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bad luck strikes Kipper again although lucky to escape crash PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 06 December 2007
kipper.jpgThe 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 Tazgrid.jpg 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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