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Points lead extended for Lee Farrell thanks to Adelaide Opes Prime National Class Pole Double |
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Friday, 22 February 2008 |
Lee Farrell already led the
Opes Prime National Class heading into this weekends second round of the Opes
Prime Formula 3 National Class at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide – but he thought he
might just like two more points before tackling the demanding street circuit in
race conditions.
Farrell took a pair of Class pole positions today on a circuit he described as
‘Awesome, really challenging and great to drive.”
”It’s nice to get my
first class poles in the team’s home race, and get some more points for the
championship,” Farrell enthused, after qualifying on top of his class and 9th
overall for both races this weekend.
”This track is fantastic to drive
on and the car is pretty good. So far it’s been performing well and we were able
to set a good lap in both sessions and hold on afterwards to get pole position.
It’s going to be tough this weekend but I think we can have a good
one.”
Farrell led Round one polesitter Chris Reindler in the first
qualifying session, his Opes Prime Team BRM car leading fellow Adelaide team
R-Tek in the qualifying standings.
Only a crash mid-way through the
first session slowed Farrell today, backing his car into the turn-three tyres
gently, and causing minor damage to the rear wing.
”I just got crossed
up on the bumps in the braking zone and the car went around, it wasn’t too bad.”
He explained.
Samantha Reid (#52 TanderSport) will line up third for her
first Formula 3 race on the Adelaide street circuit after posting a strong
performance in qualifying one, her 1m22.8423s lap just four-tenths behind
Reindler.
The TanderSport driver improved her time by eight-tenths of a
second in the second session to line up sixth in class for race two on Sunday.
In qualifying two Farrell held off a resurgent Daniel Schulz, who took
his #24 CMA Recycling Astuti Motorsport Dallara – Renault to a strong run in the
second session after struggling with brake problems earlier in the day.
Just two tenths of a second split Schulz from the pole winner, the
Victorian driver ruing a last-ditch attempt at pole gone wrong.
”I was
up on the split times on the very last lap of the session,” Schulz said.
”There was some traffic coming into the final corner and unfortunately I
made contact and we came off the track. It’s a shame because the car was good
and things were going well up to that stage.”
Mathew Radisich locked away
third on the class grid for race two, resurgent today after his team was forced
to change an overheating engine after Thursday practice.
Friday fast man
Chris Gilmour was fourth in class in both sessions after battling fuel pressure
problems – he’ll be looking for one of his trademark good starts tomorrow to
jump up the order.
A strong recovery saw Justin Tate rebound from just
one lap yesterday – his Scud Racing Dallara F301 had ECU problems – to take a
strong Trophy Class pole position.
Unfortunately for the young Victorian
his engine failed towards the end of the session which left Andrew Mill to
capitalize – taking class pole in race two and a stunning 15th outright.
Race one will be held at 12:55pm tomorrow afternoon.
Qualifying 1 Results
1. Lee Farrell (Opes Prime
Team BRM) 1m22.0665
2. Chris Reindler (R-Tek F3) 1m22.5142
3. Samantha
Reid (TanderSport) 1m22.8423
4. Chris Gilmour (Gilmour Racing)
1m23.3197
5. Daniel Schulz (Astuti Motorsport) 1m23.3721
Trophy Class:
Justin Tate (Scud Racing) 1m26.1223
Qualifying 2
Results
1. Lee Farrell (Opes Prime Team BRM) 1m20.8897
2.
Daniel Schulz (Astuti Motorsport) 1m21.1684
3. Mathew Radisich (Scud Racing)
1m21.5209
4. Chris Gilmour (Gilmour Racing) 1m21.7446
5. Chris Reindler
(R-Tek F3) 1m21.8353
Trophy Class: Andrew Mill (Property Solutions Group)
1m22.8351
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