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Tag Archive | "Formula Ford"
PERCAT TOPS THE TOP END
Nick Percat has taken his third round win for the season in the Australian Formula Ford Championship at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin. In a repeat of race two, Percat was beaten off the line by Sonic teammate Mitch Evans who briefly led the 12-lap race before Percat used the long Hidden Valley straight to slipstream himself back into the lead. “Three from three ... can’t do much better than that!” Percat exclaimed. “Apart from my dodgy starts I’m happy with the way things turned out. Credit to Mitch too – he really had some pace this weekend and pushed me pretty hard,” he added. “Hopefully I can carry this form onto Sandown (round five) next month and redeem my performance there last year.” Evans did his best to hang on to the tail of Percat, but his efforts were in vain as his teammate stretched his lead to over two seconds by the final lap. “I’m happy with second for the round but I think I probably could have looked after my tyres more for a better showing in this final race.” Evans said. “Keeping up with Nick is hard work and for my first time here I’m happy with the result ... a few more laps around here and I would be less prone to some of the mistakes I made which all part of the learning curve I guess.” Ryan Simpson was able to hang onto third place after a great battle with Borland Racing’s Scott Pye and Team BRM’s Richie Stanaway. The trio pushed each other for the duration of the race and were joined by Synergy Racing’s Chaz Mostert who also hustled for a place on the podium. “ Again I made a meal of the start ... the clutch was slipping off the line and I just got bogged down. A shame because I think I had the pace to run with Nick and Mitch which was reflected in the lap times,” Simpson said. “After the start I got caught up with Scott and Richie which provided for some good racing but I would have preferred to be fighting for the lead. I’m looking forward to Sandown now knowing I can run at the front and hopefully will be able to go one or two better.” The next round of the Championship will be round five at Sandown International Raceway in Victoria on July 31 – August 2. Source: Australian Formula Ford Media Release
Continue reading...PERCAT TOPS TOP END FORMULA FORD CLASH
Friday, June 19, 2009
Austraian Formula Ford Championship leader Nick Percat has topped the time sheets in today's Formula Ford practice sessions at Darwin's Hidden Valley Raceway. Percat posted a convincing seven tenths of a second lead over his nearest rival, Chaz Mostert. "I'm surprised we managed to quicker this afternoon," Percat said. "There's obviously a lot more heat around this afternoon and I would have thought our tyres would have suffered as a result but they held out," he added. "I'm really happy with the setup I'm running at the moment so I don't think we'll do much in the way of changes between now and qualifying ... I'll just rely on some fresh rubber for more speed tomorrow." Looking for answers to explain the time gap to Percat, second fastest Chaz Mostert was left scratching his head after today's sessions. "I feel like I'm pushing it to the limit but the times just aren't reflecting that," a dejected Mostert said. "Six tenths (the gap to Percat) is a lot of time to make up ... I'm really not sure where we're losing the time at the moment but am confident we can make some positive changes before tomorrow's qualifying session." Third quickest today was young New Zealander Richie Stanaway. Stanaway, fresh from his maiden Australian Championship race win at Symmons Plains is relishing the technical Darwin circuit. "Obviously I'd like to be a bit quicker but it's such a great track to drive you can easily forget you're out there to do a job!" he said. "I'm still learning the track as it's my first time here and there's a few improvements we can make to our suspension settings before tomorrow so I'm sure I can go quicker as the weekend goes on ... Tasmania was a real confidence booster for the team so now we just have to find the speed we enjoyed there and I'm sure we can repeat that performance." Percat's Sonic Racing teammates Mitch Evans and Geoff Uhrhane rounded out the top five in today's practice and will no doubt be sneaking a look at their comrade's data tonight to see if there's a way they can haul in the championship leader in tomorrow's qualifying. Qualifying for the fourth round of the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship takes place tomorrow morning at 9.25am, and is followed by race one at 1.20pm. Races two and three will be held on Sunday at 9.45am and 12.45pm respectively. Races one and two will be televised live from Darwin on the Seven Network around Australia. Check your local guides for details. Source: Formula Ford Association Media Release
