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Macrow
takes first career pole in thrilling F3 qualifying shootout.
Victorian
driver Tim Macrow today bucked against the trend of newer model
cars setting the pace in the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship
this year, by taking his 2001 model Dallara-Speiss to pole position
for both of tomorrow's 20 lap races at Mallala in South Australia.
Running
on what amounts to a shoestring budget, Macrow set a scintillating
1m03.5641 in the opening qualifying session today, a lap more than
four tenths under the existing qualifying lap record at the 2.6km
circuit outside of Adelaide. He backed up his performance in the
second session to complete a highly successful day for the ex Formula
Ford star.
"We
really couldn't be happier about the way today has gone," enthused
Macrow after taking his first ever Formula 3 pole positions. "We
put a heap of hard work into rebuilding the car after the Grand
Prix and it hasn't missed a beat since we put it on the track yesterday.
"It
was a committed Lap (the race one pole lap) and at first I didn't
believe that I had set the time! We are really looking forward to
the races tomorrow because we think we have a car that can race
strongly tomorrow." He said.
West
Australian driver Aaron Caratti had a successful day in the Astuti
Competition Dallara F304, ending the day with a pair of front row
starts - something set to help him break the deadlock at the top
of the F3 points table he currently shares with team mate Chris
Alajajian.
"It
was a pretty good day overall for us," he said. "Its going
to be close at the front but we feel that we have a really good
race car so we are looking forward to what should be some very competitive
races tomorrow."
Alajajian
was 3rd in both sessions, the aggressive youngster ruing a lack
of track time during Friday practice after a crash and later a broken
axle hindered the second Astuti Dallara's progress yesterday.
"We
have been trying a few things on the car today because we missed
so much time yesterday," he said. "I will be pushing the
car hard to try and get up there in front tomorrow, but it will
be very close at the front."
Returning
2003 series champion Michael Caruso had a productive day in the
Piccola Scuderia Dallara, setting fourth best time in both sessions.
His second session time of 1m04.5687, however, placed the New South
Welshman car just two tenths of the race two pole.
Chris
Gilmour returned to Formula 3 with a new chassis and a hobble after
his Crash at the Australian Grand Prix, but once again proved that
he will play a factor in tomorrow's two races by qualifying 6th
and 7th respectively. Ricky Occhipinti found speed as well today,
putting a tough start to the season behind him with a strong sixth
in the second session.
South
Australian based Team BRM's expected home track advantage didn't
materialise in qualifying, both Tim Slade and Michael Trimble struggling
for times in both sessions today. Trimble, who currently sits just
one point behind the joint championship leaders, scored a pair of
fifth-place starts for the races tomorrow.
Local
ace Tim Slade had a forgettable day, breaking in his new car with
a technical infringement in Qualifying one sending the car to the
back of the field for tomorrow's first race. 8th place was the best
the 19-year-old Adelaidian could salvage in the second session,
although he is expected to be competitive in the races tomorrow.
16-year-old
Kiwi Marc Williams was top in the Kumho Tyres Trophy Class, finding
nearly 1.5 seconds from practice yesterday to set a best of 1m05.
9215s to take the Trophy pole ahead of Graeme Holmes and Rod Anderson
in Qualifying One.
The
second session saw more of the same from the Baby faced Kiwi, topping
the Trophy Class times on a slower track again ahead of Holmes and
Anderson.
The
Second Round of the 2005 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship
concludes tomorrow with two, 20-lap races, set to be held at 10:05am
and 2:00pm (local time) respectively.
Qualifying
1 - Top 5
1.
Tim Macrow 1m035641
2. Aaron Caratti 1m03.5748 (+0.0107)
3. Chris Alajajian 1m03.7689 (+0.2048)
4. Michael Caruso 1m04.1662 (+0.6021)
5. Michael Trimble 1m04.2090 (+0.6449)
Qualifying
2 - Top 5
1.
Tim Macrow 1m04.2877
2. Aaron Caratti 1m04.3881 (+0.1004)
3. Chris Alajajian 1m04.4212 (+0.1335)
4. Michael Caruso 1m04.5687 (+0.2810)
5. Michael Trimble 1m04.5876 (+0.2999)
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