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Series Confirms Australian A1GP Round As 2007 Season Opener |
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Sunday, 03 September 2006 |
Formula 3 Australia is pleased to today confirm that the 2007 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship will start at the Australian round of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations in Sydney early next year.
After successfully heading up the support program at the inaugural event held late 2005, the Australian Drivers Championship field will once again line up as a key support category to the World Cup of Motorsport event to be held in February, 2007.
The announcement further serves to enhance the relationship between the championship and A1 Team Australia, headed up by Formula 3 Australia patron Alan Jones. Three former Australian Formula 3 drivers – Ian Dyk, Barton Mawer and Karl Reindler - all tested successfully for A1 Team Australia at Silverstone last week.
In making the announcement, Formula 3 Australia chairman Jeff Mattner
said that it was an honor to be granted the right to again compete at
the prestigious event.
“We couldn’t ask for a better way to start the 2007 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship,” he said.
“The 2005 event was a huge event and we were proud to be a part of it.
The 2007 event is set to be even bigger and better and will serve as a
fantastic launching pad to display the talent in our championship to a
watching world.
”We understand that it is important to have a number of large events
such as the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Australian event on our schedule,
and we are pleased to have been invited back to compete at the 2007
event to kick off a new year of competitive Formula 3 racing in
Australia.”
Dyk won a race at the A1 Grand Prix event at Eastern Creek in 2005, the
Sydneysider holding his time in Australian Formula 3 as a major factor
towards him securing the A1 Team Australia test session.
“If it wasn’t for my time in Formula 3 in Australia I don’t think I
would have been given the opportunity to do this test,” Dyk said.
“The cars and the series are just so good for preparing you for
stepping up into bigger categories like the A1 Grand Prix of Nations.”
Current competitors and team owners have welcomed the news, the early
announcement of their 2007 schedule-opener giving them plenty of time
in advance to plan their respective campaigns for next year.
“It’s good to start the season with such a big event,” Said Tim Macrow,
a current Formula 3 driver who was invited to test for A1 Team
Australia recently.
“It’s a great chance to make a real mark in front of some big names in
world Motorsport. As a driver events like that are fantastic because
there is a chance to go out and make an impact for both your career and
for your team, sponsors and supporters.
“My aim is to win the championship in 2007, and to try and expand my
career into the future. Starting the season at the A1 Grand Prix event
will give us a great start to the year and also a great chance to
impress some of the internationals that will be watching.” He said.
The A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Australian event, and the opening round
of the 2007 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship is scheduled
for February 3 – 4, 2007.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 05 January 2007 )
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