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Formula Ford Heads To Queensland After Eventful Break |
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Tuesday, 18 July 2006 |
New drivers, new brakes and new stars have filled the two month break in the 2007 Australian Formula Ford Championship which heads to Queensland Raceway for three this weekend.
While new brakes have been approved for the remainder of the season and drivers have begun to make a name for themselves, Daniel Cotton has joined the championship for the Queensland round, racing John Mostyn's Spectrum 011.
"At this stage we are just doing the Queensland round in John's car with a view to doing the full season next year which is the main goal.this weekend is a great opportunity to get some miles in the new Fiesta powered cars." Daniel Cotton said today.
"We tested the car a few weeks back at Winton and they have a noticeable increase in power compared to the Spectrum I race in the NSW state series."
Another change the series has seen in the two month break is the changing to the brake regulations, a result of the increased speed gained from the Fiesta Duratec engine.
Front brake callipers may now be non-ferrous and all front brakes must be lug mounted, while cross-drilling of discs remains prohibited.
Teams have been putting in extra hours in the workshop ensuring they get the perfect fit before heading into the Queensland round and drivers are confident they will do the job.
"We tested the brakes and they are definitely stronger, we went through quite a few in Perth and these should work much better," Sonic Motor Racing Services driver Tim Blanchard (Jayair/Sanden Van Diemen RF04) said! .
"There's a slight improvement in performance as well, but the main thing is that they will not need to be replaced nearly as often."
While a number of driver's have yet to race the full Queensland Raceway circuit, the lap record of 1:15.8823, set by the late Stewart McColl in July 2000 in a Van Diemen RF98, is expected to be challenged by many of the leading drivers.
Sadly, 'Stewie' lost his life at Phillip Island in 2003 but his lap record has stood the test of time and remains a goal of many in the series this season.
Last year, local driver Shannon O'Brien claimed an emphatic victory, winning all three races of the round ahead of 2005 series champion Daniel Elliott, who claimed pole position with a 1:16.2954.
Over the break, current championship leader and CAMS Rising Star driver John Martin confirmed that he will undertake five Formula Ford race meetings in the UK later in 2006, i! n addition to his domestic campaign.
The meetings will consist of four UK Formula Ford Championship rounds and the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in October.
This will be the first time that an Australian designed and built car will contest rounds of the UK Formula Ford Championship with Borland Racing Developments building a new car for specifically for the trip.
Notable former Formula Ford drivers to have competed at the Festival in the past, include Mark Webber, who won the event in 1996, and Craig Lowndes who have gone on to become household names in Australia.
Martin, who drives an enormous tip truck (pictured) in a coal mine in Blackwater, Queensland, is intending to race in the British Formula 3 Championship in 2007.
"The main aim is to gain experience on some of the UK circuits on which I hope to race on next year," John martin said
Also over the break, Samantha Reid, the only female in the championship, starred on national television in Bert's Celebrity Family Feud, helping Ford storm to victory over Holden in the final sudden-death round of the game.
John Martin currently leads the championship on 90 points, 8 points ahead of round two winner, Todd Fiore (82) while Nathan Caratti is third (72).
The Formula Fords hit the Queensland Raceway for their first practice session on Friday 21 July at 8.25am and again at 11.10am before qualifying and three races over the weekend.
2006 Australian Formula Ford Championship points table (after round 2of 8)
| Driver Name |
Team Name |
Chassis |
Points |
| John Martin* |
CAMS Rising Star |
Spectrum 011 |
90 |
| Todd Fiore* |
Russell Landscaping |
Van Diemen RF04 |
82 |
| Nathan Caratti |
Firepower Group |
Van Diemen RF04 |
72 |
| Tim Slade |
Discount Renovators Warehouse |
Van Diemen RF04 |
52 |
| Paul Laskazesk* |
CAMS Rising star |
Spectrum 011 |
47 |
| Tim Blanchard* |
Jayair |
Van Diemen RF04 |
42 |
| Ashley Walsh* |
VIP Petfoods |
Van Diemen RF06 |
33 |
| Ben Clucas* |
Team BRM |
Van Diemen RF06 |
30 |
| John Mostyn* |
Interpak |
Spectrum 011 |
24 |
| Brad Lowe* |
Lowe Earthmoving |
Spectrum 011 |
22 |
| Joel Spychala |
Mid Coast Ford |
Spirit WL06 |
16 |
| Dale Wood* |
Fastlane Racing |
Van Diemen RF05 |
14 |
| Mark McNally |
Nomad Consolidated Pty Ltd |
Van Diemen RF05 |
10 |
| Tristan Hughes |
JagMag |
Van Diemen RF04 |
8 |
| Sam Sewell* |
VIP Petfoods/Freestone and Kumnick Solicitors |
Van Diemen RF06 |
8 |
| Grant Doulman |
Doulman Industries Racing |
Spirit WL06 |
5 |
| Samantha Reid* |
Toshiba Mobile Computers |
Van Diemen RF03 |
3 |
| Joshua Scott* |
Kubota Australia |
Spectrum 011 |
2 |
* denotes Rookie
2006 Australian Formula Ford Championship Schedule
| Time |
Session |
| Friday 21 July |
| 8.25am-8.45am |
Practice 1 |
| 11.10am-11.30am |
Practice 2 |
| Saturday 22 July |
| 8.55am-9.15am |
Qualifying |
| 2.30pm-2.50pm |
Race 1 |
| Sunday 23 July |
| 9.15am-9.35am |
Race 2 |
| 2.40pm-3.00pm |
Race 3 |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 January 2007 )
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