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Clucas' Test Proof Of Kumho Tyres Formula 3's Driver Development |
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| Attachment 16865 |
| Ben Clucas wins at Mallala this year. The British driver will test for Ford Performance Racing next Monday. |
BEN CLUCAS, the man who has dominated this year’s Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star, had confirmed today that he will be testing for the Ford Performance Racing V8 Supercar team next Monday, August 21st.
Whilst often regarded as a category primarily used for gaining an international open-wheel Career, the championship has rapidly proved itself as a breeding ground for young talent in demand by V8 Supercar teams domestically.
A number of current leading V8 drivers have used the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 championship as a major part of their development towards a Supercar career.
This year 2003 Series champion Michael Caruso is making his mark on the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Championship with Sydney-based Decina Racing. Caruso finished a strong second at the weekend at Oran Park and currently sits 6th in the championship after four rounds.
Caruso won eight Australian Formula 3 Championship races, his last win coming as recently as April, 2005.
Fellow Sydney driver Chris Alajajian is also making his mark on the Fujitsu series, having made his V8 debut at Queensland Raceway with Protecnica Racing at Queensland Raceway three weeks ago before scoring strong top-ten results last weekend at Oran Park.
Alajajian, a multiple race winner in the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, completed the full season last year and finished third in the standings despite a number of team changes during the season. Alajajian has continued to prove his pace in a number of selected Formula 3 appearances this season before his V8 Supercar debut.
Multiple 2004 race winner Marcus Marshall is also racing in the V8 Supercar championship with Glenfords racing following a year in the Champ Car World Series that directly followed outings the previous year (2004) in both British and Australian Formula 3.
Leading V8 Supercar contender Russell Ingall, James Courtney and their former team mate Marcos Ambrose all carried significant International Formula 3 experience into their respective V8 Supercar seats.
Caruso, Alajajian, Marshall and now Clucas' local exploits mirror the likes of James Manderson, Christian Jones, Karl Reindler, Barton Mawer and Will Power who have contested the local Formula 3 Championship before racing internationally.
British driver Clucas came to Australia at the start of the year with the view of breaking into the V8 Supercar circuit and has proved his talent and adaptability from the first round, winning nine of the ten races held this season and taking a 60 point lead into the sixth round (of eight this year) to be held this weekend at Phillip Island, in Victoria.
Pushed hard all season by the likes of Michael Trimble, Tim Macrow and Chris Alajajian, Clucas now sits second on the all time list for most wins in a single season of Australian Formula 3.
| Attachment 16866 |
| Chris Alajajian in action driving his Jack Hillermans Smash Dallara at Wakefield Park this year before making his Fujitsu series debut this year. |
"It's very exciting for Formula 3 Australia that the current leader of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 championship has been selected to test with Ford Performance Racing,” said Formula 3 Australia chairman Jeff Mattner.
“Not only is it a clear indication that Ben's talents are being
recognized by V8 Supercar teams, but it's also a clear reminder that V8
teams are keeping a close eye on the talent within the entire Kumho
Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship field.
”It's further proof that competing in Australian Formula 3 is not only
a great way to launch an International career, but also a way to launch
a domestic career and be noticed by the teams in the V8 Supercar
championship." He said.
The Sixth round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 championship
for the CAMS Gold Star will be held at the 4.46km circuit this weekend,
August 18 – 20
For more information about the championship head to www.formula3.com.au
ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT: FPR TO TEST FORMULA THREE ACE BEN CLUCAS
August 14, 2006 - Ford Performance Racing (FPR) confirms that current
Australian Formula 3 Championship leader Ben Clucas, will be testing
with the Prodrive V8 Supercar team during its driver evaluation day on
August 21 at Winton Raceway.
The 22 year old British driver's career has seen success in the highly
competitive British and European open wheeler categories of Formula
Ford and Formula Three. After a successful career in karts, Clucas
progressed to Formula Ford and was crowned the 2002 Avon Junior Formula
Ford Champion with six victories from 12 starts.
Clucas then competed in the British Formula 3 Championship in 2003
gaining one win and two podiums out of a part-season comprising of
eight races. The young British driver then competed in the 2004 Italian
Formula Renault Championship, racing to fifth overall after gaining
five podium finishes.
These efforts earned him finalist status in the McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award in 2003.
Competing in Australian Formula 3 Championship this year, Clucas has
raced to nine victories out of the ten races so far this season, giving
him a commanding 60 point lead. He also competed in the opening Formula
Ford round at the Clipsal 500 where he led all three races and finished
third overall.
Clucas also starred in a one-off Formula Toyota New Zealand Motor Cup
race in April where with third and first place finishes in the two
heats, he won this prestigious NZ event on debut.
Naturally, Clucas is delighted to be given this testing opportunity with FPR.
"I am looking forward to testing in the FPR Falcon as the reason why I
came to Australia was to try and get into V8 Supercars, so it is
excellent to be getting behind the wheel of one. I met Tim Edwards at
the Clipsal 500 and we have been in touch throughout the season. He
then called me to offer me a test and I can't wait to experience
driving one of the fastest cars in the series."
According to FPR Motorsport Director Tim Edwards, "We are always
looking at emerging young driver talent and Ben Clucas is clearly a
very talented and experienced race driver. In giving Ben the
opportunity to test with FPR we are continuing the team's tradition of
giving young drivers a chance to showcase their abilities as we have
continue to do with our test and development driver David Sieders who
will also be taking part in this test."
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 January 2007 )
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