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F3 drivers star in Bathurst 12 Hour & Endurance Racing debut |
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Tuesday, 12 February 2008 |
OPEN-WHEEL 'Specialists' from
the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship have impressed in their
endurance racing debut in the WPS Bathurst 12 hour Enduro held at Mount
Panorama, showing their versatility, pace and reliability throughout the
demanding race.
It was only late race mechanical problems outside of the drivers’ control that
stopped the Wilson Brothers Racing Subaru Impreza WRX STi driven by James
Winslow, Daniel Schulz and Kiwi Andy Knight from finishing inside the top five
after a stunning debut performance from the Open-Wheel stars.
The strong
performance in the production car Enduro will surely give both Winslow and
Schulz additional confidence prior to the upcoming second round of the
Australian Drivers’ championship to be held at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide next
week.
The teams' WRX STi ran as high as third place early in the demanding 12-hour
endurance event and was sitting comfortably in 5th with less than an hour to go
before rear-wheel bearing problems forced the car to pit lane for repairs, with
less than 50 minutes remaining.
The car resumed with no functioning ABS
system, however was able to finish the race in 8th outright and fourth in
class.
The Winslow, Schulz and Knight combination completed 239 laps
(1480km) of the Mount Panorama – the first visit for each of the three drivers
to Australia’s most famous circuit.
Winslow, currently second in the
race for the Australian Drivers championship, started the race and ran as high
as third by the 40th lap.
Strong middle-race stints by both Opes Prime
National Class driver Schulz and former Aussie F3 driver Knight anchored the car
firmly inside the top five whilst Winslow brought the car to the flag despite
the late-race mechanical dramas.
”The end result was disappointing given
we were as high as third early on, but it was still a fantastic experience,”
James Winslow enthused.
”Even with the problems towards the end it would
have been nice to finish inside the top three in our class, but that’s the way
endurance racing goes. It was a great experience and it was brilliant to get
some laps around Mount Panorama – it really is everything everyone says it is –
it’s an awesome track.
”I think we did a good job in the car and without
the problems at the end we would have been a lot higher up,” he said.
Team Leader Schulz completed a lengthy middle stint and echoed his
team-mate’s sentiments.
”The chance to get some experience at this place
(Mt. Panorama) was fantastic,” he said.
”To be able to do lap after lap
was really enjoyable. We were looking good in fifth after Andy and I did the
middle stints and when James jumped into the car for the run to the flag, but in
the end we had the dramas that set us back.
”I think the experience as a
whole was fantastic and that the three of us did a good job.”
Schulz and
Winslow will now rejoin their regular teams for the Clipsal 500 Adelaide – an
event that will feature ‘Wings and Slicks’ Open Wheelers for the first time
since 2004.
Winslow will be an outright contender behind the wheel of
his Adelaide-based Opes Prime Team BRM Dallara F307, whilst Schulz looks likely
to race at the front in the Opes Prime National class aboard his CMA Recycling
Astuti Motorsport Dallara F304.
Opes Prime Team BRM Driver Nathan Caratti
leads the championship after one round, ahead of team-mate Winslow, TanderSport
driver Leanne Tander and the third Team BRM star, 17 year old Kiwi Earl
Bamber.
Round two of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 championship
for the CAMS Gold Star will be held at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide between February
21 – 24.
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