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| CWinter Olympic Gold Medallist Steven Bradbury is among the 42-car Formula Vee field ready to tackle Eastern Creek Raceway this weekend. |
A mammoth field of Formula Vee drivers from three states will descend on Sydney’s Eastern Creek this weekend, for the final round of the 2006 Formula Vee CAMS Invitational Challenge.
42 entries have been received for the Swarfega / Premier One Products sponsored races, featuring drivers from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland in what will be the second and final outing for Formula Vee on the CAMS Nationals card for the year.
The field features the current Formula Vee State Championship leader from each of the three states; New South Wales’ Stephen Butcher (Skyes Group Stinger), Victoria’s Drew Beacham (Creative Machining Jacer) and Queensland’s Shane Hart (Mick Motors Jacer).
In Formula Vee’s CAMS National Racing Series debut at Phillip Island in May, Hart battled it out for the weekend honours with New South Wales driver Adam Proctor (Swarfega Jacer).
Hart was victorious in Races 1 and 3, while Proctor scored the win in a soggy Race 2 to clinch the weekend and hold a single point advantage over Hart, with Victorian Phillip Kilworth (Bent Steel Sabre) third.
Unlike Phillip Island, Proctor will have the advantage of racing on home turf. As part of his NSW Formula Vee Championship tilt, he took a clean sweep of race wins at the circuit in late April.
“We’ve got a really good setup for the circuit," Proctor said. “The car
works really well at Eastern Creek and I always go pretty well there.
“It’s only really Shane to worry about, everyone else is a bit further
away. Obviously finishing ahead of Shane is the main thing, one point
isn’t very much.”
Proctor’s wins at Eastern Creek in April came in three frenetic races,
with groups of up to eight cars battling for the lead at any given
time. He expects more of the same close, yet clean, racing this weekend.
“Traditionally, there’s pretty good Formula Vee racing at Eastern
Creek. Usually, there’s about eight or 10 guys racing for the lead, and
it’s just a matter of putting yourself in the right spot on the right
lap to be at the right position as you go over the line on the last lap.
“It’s no surprise if you’re leading one lap, then sixth or seventh on
the next lap, it’s just all timing and being in the right place.”
If the interstate drivers are to taste success, it won’t just be Proctor they need to overcome.
NSW Series front-runners Ryan Simpson (Parramatta Smash Repairs Jacer),
Guy Lingard (Ken Lingard Truck Repairs Jacer), Matthew Pearce
(McDonalds Penrith Jacer), Mitchell Abrahall (Workhorse Collision
Repairs Polar) and Ian Chivas (Swarfega Jacer) all enter the weekend
fired up for success.
Among the leading interstate drivers making the trek to Eastern Creek
are Victorians David Frith (Dimension Data Sabre) and Daniel Reinhardt
(Australian VW Performance Centre), and Queenslander Grant Bromley
(Jacer).
Another Queenslander in the field is Steven Bradbury, who became
Australia’s first Winter Olympics Gold Medallist with a memorable win
in the 1000m Speed Skating final at the 2002 Salt Lake City games.
Bradbury (www.QueenslandHouseandLand.com
Elfin) has chosen Formula Vee for his entry to motorsport, having
previously participated in the Australian Grand Prix celebrity races in
2003 and 2005.
“I’ve had a pretty keen interest in getting into motorsport since I first did the celebrity Grand Prix in 2003,” said Bradbury.
“I met up with Rob Thompson from Plan Build Homes at Indy in a bar last
year and we struck up a bit of a friendship. He drives in Formula Vee
himself, we got to talking, and he’s been a big part of me being able
to get into Formula Vee.
“I’ve always loved anything that goes fast. I’m hoping that I’m able to
channel a lot of the energy that I used to have for Speed Skating -
which was pretty much 100% focus, and dedication - into it. I want to
have some of those feelings which I haven’t had for a few years, and
I’m hoping that motor racing could be the next thing for me.”
He made his motorsport debut a fortnight ago at Morgan Park Raceway in
the Queensland Formula Vee series, a series he plans to contest in full
in 2007.
“The car is a lot of fun to drive,” he said. “It’s different to
anything else I’ve ever driven before. It’s the first time I’ve been in
an open-wheeler except for your local go kart track. I’m slowly
learning that it’s a lot more than I thought about maintaining corner
speed, so I’m still figuring out exactly how to take it around on the
best line.
“At Eastern Creek, it’s really going to be about just improving myself
a little bit. There’s no point in going out there and racing at 110%
and possibly wrecking the car. It’s mainly a learning curve at the
moment, and try and keep the red mist under control.”
Longtime supporters of Formula Vee racing, Swarfega Rapid Hand
Cleansers and Premier One Products will sponsor the event, having
sponsored a number of drivers in the category including Proctor.
“We’re very pleased to be able to extend our support for Formula Vee to
sponsoring their racing at the Nationals at Eastern Creek,” said Bernie
Learson from Swarfega Rapid Hand Cleansers and Premier One Products.
“The Swarfega / Premier One Products Formula Vee races at Eastern Creek
are going to be a showdown not to be missed. With a record number of
entries, excitement is guaranteed for those at the track and those
watching on TV.”
After a successful debut on the CAMS National Racing Series at Phillip
Island, Formula Vee Category Manager Ian Chivas is excited about the
weekend ahead.
“Eastern Creek always puts on good, close, Formula Vee racing and I don’t see this weekend being any different,” said Chivas.
“We had great racing at Phillip Island, too, along with a tremendous
level of enthusiasm and excellent presentation from our competitors,
who have continued to support the class with big numbers for this
weekend.
“Again we’ve got a quality lineup of drivers from three states in a
range of chassis’ including Jacers, Polars, Makos, Sabres and Stingers.
It’s shaping up to be another great weekend.”
The weekend kicks off with a pair of practice sessions on Friday,
before qualifying and the first five-lap race on Saturday. Races 2 and
3 will be held on Sunday, across seven laps.
About Formula Vee Australia
Formula Vee racing in Australia is a cost-effective, entry-level form
of motorsport. Having celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2005, the
class continues to grow, following the introduction of the 1600cc
engine to the New South Wales series in 2003. Each state has a
Championship which are always hotly contested, featuring large grids
and frenetic racing.
Website - www.fvee.org.au
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