Continue reading...BRABHAM RETURNS TO AUSSIE RACETRACKS
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The most famous name in Australian Motorsport will return to the nation's racetracks, as Matthew Brabham contests a limited Formula Ford campaign in the Victorian State Circuit Racing Championship. Brabham, son of Le Mans 24 hour winner Geoff, will race with the support of Melbourne's Kangan-Batman TAFE and their Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE). Speaking at a launch held at the ACE, Matthew told the assembled crowd that despite the remarkable achievements of his famous Grandfather, Father and Uncles, his inspiration to race came from his Mother. “As I grew up I watched my Mother competing in Jet Ski races in America, it was there I got into the whole racing bug.” he said. Despite carrying such a famous name, the 15 year old says he is feeling no extra pressure to perform. “I'm just the same as everybody else, I've been racing karts for seven years, just trying it out and to get into the whole atmosphere of what my family's been doing for so long.” he said. Matthew's Father Geoff said that he hadn't encouraged his son to follow in the family footsteps but he was happy to give his son his full support. I tried to get a tennis racquet in to his hand, I tried everything I possibly could” he said jokingly. “ But my wife was racing Jet Skis when he was like three or four years old so that didn't help either. We tried very hard to get him interested in something else but unfortunately we failed miserably.” With so many racers in the family Matthew has no shortage of career advice, although he's admitted that he may not necessarily listen to all of it. “My Granddad (3 times World F1 Champion Sir Jack) gives me Grandfather type advice, he says just go for it, my Dad is a bit more professional talking about marketing, presenting yourself and also racecraft, but it's very hard to relay over information and tips from other generations... road racing has changed so much from when my Grandfather was doing it.” Matthew tested the new car at Winton the following morning and could make his debut at the next round of the Victorian State Series at Sandown on July 18 and 19.
Continue reading...BRABHAM FAMILY NOT A PART OF GRAND PRIX COMEBACK
Friday, June 5, 2009
The Brabham family have distanced themselves from an attempt by an organisation calling itself Brabham Grand Prix Ltd. to bring the iconic name back to F1. In a statement issued last night the Brabham family expressed their surprise at the news that an entry has been submitted for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship by Formtech with the intention of operating as Brabham Grand Prix Limited. "The family would like to make it clear that they are in no way involved with Brabham Grand Prix Limited and received no consultation regarding the company’s plans to resurrect their historic name in Formula One." the statement said. The family is taking legal advice and will take necessary steps to protect their name, reputation and its goodwill. The new Brabham Grand Prix team is led by by German entrepreneur Franz Hilmer, owner of Formtech GmbH, a machine tool business based in Germany. Australian Mark Preston, formerly the technical director of Super Aguri will be technical director. Preston was previously with Super Aguri and the new team says it will operate out of that teams former home, the Leafield Technical Centre. The announcement of the possible return of the Brabham name to F1 came only an hour before the announcement in Melbourne that 15 year old Matthew Brabham, son of Le Mans winner Geoff and the Grandson of three time World Champion Sir Jack, would soon make his Australian circuit racing debut in the Victorian Formula Ford Championship.
