THE 2011 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship will go down to the wire between James Winslow and Chris Gilmour after the pair dominated proceedings at Sandown Raceway today.
Whilst Gilmour hustled past Winslow on a restart to win this morning’s sprint race, Winslow returned serve in the feature race to close the gap to his Queensland-based rival to just 20 points, with two rounds and six races remaining.
There was also a fairytale result in the Forpark Australia National class as Josh Burdon rebounded from a devastating rollover at the previous round to win the major race this afternoon, returning the massive outpouring of support shown by friends, family, sponsors and supporters.
Winslow, however, was pleased to have won this weekend to work his way back into the title hunt.
“It’s great to have another title fight – it always seems to work out that we go into the final rounds split by just a few points,” he exclaimed.
“It always goes down to the wire but to be honest, I’m not really thinking much about it too much. This weekend was just about getting back on track and seeing how it would all work out and the results have been great.
“We started out with some issues but worked through it and the car was really hooked up in the final race. Me, Ian Richards (Team Boss / Engineer) and my mechanic Damo worked really well together and it just clicked – so I’m really pleased.”
The R-Tek driver also set the fastest lap in each race this weekend, scoring three bonus points towards his championship charge and leaving Sandown with the new F3 lap record.
Gilmour’s fighting win in the second sprint race showed that he will have the ability to compete for the championship for the second time in his lengthy F3 career – the Queenslander utilising a restart following a safety car to tow Winslow down to turn one and slip past on the switchback before turn two.
“The car was super fast this weekend and we went with James in two of the races this weekend – but he was pretty strong in the third,” Gilmour admitted.
“But we’re competitive and feel we’re in a good position. The best thing is we still lead by 20 points, so we have a margin to play with but we need to attack and win some more races in the last two rounds.”
Magro fought his way back to third place in the feature race after spinning out of the second this morning, his Magro Motorsport / team BRM Dallara clipping a slippery kerb and spinning across the circuit – into the racing path of the unfortunate Ben Gersekowski, who was also eliminated from the race.
With 94 points up for grabs across the final two rounds, Magro remains a realistic shot at the championship, trailing Winslow by just 33 points as the series heads to two circuits the Queenslander knows well.
Burdon’s win in the Forpark Australia F3 Scholarship came as his team mate and class leader Steel Guiliana extended his class lead over series-long rival Ben Gersekowski, who was ruing the damage in race two that cost him valuable championship points.
“It’s incredible to be here (on the podium) after everything we’ve been though in the last four weeks,” an emotional Burdon said.
“This is a big thank-you to everyone who supported me and helped get me back on track. To be able to win the main race this weekend is an amazing result and a testament to my family and the team who did such an incredible job to put this car back together.
“It’s probably my best race yet and I’m over the moon with the result.”
The final two rounds of the F3 Australian Drivers Championship will be held back-to-back at Phillip Island (Nov 4-6) with the Shannons Nationals, and the following weekend at Symmons Plains in Tasmanian with the V8 Supercars, on November 11-13.
The F3 Australian Drivers Championship is proudly supported by Forpark Australia, Kumho Tyres, ELF, Performance Friction Brakes, City of Darwin and Race Torque Media.
More information about the championship can be found at www.formula3.com.au
Championship Points – after 5 of 7 rounds.
Chris Gilmour 147
James Winslow 127
John Magro 114
Steel Guiliana 86
Ben Gersekowski 78
Forpark Australia F3 Scholarship / National Class
Steel Guiliana 171
Ben Gersekowski 154
Roman Krumins 106
Josh Burdon 100
Tim Macrow 47
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