The round at Phillip Island was to be the
last race for Tobia Kipper and the team for the 2007 Australian Formula
Ford Championship. Kipper was focused hard on grabbing as many points
as possible. Though the weekend was filled with huge challenges for the
Makotrac sponsored driver, one was with Kipper escaping injury in a
bizarre three-car pile up in race three.
Friday practice started positively for
Kipper being twelfth quickest in the strong field of twenty-one cars.
Then on Saturday morning he then went on to qualify eleventh fastest,
only five tenths separated eighth and eleventh.
“I am quiet disappointed with that session, I had a fantastic lap but
an inexperienced campaigner managed to balk me as I was going onto the
straight. We lost half a second because of him; I would of qualified
eighth or better. Obviously I would like to be further up the grid, but
I know from here I should have no problem getting into the top ten for
some points,” Commented an annoyed Kipper.
The first race commenced shortly after
qualifying. Kipper pushed his Spectrum built Formula Ford up to eighth
place just in front of experienced CAMS Rising Star driver Joshua
Scott.
“Eighth is a positive position, though I didn’t have the car speed to
get up to Taz Douglas, so he has a few more points then myself.”
Commented Kipper.
The second race of the weekend commenced
on Sunday morning with Kipper starting his Spectrum off eighth
position. As the red lights dimmed for the start, Kipper made probably
his best start off the year and got up to fifth place before the first
turn. Though it was only to be short lived. On lap two Sonic driver
Glen Wood, speared off the track at turn one and rejoined back on the
exit of turn two, (Southern Loop). With an awkward and unexpected
re-entry onto the track, Wood made several drivers come together. Taz
Douglas and Kristian Lindbom were unable to continue because of
damages. As a result Kipper was hit from behind, and spun around, as he
was to taking avoiding action to because of Douglas, Wood and Lindbom.
“I went from going forward at one hundred
and fifty kilometers per hour to suddenly going backwards at one
hundred and fifty, not to mention I had the rest of the field coming
towards me, that part made me feel quiet uneasy,” Commented Kipper.
Kipper managed to getting going again in
the right direction, but he dropped from fifth to fourteenth. He fought
his way up to eleventh even though both right rear arms on his Spectrum
where bent.
The Makotrac team worked fast to get the car ready for the final race.
Tobia was starting in eleventh position again and had to at try and do
a repeat of his race one result.
Kipper’s final race of the championship
was short lived, as he was involved in a three-car pile up at Honda
corner. On lap two Sam Sewell spun out in front of Kipper giving him
nowhere to go and then making a slow side on impact. It was only until
Luke Wood launched his car off Daniel Cotton’s rear wheel and landed on
top of Kipper’s spectrum.
“I was really one of those things you
can’t really control, it all really started by me falling back at the
start that put me in this position. I’m extremely disappointed for the
Makotrac crew, I was really looking forward to this last race.” Said a
frustrated Kipper.
All three drivers involved in the accident where immediately brought
back to the medical centre for a quick check up.
“It will be a huge amount of money to
repair the car, the top of the engine has been damaged so that will be
pricey. But to look back at all the incidents I’ve had this year, I
believe that I’ve got a pretty good record compared to some other
drivers on the grid.”
Kipper finally completes his rookie
Australian Formula Ford Championship in tenth position, after an
intense and long year. Looking back on the year he mentioned that it
has been one of the most exciting and challenging campaigns of his
career.
“I am proud of how I performed this year
as I came in with zero Formula Ford experience. Never driven one since
the start of this year. Ever race or even every lap I do in one, I
learn so much. Though I strongly believe I have shown that I have the
full potential to be a championship contender in the future.” Concluded
Kipper.
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