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Formula 3s 'next generation' car beats the heat in Australian Track Debut |
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Friday, 11 January 2008 |
Forty-five
degree Australian heat has welcomed the latest European
specification Dallara F307 chassis and Mercedes-Benz power to the
Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship.
Adelaide
based Opes Prime Team BRM yesterday became the first local team to
run the latest eligible 2005 – 07 specification chassis’ to the
championship in scorching temperatures at Mallala Raceway, outside
of Adelaide.
The three-time champion team ran two of its
ex-Signature (European F3) cars for the full day, with another
scheduled for today (Friday) to continue its pre-season
preparations.
Australian F3 Championship race winner and
2007 Opes Prime Team BRM driver James Winslow was invited back by
the team to shake down one of the cars for this test, thanks to his
vast experience in Formula 3 racing and working with new
cars.
Both cars ran faultlessly on Thursday despite track
temperatures hitting sixty degrees in the early afternoon.
Up to ten of the latest model Dallara chassis’ have been
imported by teams into the country for this years championship,
marking a beginning of a new era for Australia’s premier Open Wheel
championship as it begins the 52nd year of the Gold Star award.
The 2007-spec cars will make up the Kumho Tyres championship
class / Gold Star competition, racing for $80,000 cash or the right
to negotiate a fully funded drive in the 2009 Formula V6 Asia
championship.
The superseded 2004-spec cars will race in the
Opes Prime National Class for $40,000 cash or the chance to
negotiate a funded championship class drive in 2009.
The new
cars are a step forward in design from the F304 Dallara’s, featuring
significant advancement in areas such as aerodynamics and safety.
Aerodynamically, the cars feature Formula 1-style barge
boards, diffusers and sidepod chimneys – as well as sculpted front
and rear wings and aero appendages not unlike those seen on bigger
Open Wheel cars.
 Safety is further improved with
higher side crash structures, a carbon fibre rear crash box and an
F1-standard driver safety cell, which allows the driver to be
removed from the car by safety teams whilst still held in place in
his seat to ensure potential injuries are not aggravated.
The net result of these changes, when coupled with the
latest specification engines from Europe, is expected to result in
scintillating lap times given good conditions this season.
Opes Prime Team BRM engineer JP Messenger said that the new
cars looked to deliver the goods early into the teams testing
program.
”So far they have been quick out of the box which is
a good sign,” he said.
“The F305-7 cars are fundamentally
more refined, advanced and generally are a step forward from the 02
– 04 chassis - Everything is better but I think safety and aero are
the key advances.
“I think as a team we are very excited
about the potential these cars have. They look fantastic and so far
their performance has been excellent from their first laps here
today which, as an engineer, is exactly what you want.
“It’s
great to have these cars on track so we can start learning what they
like with setup and get them ready for the first round of the
championship.” He said.
Opes Prime Team BRM expect to run up
to three of the new cars this season alongside a National Class F304
entry for Irishman Lee Farrell, who also tested at Mallala on
Thursday.
Other teams and drivers, including TanderSport and
Sydney-based Mat Sofi are expected to hit the tracks in their new
machinery in the coming weeks as the championship builds towards the
opening round at Eastern Creek, on February 3rd.
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