Continue reading...PERCAT POWERS ON AT WINTON
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Nick Percat continued his dominance of the Australian Formula Ford Championship when he took out race one of round two at Winton Motor Raceway three hours north east of Melbourne this afternoon. Percat came home ahead of Chaz Mostert and Sonic Racing teammate Geoff Uhrhane. After being challenged in the early stages of the race by Queenslander Mostert, Percat pulled away in the last laps to an unassailable lead to take his fourth race win for the season. "That pretty much went to plan," Percat said. "I was a bit shaky off the start but had the inside line on Chaz so I managed pull through that ok ... once I found some space I just concentrated on looking after my tyres for tomorrow's races." Percat also posted the race's fastest lap with a 1min26.39secs. Spectrum pilot Mostert will be searching for some more speed tomorrow if he is again to challenge Percat for line honours. "I was giving it a good go out there today but unfortunately the car just wasn't in it," Mostert said. "My tyres held out until about half way through and then they just went off really quickly and I was fighting massive understeer for the rest of the race". Scott Pye and Mitch Evans rounded out the top five after defending their qualifying positions. In a race devoid of any of the carnage that marred round one's race at the Australian Grand Prix, all 21 entries will again line up to do battle for races two and three tomorrow. SOURCE: Australian Formula Ford Media Release
Continue reading...QUEENSLAND STATE SERIES SHINES
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Queensland Motor Racing Championships held at Morgan Park Raceway on April 25-26 were a massive success, due largely to the introduction of Saturday night championship races. Organised by the Queensland Racing Drivers Association (QRDA), the meeting saw around 150 racers take to the track, traveling from as far away as New Zealand to compete. As an added bonus for competitors, there was perfect weather for the event, especially for the Saturday night racing where a large crowd turned out to take in the festivities. Chris Donnelly, president of the QRDA was once again impressed by the local facilities, volunteers and spectator numbers. "The Warwick District Sporting Car Club has gone above all expectations in assisting with the set up for the night racing and lighting towers, the success of the meeting and the presentation of Morgan Park Raceway is a credit to Bill Campbell and his team," said Mr Donnelly. "I hope that the people of Warwick realise what a valuable asset they have at Morgan Park, as once again the town filled up with competitors and teams from as far away as Darwin, Cairns and New Zealand. "The racing itself was top notch, with the night racing a real test for the drivers, with several competitors actually going quicker in the night racing than they did during the day time qualifying sessions. "We all look forward to returning for the remainder of the championship races in August and November." Qualifying on Saturday kicked off after a lunchtime Anzac Day service hosted by the Warwick branch of the RSL, which was attended by all competitors and teams. There were several surprise packets amongst the front runners in the 10 competing classes, including the Queensland Geminis. Ryan Hansford, son of the late legend of two and four wheel motorsport Gregg Hansford, won his first ever championship race after only a handful of meetings in 2008. In the Saloon Cars, newcomer Grant Gatland shook up the establishment with a strong podium run in his Falcon. Gatland, formerly from South Africa where he raced in the VW Polo series, is a student of the Southern Queensland Institute of Tafe motorsport program, and has a big future ahead of him. Other strong local performers included Warwick driver Jamie Furness in the HQ Holdens, who battled hard all weekend long with his Toowoomba based uncle Gary Bonwick, and Brisbane based Dion Cidoni for the podium places. For more information on the Queensland Motor Racing Championships, visit the QRDA website atwww.qrda.asn.au. Source: QRDA Media Release
Continue reading...WHEN YOU WISH UPON A (rising) STAR
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Australian Motor Sport Foundation (AMSF) announced today that Luke Ellery (18, VIC), Nathan Morcom (16, NSW) and CAMS Aussie Young Gun, David Whitmore (16, NSW) will join South Australian Scott Pye in the 2009 CAMS Rising Star squad. The successful drivers have had to endure an intensive selection process, which included an interview with an AMSF panel, a selection camp at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), an evaluation day in Formula Fords at Winton Raceway and a psychology analysis session with leading motor sport psychologist Noel Blundell. “The drivers were tested both physically and mentally during the selection process and they should all be proud of how they performed,” said AMSF Projects and Operations Officer, Brock Rogers.
Continue reading...ERIKSON WINS THE FIRST FORD FIGHT
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Pole sitter Daniel Erickson, today secured his first race win and a race lap record for the 2008 Australian Formula Ford Championship at the L&H 500 meeting at Phillip Island. Erickson fought off championship leaders Paul Laskazeski (Spectrum) and Nick Percat (Mygale) to take the 20 points and James Moffat's record, while Percat and Laskazeski settled for second and third respectively.
Continue reading...TIGHT FIGHT FOR ISLAND HONOURS
Friday, September 12, 2008
Daniel Erickson, has taken his first pole position for the year today in qualifying for the Australian Formula Ford Championship at Phillip Island. Driving the locally built Spectrum 011b Erikson recordied the fastest time in Friday morning's practice then backed it up in qualifying, to secure pole ahead of Sonic Motorsport's Nick Percat in the French built Mygale by only .0001sec.
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