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ASTUTI MOTORSPORT may well be a team with Italian heritage, but tonight their crew members will be singing the familiar tunes of God Save the Queen after their new British recruit Charlie Hollings won the first or four non-championship Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 races, at Albert Park today.
In front of his visiting British family Hollings survived a chaotic eight-lap affair in inclement weather conditions, which included light rain at stages, to win the race ahead of Tim Macrow and Italian driver Marco Mapelli; ensuring that the British National Anthem sung out across the Albert Park loudspeakers to an appreciative crowd.
Starting from pole position, 2004 series champion Karl Reindler made a strong start and – after a scuffle with a fast starting Walter Grubmuller and team mate Marco Mapelli – settled into the lead of the race.
His advantage was placed under a cloud, however, when he was shown a black flag for a jumped start.
Under constant pressure from Grubmuller’s Astuti Motorsport Dallara, Reindler held the lead into the fourth lap – when a safety car was called after Hollings and Finnish driver Henri Karjalainen clashed whilst disputing fourth place.
Hollings dived to the inside of the Asian Formula 3 entry into the turn one chicane, Karjalainen shutting the door and contacting the front wheel of the Astuti entry.
After getting airborne, Karjalainen ended his stunning debut race (he started 10th and was fourth at the time of the incident) in the sand trap. The disappointment for the Team Goddard driver was intensified due to the team having performed an engine change in the two and a half hours between qualifying and the race.
Daniel Schulz’ National Class CERA sport entry had also spun at the back of the circuit due to the slick conditions, necessitating the short caution period needed to clear the cars blocking the circuit.
Grubmuller – who had pressured Reindler right up to the safety car – lost second place just before the caution was called after he made a mistake exiting turn 7, surrendering his potential podium finish and dropping his Astuti entry to the bottom half of the top ten.
Reindler served his penalty on the sixth lap, elevating Hollings to a lead he wouldn’t loose.
A frenetic dice had emerged behind the leader, however, Marco Mapelli, a charging Tim Macrow and James Winslow all disputing second place.
Despite defending heavily, Mapelli could not hold off Macrow who – in his one-off appearance for Team BRM – had rebounded from a disappointing qualifying run to show strong race pace in the car Stuart Kostera usually steers.
Mapelli scored third – just – at the line ahead of Winslow and Leanne Tander.
Sixth place went to arguably the driver of the day – Chris Alajajian.
After crashing heavily in practice, Alajajian missed qualifying and started tonight’s race from dead last in the 30-car grid.
In an astounding drive, he passed fourteen cars on the opening lap and scythed his way through to the top ten by half race distance.
Moreno Soeprapto was the best of the visiting Asian Formula 3 contingent in seventh place, finishing one position ahead of the impressive Dillon Battistini, driving Lauren Gray’s regular National class ride.
Grubmuller and Reindler completed the top ten.
”It was a hard race, very competitive and everyone was scrapping. We had a bit of rain through the race and that made it really hard work,” Hollings said following the race.
”I was lucky in some ways but starting third and having a win is great. To have my first win at the Australian Grand Prix is fantastic. I have to thank Astuti Motorsport for their efforts – they’ve done a great job.”
”We didn’t get the qualifying we hoped for so I started down in eighth place so I got to see it all unfold and it was a bit hectic!” Tim Macrow, justifiably relieved with his strong finish to the race, said.
”My last two flying laps were good – it was a great race to the flag. The safety car helped me – I’m happy to admit that – but I kept my nose clean and we got to the finish.”
Mapelli’s aggressive drive netted him third place.
“This was good for me and the team. I need to say thanks to me and the team – they did a great job,” Mapelli said.
”I defended as hard as I could because I wanted the podium badly.”
Earlier in qualifying, Karl Reindler secured his first Australian Formula 3 pole position since 2005 in a tightly-contested session that proved how competitive this year’s field really is.
Reindler banked his time early in the 20-minute session and then held on to the top spot following concerted challenges from Astuti Motorsport’s star pairing of Walter Grubmuller (2nd) and Charlie Hollings (3rd).
Just three tenths separated the top three and under half a second the top four.
Practice fast man James Winslow was fourth and Italian sensation Marco Mapelli fifth.
The top Asian Formula 3 visitor in qualifying was Indonesian driver Moreno Soeprapto (9th) who topped Henri Karjalainen (10th) and Dillon Battistini (12th) in their race-within-a-race.
Alajajian failed to bank a time after a hefty shunt in practice left his Team BRM car sans two wheels.
Tomorrow’s second race will be held later in the afternoon, with subsequent races to be contested Saturday evening and Sunday morning to conclude the non-championship Australian Formula 3 weekend.
For more information visit www.formula3.com.au
RACE RESULTS – Race 1 (8 Laps)
1. Charlie Hollings (Astuti Motorsport)
2. Tim Macrow (Team BRM)
3. Macro Mapelli (Team BRM)
4. James Winslow (Team Opes Prime)
5. Leanne Tander (Fleetcare TanderSport)
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