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A tight battle for the Opes
Prime National Class is evolving between Lee Farrell and Chris Gilmour in this
years Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship following today’s second
race at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
The pair are now split by just two points after Queenslander Gilmour
(Drivebuy.com.au / Dallara F304 Spiess Opel) won today’s action-packed 12 lap
affair on the streets of Adelaide in front of more than 80,000 spectators,
holding off Daniel Schulz and Mathew Radisich in a close fight.
The pair look likely to duel
this year for the class prize of either $40,000 cash or a funded Championship
Class drive the in 2009, thanks to Opes Prime.
Meanwhile, 16 year-old
Trophy Class driver Justin Tate drove a stunning race to record the class win
and finish a staggering ninth outright in his Scud Racing Dallara F301.
Gilmour made a brilliant start to the 12-lap race by passing two cars
off the start – jumping from third on the class grid to the lead before turn
one.
From there he withheld brief pressure from Lee Farrell until
Gilmour’s main championship rival had a lock-up and ran off the circuit at turn
three.
Farrell won yesterday’s first class race but could only manage
6th in class today.
”I was pushing hard and hit the bumps before turn
three when I was down-changing,” Farrell explained.
”It put me into the
air and spun me around. I had a lot of speed and was looking to challenge Chris
so it’s very disappointing.”
Gilmour went on to record a
win ahead of Schulz, starting his last F3 race before work commitments take him
overseas.
” I thought my prior experience would have given me some
advantage but the class of driver is very high so I knew it would be competitive
coming into the weekend,” Gilmour said.
”I’m kind of renowned for my
starts and I got off the line really well. I got the two guys in front and that
was it – from there I held my position. The car wasn’t that great but we held on
and I’m very happy with the result. We’re right back in the battle for the Opes
Prime National Class win which is great.”
Scud Racing’s Mathew
Radisich was third – a strong comeback from an engine change earlier in the
weekend – whilst Samantha Reid recovered from an earlier drama to finish fourth
in class.
Reid’s TanderSport car was
clipped from behind by R-Tek F3 driver Chris Reindler, his car launched into the
air and into a complete 360-degree rollover.
Reindler’s Dallara landed
on its wheels with the driver emerging unscathed – if shaken and stirred.
Transwest Racing driver James Crozier finished fifth in class after a
consistent performance this weekend.
16-year-old Tate won the
Trophy Class today thanks to a storming drive from last on the grid – after his
engine failed before the second qualifying session on Friday.
Tate’s
performance was even more impressive given he raced with – and passed – several
newer cars in the Opes Prime National Class en route to his stunning top ten
finish overall.
Andrew Mill (Property Solutions Group F301),
however, leads the Trophy battle ahead of Tate and South Australian Jesse
Wakeman.
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