OzRacingWrap

FOR A GUY that didn’t have a drive on Friday morning, Kristian Lindbom has done a pretty good impression of a full-time racing driver after winning a dramatic City of Darwin Cup weekend at Hidden Valley Raceway.

With a last-minute deal placing him behind the wheel of the #4 Team BRM Dallara for this round only, Lindbom dodged plenty of dramatic moments across today’s two races to take the most points away from Formula 3’s first visit to Darwin – and he won the final race as well.

After finishing second in race one yesterday, and third in this morning’s 14-lapper, Lindbom assumed the lead on the opening lap of the third race after John Magro and Bryce Moore ran wide at turn one whilst battling for the lead.

Lindbom was never headed from there, ecstatically pumping the air with his fist as he took the flag after 12 tough laps.

Earlier in the day, regular Team BRM driver John Magro won his first career race – but all eyes were on Lindbom who actually survived a high-speed ‘off’ at turn seven whilst leading race two, costing him the race victory but not the overall win.

“To be honest, it’s a bit of a dream come true,” he said.

“45 minutes before the first practice on Friday the team were telling me what needed to do in terms of raising the sponsorship to get in the car, and now I’ve won the biggest race of the year. It’s pretty surreal.

“It’s just been an amazing weekend and so much has happened it’s pretty hard to take in. I have to thank Lucas Dumbrell and everyone at LDM for their support in making this happen, and for all the other sponsors who have come on to support it.

“This has to be one of the biggest wins of my career and I can’t believe it!”

West Aussie rookie Bryce Moore was second overall for the weekend and whilst he didn’t score the outright results he was seeking, he did twice set the fastest lap and scored the bonus points that went with them - leaving Darwin with the new Formula 3 lap record and within four points of the championship lead.

Making ‘another comeback’ was former champion Tim Macrow, who finished third overall after a gutsy drive to third outright in the final race – the Melbournian also winning the National Class for the weekend.

Championship leader James Winslow had a frustrating day, though managed to maintain the championship lead despite failing to finish the second race.

Winslow and a fast-starting Chris Gilmour were fighting for the lead when the pair controversially came together in the turn five left-hander, the contact turning Gilmour’s car high on its side and almost rolling it completely before it crashed to the ground.

Race officials later penalised the British driver for the contact, relegating him to the rear of the field for the final race – where he was able to storm through to finish fourth; Gilmour going two better to score second in the same race, his best F3 race finish since 2006.

Magro’s race two victory put him back in the championship hunt after a disappointing opening round, the Queenslander taking advantage of the dramas between Winslow and Gilmour and then an off from Moore to slip through and take the win.

The ongoing battle for the Forpark Australia F3 Scholarship was turned up a notch with Steel Guiliana (R-Tek) and Ben Gersekowski (BF Racing) almost inseparable on-track all weekend, leaving the weekend split by just a point – to Guiliana’s favour – at the top of the class standings.

The Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship will wastes little time in continuing it’s exciting 2011 season, the battle resuming at Eastern Creek’s Shannons Nationals round on July 14-17.

More information about the championship can be found at www.formula3.com.au

Championship Points James Winslow 48 Bryce Moore 44 Chris Gilmour 38 Kristian Lindbom 37 John Magro 35 Forpark Australia National Class Steel Guiliana 51 (Forpark Australia Scholarship) Ben Gersekowski 50 (Forpark Australia Scholarship) Tim Macrow 47 Josh Burdon 42 (Forpark Australia Scholarship) Roman Krumins 35