Unfortunately the limited time between him arriving in Australia and
the Grand Prix event itself (which starts on Thursday, March 15th)
meant that it was impossible to get Frankie in a car to test before the
meeting, which would have limited his time to adapt to driving the
different car and working with a different team.
“We’re disappointed that he isn’t coming, but at the same time it is a
great sign that the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship
continues to be internationally recognized as a key place to learn the
craft of Open Wheel racing. The additional international interest in
the category this year confirms that.
“We wish Frankie and Jensen Motorsport all the best for the year ahead
in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship and hope that the schedule works
out for them to race here in Australia next year.” Rundle said.
The Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship is Australia’s
premier Open Wheel Championship - competitors compete for the
Australian Drivers Championship and the CAMS Gold Star – contested over
an eight-round national championship.
Champ Car star Will Power, V8 Supercar drivers Michael Caruso, Alan
Gurr, Tim Slade and Chris Alajajian, A1 Team Australia drivers Barton
Mawer, Karl Reindler and Ian Dyk and Australian GT Championship
frontrunner Peter Hackett are all notable graduates of the category
since it's inception in Australia in 1999.
A full field of Formula 3 cars will contest four non-championship races
as a support category at this years’ Formula 1 ING Australian Grand
Prix, on March 15 – 18.
For more information please visit www.formula3.com.au
|
