AUSF3: Damien Digby Motorsport Eastern Creek race report

<pre> Damien Digby Motorsport - F3 Racing For Malta Round 5 - Australian F3 Championship, Eastern Creek - NSW August 18/19, 2001. </pre> DAMIEN DIGBY RACES TO 4TH & 7TH PLACES IN SYDNEY

August 20, 2001 - Maltese-Australian Formula 3 racing driver Damien Digby has performed strongly at the fifth round of the Australian Formula 3 Championship at Sydney's Eastern Creek circuit yesterday.

Just two days after returning from his successful visit to the UK & Malta, 25 year old Digby qualified his Toyota powered Dallara F3 car to 5th in the first qualifying session, following that up with a superb second row qualifying result at 4th after the second session. Digby's top speed during qualifying was slowed by 12 kph due to 80kph head winds experienced in Sydney throughout Saturday.

The weather improved to fine and stable conditions for Sunday's two Australian F3 Championship races, Digby racing to a solid 4th place finish after an exciting race long battle with rival Chris Coombs. In the heat of this fight for position, Digby dropped to 6th place after being edged out of a corner, but kept his resolve to fight back to the fourth spot.

After the speed and form displayed by the Maltese-Australian in the first race, and with a second row start for the second race of the round - all expected Digby's first podium finish of the season. A horrid start put an end to those hopes as Digby failed to engage first gear at the green light, dropping to last position and narrowly avoiding a start line collision with several fast on coming cars.

Once on his way Digby set about making up as much ground as possible in the 12 laps available, forcing his way past nine drivers to make it to 7th place by the chequered flag. Digby's pace was comparable with the fastest laps of the leaders, proving that his team had improved the car set up substantially since the last round.

"I am disappointed to miss out on a podium finish as we had a great car all weekend and I was on the pace throughout. The second race start was my mistake, it is just one of those things that I didn't need when starting from 4th on the grid. I have to thank the team as the car was fantastic all weekend and I am very confident going into the next round at Sandown considering the pace that we displayed here at Eastern Creek", Damien Digby said.

Damien Digby would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of the Maltese media for their outstanding support during his visit earlier this month.

"I would like to thank the press of Malta for going out of their way to make me feel welcome during my visit and for supporting our Racing For Malta concept by providing numerous television appearances and countless newspaper, magazine and radio exposures. This quality coverage has served to assist me in my goal of attracting government and private sector support for Malta to be represented in the British F3 Championship and other major international motor racing events next season," He said."We are still working hard to make this happen and I hope to return with exciting news soon," Digby added.

Damien Digby remains in 6th position overall in the Australian Formula 3 Championship, with two rounds remaining in the series.

-DDM