ParcFerme.Com

Always renowned as one of the toughest race meetings in Australia, the Clipsal 500’s longstanding reputation has been enforced upon Team BRM drivers Paul Pittam and John Magro following last weekends opening round of the Australian Formula Ford Championship.

At their home event, Team BRM and their drivers showed they have the ingredients needed to perform in Formula Ford but in the end endured a tough weekend that ended with one car heavily damaged, and the other denied a points-scoring finish due to a technical problem just a few laps from home.

Magro, who turns 21 this week, had been a quiet achiever of the weekend up to that point, rebounding from missing qualifying and an early practice crash to keep his focus and work through the field.

“The car just jammed in gear, it was really disappointing because we had got into the top ten,” John Magro said.

”I’ve been told that it happens sometimes so I don’t know if it was my fault or not, but it was unfortunate.

”The Clipsal track is just so demanding and so tough. One mistake and it will bite you and take you out.

”I was pleased to be able to come through from 26th on the grid to be in the top ten before the car broke. When we go to Barbagello we should be able to continue that good run and hopefully go well.” He said.

Gawler based driver Paul Pittam was also rebounding in his L.J Hooker Gawler car, but was an unfortunate victim of someone else’s accident exiting the turn three chicane in the third race.

Luke Wood spun his car early in the race and Pittam, 18, was the next one following, left with no room to pass on the inside of the circuit and forced into making contact with Wood and the inside wall at turn three.

Running inside the top eight at the time, the accident sent the Team BRM Van Diemen spinning across the circuit and left stranded in the wall with severe damage to the suspension, steering box and gearbox casing.

The team will assess the car in the coming days to see if it is possible to rebuild the LJ Hooker entry in time for the Barbagello, WA, round of the championship in three weeks time.

“The team thinks the crash caused about $40,000 worth of damage,” A battered and bruised Pittam said following the third race crash.

”It’s really going to make the remainder of my season difficult because that’s a good chunk of our budget gone.

“It was an unfortunate crash because I started 12th and was in eighth place when Wood spun in front of me.

”I thought I was past but he just clipped my rear wheel and that put me in the wall.” He said.

Pittam had rebounded well up to that point, after a tough initiation to the demanding Adelaide street circuit.

”I was struggling with setup all weekend, I’m used to circuits having grip from the first time you go out,” he explained.

“That third race was the first time all weekend that I felt totally comfortable with the car and I thought I had the capability to make up a lot more positions.

“The weekend was a big experience for me and it’s a shame it ended how it did.” Said Pittam.

Team BRM Formula Ford manager Mark Rundle said that the weekend proved to be a good learning curve for all involved.

“Everyone certainly learnt a lot, and I think we made some good progress,” said Rundle.

“It’s a long championship so whilst this is a setback there is plenty of time for John and Paul to rebound from this tough start and get to where we know they can be – up the front.

“It will be a race against time to get Paul’s car ready for Barbagello, but we are confident that we can do it. Most of the parts are readily available so we’ll work hard and get it on track.

“All in all a tough weekend but the boys showed pace so that was a real positive.” He said.

Team BRM’s Formula Ford contingent will next be in action at Barbagello Raceway in Perth, on March 23 – 25, whilst the team’s Formula 3 cars will be in action at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in two weeks time.

For more information head to www.teambrm.com.au