|
An incident packed Australian Formula Ford qualifying session this morning at the Clipsal 500 has given spectators a sneak preview of what to expect this season as the race for 2007 title honours begins.
Tim Blanchard was again fastest today and grabbed pole position in his Jaylec Mygale, following on from yesterday's practice where he was also quickest around the Adelaide circuit.
Blanchard scored the first points of the season with the pole sitter to receive a championship point for the first race of each round only, and couldn't be happier with his start to the weekend.
"I'm really pleased to start the season with a pole position and also happy that I managed to stay out of trouble out on the track," explained Blanchard.
"The track was quite dirty this morning and you expect that in the morning on a street circuit, but it was hard to put good laps together given how many times the session was red flagged," said Blanchard.
Nick Percat also impressed this morning, moving from seventh quickest overall at yesterday's practice to be next to Blanchard at the front of the grid for the opening race tomorrow morning.
Having recently moved from Adelaide to Melbourne, Percat is familiar with the city but is racing in his first Australian Formula Ford Series this weekend.
"I'm wrapped to be up the front and post a quick time, but I also came here expecting to do well so I am not shocked at all," said Percat.
"I'm happy with the car and I expect to do well tomorrow and set the scene for the rest of the season."
CAMS Rising Star Ashley Walsh had an incident riddled session from the outset, with the engine cover of his Spectrum coming loose and falling off on the opening lap.
Walsh was locked in a game of cat and mouse with Victorian Taz Douglas for much of the qualifying stint with both drivers in front position at some point as they attempted to slip stream, giving an insight into what can be expected during the weekend's racing.
Walsh encountered more trouble as CAMS Rising Star team mate Kristian Lindbom lost fuel pressure and slowed on the track with Walsh close behind.
Unable to avoid slight contact with Lindbom's rear at turn eleven, Walsh was forced from the track and into the wall, resulting in considerable damage to all four corners of his car and a red flag bringing the session to a close.
"It's just one of those things where I couldn't do much as I had no fuel pressure and unfortunately Ash has ended up with some damage, but it's the last thing you want to happen to a team mate," said Cams Rising Star Kristian Lindbom.
Despite all the drama, Walsh was still able to qualify third fastest and will start from that position tomorrow.
The red flag was waved again as turn eleven claimed another victim in Team BRM's Paul Pittam, with a rush of blood to the head sending him into the gravel trap, filling his car with eight kilograms of gravel.
Pittam's team mate at BRM John Magro also had some trouble, locking up his rears and clipping the wall resulting in another session stoppage.
Local Adelaide driver Samantha Reid posted her best ever qualifying result and will start from ninth on the grid for race one tomorrow morning.
The scene is set for a very tight opening round, with less than a second separating the top eight qualifiers.
|
