Australian Formula 3 Championship 2003

Round Six

Team BRM scores first podium finish of the season.

Karl Reindler, UTS Geophysics Dallara F301 Spiess Opel scored his first podium finish ever in the Australian Formula 3 Championship and Team BRM's first podium finish of the year, in one of the most impressive drives of the season. Reindler started well back in the grid, in 12th position for the start of the first race of the 6th round of the 2003 Australian Formula 3 Championship as a result of changeable weather in the first qualifying session yesterday, but was able to fight his way up the grid to finish the race in 3rd position.

Reindler's Team BRM team mate, Matt Fitzgerald, Inmotion Technologies Dallara F301 Spiess Opel, also put in an outstanding performance to move up from 14th on the grid to finish in 6th position.

The track was very greasy at the start of the race and the drivers need to be cautious. Both Team BRM drivers drove brilliantly however, to quickly move through the field, finishing the race in the best result of the season for the Team.

The speed of the Formula 3's around the Phillip Island track was fierce, with the fastest lap recorded today, set by James Cressey of 1:27.1923 in the first race, being over 6 seconds a lap faster than the V8 Supercar lap record held by Craig Lowndes of 1:33.4389.

Today's second race was started in Championship order after yesterday's second qualifying session was cancelled. Again both Team BRM drivers put in excellent performances to finish the race well up in the order.

Karl Reindler led home Team BRM, finishing in 3rd position and again on the podium. Reindler got away cleanly and was sitting in 6th position at the end of the first lap. He was able to move cleanly past Christian Jones, Dallara F301 Mugen Honda, but was held up when attempting to pass Peter Hackett, Dallara F301 Sodemo Renault. This allowed eventual winner Barton Mawer, Dallara F396 Spiess Opel, and second place finisher, James Cressey, Dallara F301 Spiess Opel, to pull away. Reindler was able to close the gap by setting consistently competitive lap times, but was not able to pass them and had to settle for a very strong 3rd place. This result saw Reindler take out 3rd overall for the round.

Reindler's team mate, Matt Fitzgerald, also put in a strong performance in the second race to finish in 5th position, making this weekend his best of the season to date. Fitzgerald was involved in a tight fight throughout the race with Christian Jones and race one pole sitter Marchy Lee, Dallara F301 Renault, finishing ahead of Lee and just behind Jones.

These results made this the best round of the 2003 Australian Formula 3 Championship for Team BRM. As expected the Team is rapt with the performance of both drivers and is looking forward to building on this rounds results in the coming round to be held at Winton Raceway 19th -21st September.

Before then catch all the action of the Oran Park round of the 2003 Australian Formula 3 Championship on 23rd August at 12noon on the Seven network.