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It's National News - New Formula 3 Class Making Its Mark In 2006 |
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Monday, 24 July 2006 |
WHILST THE Media spotlight and main attention is often focused on the terrific battle for outright honors in this year’s Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, a number of competitors are fighting a similarly tight battle in a new class this season.
Ricky Occhipinti, Tim Berryman and Chris Barry are three leading contenders in this year’s Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 National Class, a new ‘series within a series’ introduced at the start of the season to cater
for the large contingent of 1999 – 2001 Generation Formula 3 Chassis in
Australia.
The new initiative has already proven its worth, a number of new and
existing competitors making their championship return or debut via the
class this year.
Geelong-based Occhipinti currently leads the class after dominating the
first half of the championship - however a recent round win at Eastern
Creek for New South Welshman Tim Berryman has brought the title fight
closer as the season progresses deep into the second half of the year.
“For me this year it was important to keep in a car and keep driving,” 21-year-old Occhipinti said.
“We chose the National Class for its cost effectiveness. The cheaper
entry and series registration fees are saving us a substantial amount
of money this season which really is a key thing for teams like us that
run on a shoestring budget.”
Occhipinti leads Berryman by 51 points after five rounds, with 132 up
for grabs in the remaining three - the points leader concentrating on
both the National series and chasing the outright cars at the same time.
“It’s a shame that Tim hasn’t been able to do all the rounds because he
has finished every race he has started this season,” he explained.
“If he had done all the rounds it would’ve given us a better indication
of where we are at in the class, but I’m also trying to benchmark
myself against the Championship Class guys because that’s where I feel
we should be at.
“It’s been a difficult season but at Phillip Island (In May) we showed
that we have the pace to run with them, at least before the weather
turned bad,” Said Occhipinti, noting a stunning performance in
qualifying that saw the #32 car lap well within a second of the pole
sitter.
“I’m really looking forward to going back there next month because I
think that we can challenge for a top three overall place,” he said.
Wagga Wagga-based Berryman agreed with his season long sparring
partner, noting that punching above their respective weights in the
National Class was an avenue for potentially impressing watching
sponsors and fans.
“National class is like racing in two championships at once,” he said.
“If you can put a 301 National Class car amongst the 304 cars and teams
with bigger budgets, people will notice. On the other hand if you have
a 304 and are being beaten by 2001 cars people will notice that too!”
Berryman made his championship debut in a Trophy Class car in 2005,
contesting the Wakefield Park and Grand Prix events that season and
winning his class each time out.
The purchase of the ex-Karl Reindler, 2004 championship winning Dallara
F301 – Spiess from Team BRM in the off season solidified the quietly
spoken driver’s place in the championship this year, with the success
and enjoyment continuing to build.
“The cars are fantastic to drive,” he enthused. “Having driven Formula
Ford, Aussie Racing Cars, Super Tourers, F4000 and more I can honestly
say this is by far the most exciting car I have driven.
“I’m relatively happy with my first season in Formula 3, winning
National Class races and sitting 2nd in the championship despite
missing two rounds is pretty good. The highlight, though, would have to
be getting 4th outright and winning the National Class at the Grand
Prix this year.
”I'm getting more comfortable in the car and getting closer to the
outright cars so the aim for the rest of the season is to win National
class and hopefully a top 3 finish outright,” he said.
Like Occhipinti, Berryman is another to cite the cost factor as strong reasoning to get involved in the championship.
“If more people knew that you can run a Formula 3 car in Australia for
not a lot more than it costs to run a Formula Ford in the National
Championship then it would be huge,” he said.
“For us it was the ability to purchase a 2001-spec car, with the looks
and performance similar to the latest cars, for roughly half the price.
The more people that realise that the better and I think that National
Class could be huge.”
“It was the opportunity to compete on a level basis with other cars of
this specification that drew us to the class,” agreed Data #3 Supported
driver Chris Barry.
Barry, who made his Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship debut
at Wakefield Park this season, purchased an Ex BRM Dallara F301 -
Spiess to take on the National Class competition this year, the
Sydneysider happy with the year to date despite a lack of experience in
Open Wheeled cars.
“I’m getting the hang of driving these cars and as the season
progresses I hope to get closer to Tim and Ricky at the front of the
class for the rest of this year, and then go for a win in the class
next season.
“It’s a shame Maher (Algadri) has moved up a class because it would
have nice to have had even more competition but it’s been really good
this season. I think the class is a good concept.” He said.
The Battle for the National Class and the overall fight for the 2006
Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star
will continue at Phillip Island on August 18 – 20.
For more information head to www.formula3.com.au
Kumho Tyres National Class Points - After 5 of 8 Rounds
| Pos. |
Driver |
Points |
| 1 |
Ricky Occhipinti |
157 |
| 2 |
Tim Berryman |
106 |
| 3 |
Chris Barry |
66 |
| 4 |
Stuart Kostera |
35 |
| 5 |
Maher Algadri |
35 |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 January 2007 )
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