AUS: Series Morgan Park preview

TOM TWEEDIE READY TO BEGIN TITLE FIGHT IN WARWICK

AUSTRALIA'S Fastest racing cars will race into the unknown when they make their debut at Warwick's Morgan Park Raceway next weekend for the fifth round of the 2010 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship.

Three young drivers from three countries will contest the first in a three-round battle to decide the 2010 winner of the Australian Drivers Championship next weekend, with the winner receiving the CAMS Gold Star award at the end of the year.

21-year-old Sydney driver Tom Tweedie, 16-year-old New Zealand prodigy Mitch Evans and 19-year-old Briton Ben Barker - a winner last time out - are separated by just nine points at the top of the standings.

The newly expanded Morgan Park layout represents neutral territory for the title contenders, offering an ideal location for the first stanza of the title fight.

"There will be more variables and unknowns at this round than we have ever encountered," title leader Tom Tweedie said.

Tweedie has raced his Team Tom Supporters Club Dallara F304 - Renault machine to two wins and eleven podium finishes this season, but has had is lead eroded over the past two rounds as first Evans, then Barker took turns at doing all the winning.

"It's a new track for us in that we've never been to Morgan Park - but the new extensions make it new for everyone, so nobody has any really firm idea about how to set up the car there or what it's going to be like.

"There is limited track time so teams are going to have to be on the ball from the first session," Tom added.

"Really there is only 60 minutes of practice before qualifying so we need to maximise our track time and get as many laps in as possible to learn the circuit."

Whilst Tweedie's small team might lack the multi-car resources of their Team BRM rivals, the Team Tom operation has gone all out to try and deliver the best possible car setup prior to making the trek north from their Sydney base.

The team has run simulations and probed local competitors for knowledge to try and come to the ideal settings for adjustable components like the wings, gear ratios and suspension settings that are all critical in the highly adjustable F3 racers.

"Nathan, our Data engineer, has done a lot of simulation work on the computer to come up with potential gear ratios and setup options so that will help," Tweedie said.

"We've also been talking to the locals and looking at the circuit to see if we can pick any similarities to other circuits we have already been to. We think we have a strong baseline setup that has worked when we went to other tracks - like Adelaide and Wakefield Park - for the first time so we think we are as well prepared as possible."

Entrants in round five of the 2010 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship include Brisbane driver Chris Gilmour, who will return for his second event of the year in his still-new F307 Dallara.

Queensland talent Ben Gersekowski will also make his National Championship debut behind the wheel of his ex-Leanne Tander Dallara F304, whilst fellow local driver Roman Krumins will front for his second start of the season.

Meanwhile Toowoomba driver James Mann will look to follow in the footsteps of fellow local, and ex-Australian F3 race winner Will Power by having a successful run in his F3 debut.

Action begins on Friday, August 13th with two practice sessions, before the Meguiar's qualifying session and race one are contested on Saturday. The second sprint race and a 20-lap feature will conclude the round on Sunday the 15th.

-source: ausf3