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First win for AMSF International Rising Star Program |
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Wednesday, 26 March 2008 |
Tim Blanchard made his international debut
on the weekend in the British Formula Ford Championship at Oulton Park in
England, taking his maiden international race win and the championship points
lead.
The race win, an historic and significant achievement, is the first for the AMSF
International Rising Star Program, which is being run as a pilot this year.
Tim qualified his Jamun Racing Mygale in second and third, before going
on to finish second in Races 1 and 2, and winning the snow-affected Race 3.
Blanchard was suitably pleased with the result and said "to be leading the
championship is just unbelievable – there is a long way to go but this gives me
a great deal of confidence for the season ahead".
Blanchard was quick to
recognise the significance for the Program and added “I am very proud to be able
to give the AMSF International Rising Star Program their first win and am very
grateful for the Foundation’s support”.
AMSF General Manager, Quentin
Crombie was also thrilled with the result. “This is a brilliant achievement by
Tim and an historic moment for the AMSF International Rising Star Program – to
have a win after Round 1 was beyond our expectations, and highlights the calibre
of our drivers”.
 Tim is one of four drivers who are part of this year’s
inaugural AMSF International Rising Star Program. Other drivers include James
Davison (Indy Pro Series) and former CAMS Rising Stars, John Martin (British
Formula 3) and Ashley Walsh (Formula Renault Western European Cup (WEC)), both
of whom also commenced their championships on the weekend.
Martin had a
difficult first round in the highly competitive British Formula 3 Championship,
only managing a single championship point, placing him equal 14th with fellow
Australian Sam Abay. The highlight for Martin was qualifying his Raikkonen
Robertson Racing Dallara Mercedes in seventh position for Race 1. However, a
first lap incident dropped John back towards the rear of the field before he
charged back to finish 11th, setting the fastest lap in the process.
Unfortunately, Martin failed to finish Race 2.
Ashley Walsh made his
Formula Renault WEC debut with Hitech Junior at Nogaro in France. Walsh put in a
strong rookie performance with the highlight being a 12th place finish in Race
1, in what was a very competitive 40-car field. Walsh also managed to run inside
the top ten in Race 2, before a spin dropped him back down the order, where he
eventually finished 17th. Race 1 was won by fellow Australian and Red Bull
backed driver, Daniel Ricciardo, who is in his third year of international
competition and his second year of Formula Renault racing. Ricciardo received
support from the AMSF in 2007.
The goal of the AMSF International Rising
Star Program is to support and develop Australia's young drivers as they pursue
a career in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, or other leading international
open-wheel categories. The AMSF International Rising Star Program would not be
possible without the support of OAMPS, Stand 21, Mark Webber, CAMS and the
Australian Sports Foundation.
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