AUSF3: Symmons Plains: Team BRM championship summary

TEAM BRM CLINCHES FOURTH AUSTRALIAN FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP

EVEN-Numbered Years continue to work well for Adelaide-based Team BRM in the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship.

In its tenth season in the National Formula 3 championship, Team BRM clinched its fourth title in eight years at Symmons Plains raceway last weekend and continued a trend of the team winning the top Australian Open-wheel gong on alternate years.

The team won their first title with James Manderson in 2002, with Karl Reindler clinching the team's second title in 2004. In 2006 Brit Ben Clucas won the team its third title and first Gold Star, whilst James Winslow's performance at the weekend gave them the 2008 championship.

Winslow won race one at Symmons and in the process clinched the championship with one race of the season to spare.

A title-contending year-long run for Team BRM driver Nathan Caratti finished at Symmons but the West Aussie driver was able to score enough points to secure third in the championship and give the team a 1 - 3 finish in the overall standings.

Irish driver Lee Farrell outpaced National Class championship rival Chris Gilmour throughout the weekend but was forced to settle for second in the F3 ‘race within a race' after a challenging season plagued with bad luck and misfortune - but plenty of promising performances.

Team BRM drivers won nine of the fifteen races held this season, Winslow, Caratti and brit Ben Clucas all making it to the top step of the podium.

Farrell won five National Class races to give the team it's best two-class result since they clinched both the outright and trophy titles in 2004.

Of the part-time Team BRM drivers this season, Nick Percat started four races for the team and scored 38 points. John Magro started six and scored 36 points whilst Ben Clucas started two at Clipsal and also scored 36.

Kiwi Earl Bamber contested the opening two rounds with the team before budget forced him out and scored 23 points.

Team Owner Bronte Rundle said that the 2008 results were down to a complete team performance from the Adelaide-based operation.

"I have often quipped that you never see a car win a championship - it's always a driver that does it," Rundle said at the series presentation dinner on Sunday night.

"But I think it's true to say that without a good car the driver can't win, and this year the team has put in a fantastic performance to give our drivers the best cars and a shot at the championship. They have done a fantastic job this season and should be congratulated for the way they go about racing in a very competitive but professional manner.

"Team BRM has taken another step forward in 2008 and we are delighted that James could deliver the championship. Next year we will look to win one on an uneven year and go back-to-back."

James Winslow

"It is just unbelievable. After the year I have had I don't know quite what to feel. It hasn't sunk in yet.

"I knew that Leanne was out of the race but I was so determined to win the championship in race one I pressed on as hard as I could. That's why I challenged Kostera when he passed me because I wanted to win to make sure of it.

"It's just fantastic. Amazing. The team has done a great job and thanks have to go to them and everyone that has been supporting me. After last season I was so determined to come back this year and win the series so I am just relieved and happy."

Nathan Caratti

"It has been a tough season and a lot of things didn't go our way, including this weekend. The yellow flag in the second (SuperPrix) race made it very difficult for me to get past Leanne into the final corner which is where we were very strong. In the end I came close but not close enough.

"Thanks to the team for all their hard work throughout the season. It didn't go to plan in the end but we have been very fast and showed what could be possible."

Lee Farrell

"It has been a very long and tough season, but I was just thankful to be back in a car and racing again and I'm thankful to the team for doing the job that they have. They have worked so hard and long on a car that gave us a lot of grief.

"This weekend didn't go too badly for us. It was disappointing to not finish race one but with the championship over for us by then I was determined to go out and make sure that we finished strongly in the second one. There was no way that Gilmour was going to pass me in that!"

-credit: teambrm.com.au