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Team BRM Driver Ben Clucas Wins Australian Drivers Championship |
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Monday, 04 September 2006 |
After winning eleven of the first twelve races in the 2006 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, Team BRM’s British star Ben Clucas has won the 50th Australian Drivers Championship and the CAMS Gold Star.
Despite not participating in last weekend’s seventh round of the championship, Clucas had procured enough points in the first six rounds to ensure that the title was his, and Team BRM’s, after year-long rival Michael Trimble did not finish the second race at Queensland Raceway this weekend.
In a remarkable season of racing, Clucas re-set many existing Australian Formula 3 records this year.
The most remarkable statistic is that he becomes the first British winner in 50 years of competition in the Australian Drivers Championship, his name set to be listed alongside the likes of Australian greats Lex Davison, Bib Stillwell, Kevin Bartlett, Alfredo Costanzo, John Bowe and many others.
The title is Team BRM’s third Australian Formula 3 Championship in five years, following their successes in 2002 (James Manderson) and 2004 with Karl Reindler. It is also the team’s first ever Gold Star.
Clucas has also equaled the most number of race wins in a single season (11) and has set the record for the most number of points scored in a single year.
Team BRM would like to thank it's sponsors and supporters for being a major part of their 2006 Championship winning campaign.
For more information about the team, please visist www.teambrm.com.au
Ben Clucas - #84 Team BRM Dallara F304 - Spiess
“It’s been a great year!
“I came to Australia not knowing really what to expect but obviously
our aim was to hopefully try to win the championship. Now that we have
achieved that it’s a great feeling.
“The guys at Team BRM and my car owner James Rosenberg have all been
fantastic, and I’m really glad to have won the championship together
with them this year.
“The Gold Star is a very prestigious award and I’m really happy to win
it – it’s great to be included with all the great names that have won
it in the past - To win it in the 50th anniversary year makes it even
more special.
“The wet race at Phillip Island (Race one, Round 3) still stands out as
being the highlight of the season. It was a tough race because we got
the drive through penalty for driving at the start and I had so much
adrenaline running through my body when I got back on track. To come
back as we did and win the race by three-one thousands was the best
feeling I have ever had in a race car.
“Obviously we are very keen to try and get to Oran Park for the final
round. A lot of drivers I have talked to have said that it’s an
excellent track so we are going to work hard to get there and finish
off the championship year.”
Team BRM owner – Bronte Rundle
“Bringing Ben to Australia was obviously a big gamble for our team,
however many people I spoke to overseas all believed that he was
extremely talented but lack of funds had prevented him from really
showing his full potential.
“We have been privileged to see such a talented driver race in this
country, from the first time he sat in our car we could see that he was
special and results have totally confirmed his talent.
“We are very pleased that Ben has been asked to test V8 Supercars
already and I am sure we will see him driving one of these cars next
year, If not I know overseas teams will be contacting him to do Formula
3 on the big stage.” He said.
“As the owner I am very proud of all the members of the team, I would
particularly like to pay tribute to our Engineer Marcus Koch and Damien
Allen, Ben’s Mechanic, and I would like to pay special tribute to the
owner of Ben’s car, Mr. James Rosenberg, who without his support Ben
would not have been able to complete the Championship.
“I would also like to pay tribute to the runner up in the Championship Michael Trimble.
“In any other year he should have been the Champion, however this year
Ben has eclipsed all other drivers. Michael is a good Formula 3 driver
and I hope he continues in open wheeled cars as he is clearly talented.
“Congratulations also to Tim Macrow on an excellent season; I have no
doubt that he can be a Championship winner given the budget and
equipment and we would love to have him drive for us next year.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 January 2007 )
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