AUS: Series newsletter 2009-10-29

30 DAYS TO GO UNTIL FORMULA 3 TITLE SHOWDOWN AT SANDOWN

JUST 30 DAYS REMAIN until the 2010 Formula 3 Australian Drivers' Championship is decided in a climactic season finale at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne.

As it did in 2008, this year's Gold Star showdown will double as the Formula 3 SuperPrix event with series officials today announcing exciting format changes (Pending final approval from CAMS) to further enhance Formula 3's Grand Finale.

Whilst the SuperPrix event will retain the traditional F3 two race format, the first race will be shortened (to 12 laps) with the afternoons feature race extended to a full 22-lap duration. Both races will retain full championship points.

Qualifying will also change, a special 35-minute session allocated to set the grid for the SuperPrix race.

Following the successful format utilized by Formula 1 and the V8 Supercars, the first 15-minutes will see all cars on track to qualify for grid position seven and back. After a five minute break, the top six cars will then take to the track in a high-pressure 10-minute ‘Quick Six' session to decide the first three rows.

A standard, 20-minute session held earlier on Saturday will set the grid for race one.

For the third year running the fight for the CAMS Australian Drivers Championship and Gold Star award will be fought out between drivers from Australia and Great Britain, with history to be made regardless of the eventual winner.

Victorian Tim Macrow will seek to become one of a rate group of drivers to have one multiple Gold Stars, whilst Cornwall, UK, driver Joey Foster will seek to win back-to-back titles for British drivers for the first time in Australian Formula 3 and more than 50 years of Gold Star history.

The winner of the Formula 3 SuperPrix will once again receive the John Bowe trophy, inaugurated in 2007 to celebrate the open wheel successes of the Tasmanian Racing icon. The SuperPrix event was held at Symmons Plains raceway for the first two years of its existence and will return to the Apple Isle next year.

Formula 3 Australia is currently talking to potential sponsors about becoming involved with the event.

"I'm excited about fighting for the Gold Star championship at a big event like the F3 SuperPrix," Championship contender Joey Foster said.

"I think it's great that the format has been changed and we can do something different for the final round. The longer race should be a real challenge and qualifying will add another level to the event and some more excitement for the teams, drivers and fans. It makes it more interesting for everyone and will add a new level to what should already be a big weekend for Australian F3.

"I've really enjoyed racing in Australia this year and I hope that the final round is a good one for us so I can cap off a great year by winning the championship - but it's going to be tough!"

The 2009 Formula 3 SuperPrix, the final round of the Formula 3 Australian Drivers' Championship, will be held at Sandown Raceway between November 27 - 29.

The inaugural Graham Watson Rookie of the Year award will also be presented to the driver best judged to be the most impressive throughout the year without any prior ‘wings and slicks' experience.

The event is the final round of the Shannon's Nationals and also features the final rounds for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series, Australian Manufacturers Championship, Commodore Cup National Series, Kumho Saloon Car Series and Shannon's V8 Touring Car National Series.

-credit: ausf3