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Practice Making Perfect For Leanne Tander So Far At Oran Park |
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Friday, 20 April 2007 |
 THE Scene has been set for a thrilling second round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship after two stunningly close practice sessions at Oran Park Raceway, today.
In warm conditions, eight cars lapped within a second of each other to set up what looks likely to be an even closer qualifying day when the cars hit the track again Saturday Morning.
As she did at the Sydney circuit in the final round of 2006, Leanne Tander powered to the fastest Friday time today, her best lap of 1m04.80s coming in the first of two 30-minute sessions.
Leanne was third fastest in a slower second session this afternoon and
said that there was more to come from her #42 Fleetcare TanderSport
Dallara.
”In practice two the car wasn’t as good,” she said.
”We think that there as something wrong with the diff, but the guys
think that we have fixed the drama I’m confident that we’ll be back up
the front in qualifying.
”The car was good in the first session,” Tander added.
Championship co-leader Tim Macrow will be keen to score at least one
bonus point tomorrow – one point is awarded for the fastest driver in
each of the two qualifying sessions – to break the deadlock and has
started that quest strongly thanks to his second fastest time today.
Macrow’s Cooltemp / Scud Racing Dallara F304 Spiess was just two-tenths slower than Tander, clocking a 1m05.00s lap.
Team BRM / Audi Centre Melbourne driver Stuart Kostera was third
fastest, narrowly quicker than Queenslander Chris Gilmour – returning
to the championship this weekend in his SnatchIT.com.au Dallara.
Foreign interlopers filled the next three positions with Charlie
Hollings, James Winslow and Marco Mapelli fulling positions five
through seven.
Local drivers had a tough day. Co-points leader Chris Alajajian was
forced to sit out of the first practice session in the morning after
his team found a fault with the engine in his car whilst carrying out
routine Pre-event preparation last night.
The team changed the engine in time to allow the 20-year-old North
Shore driver to find his feet in the second session, banking eighth
quickest time.
Fellow Sydneysider Mat Sofi was another to endure a rough day – ending
his run in the second session after just one lap due to an off at the
high-speed turn one.
Whilst filled with dirt and gravel, the car was predominately undamaged and will take part tomorrow.
The Kumho Tyres National Class runners had a mixed day as well.
Chris Barry (Data #3 Dallara F301) was forced to watch from the
sidelines thanks to a dud starter motor that broke as he fired up his
car for opening practice, whilst Melbournian Lauren Gray was left
stranded on the circuit for 10 minutes in the first session after an
electrical drama sidelined her Scud Racing entry. Both are expected to
be back on track tomorrow.
Tomorrow will see the cars and stars of the Kumho Tyres Australian
Formula 3 Championship contest two, 20-minute qualifying sessions
before two, 15-lap events on Sunday as part of this weekends opening
Shannons Nationals round at Oran Park.
Full times and a current, series point score follow.
For more information head to www.formula3.com.au
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