AUSF3: Mallala round two preview

KUMHO TYRES AUSTRALIAN FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP

2005 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship - Competing for the Australian Drivers Championship, Round 2 -- Mallala, SA, April 16-17

The battle for the 2005 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship is set to continue at Mallala in South Australia on the weekend of April 16 and 17 as part of the Australian Motor Racing Series (AMRS). Despite a five-week layoff following the Australian Grand Prix, the teams have been busy.

South Australia's Tim Slade will debut his new Dallara F304 while Tim Macrow has garaged the Dallara F396 he used in Round 1 and will be driving the ex-Team BRM Dallara F301 campaigned in last year's Asian Formula 3 Championship. Gilmour Racing meanwhile has been busy building a new car for Chris Gilmour. Gilmour wrote off the tub of his Dallara in his Race 3 accident at the AGP. Gilmour also broke his leg in the accident and is in his own personal race against time to be fit for Mallala.

Coming into Round 2, it is the Astuti Competition pair of Chris Alajajian and Aaron Caratti who share the lead the 2005 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, each on 33 points. Alajajian is in the enviable position of leading two national championships after winning Round 1 of the Australian Performance Car Championship at the Clipsal 500.

Alajajian's teammate Aaron Caratti comes into Round 2 with a string of second places (two at Wakefield Park and two in the non-championship support races at the AGP) and will no doubt be hoping to go one better at Mallala. Third in the Championship is Team BRM's Michael Trimble who surprised everyone in Round 1 by winning Race 2 on his F3 debut.

A strong field of nineteen cars has been entered for Round 2 of the 2005 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, proof once again of the strength of Formula 3 in this country. With so many cars, expect some exquisite racing with any number of drivers capable of taking out race wins. As well as Alajajian, Caratti and Trimble, Tim Slade, Michael Caruso and Chris Gilmour are all capable of winning, while the ever-improving duo of Mat Sofi and Sam Abay should never be ruled out of contention. Tim Macrow and his new car will also be pushing the leaders while Ricky Occhipinti is as quick as anyone on his day.

In the Trophy series for older generation cars, Ramon Racing's Tim Berryman seems to have the jump on the others but with 16-year old Kiwi Marc Williams gaining more experience every time he steps into the car, it won't be long before he too is knocking on the door of victory.

-amrs-