F3 Australian champ to get Porsche Cup test

Carrera Cup Test For 2011 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Champion

The winner of the 2011 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship will receive a fully-funded test day in a current model Porsche Carrera Cup Australia MY11 GT3 Cup Car thanks to Team BRM, and Formula 3 Management.

Multiple-championship winning Team BRM recently announced their expansion into Carrera Cup competition with reigning F3 champion Ben Barker assuming driving duties.

The team will provide their car and crew at the conclusion of the season to any driver from any team who wins the 2011 Formula 3 title. Formula 3 Management will fund the insurance of the vehicle for the day plus flights for the driver in question.

Carrera Cup is set to resume its position as the premier support category to the V8 Supercars this year with leading drivers often selected for V8 Supercar testing opportunities or endurance drives.

The series also opens doors to international GT racing in Europe or America.

Team BRM manager Mark Rundle said the team was all too willing to support the series that has allowed the outfit to expand this year.

"Formula 3 has always been and will continue to be a major part of our existence, and we have always tried to do as much as we can to support it and help it grow," Rundle said.

"It was a pretty easy decision to offer up the Porsche to the 2011 Champion. It's a good chance for Formula 3 to offer progression to drivers in the series and give them an opportunity to show what they can do in a category recognised as a feeder to GT racing overseas, and V8 Supercars here.

"Naturally I hope one of our 2011 Team BRM F3 drivers wins the opportunity," he added.

"But if it's someone else then we're keen to see what made them good enough to knock our guys off by giving them a run in the Carrera Cup car."

Rundle said the team would work with Formula 3 officials throughout the year to open further opportunities for drivers looking to progress into the Porsche ranks the following year, including the potential to source funding to offer a paid for, or subsidised drive to the Formula 3 champion in 2012 Carrera Cup season.

With 2010 F3 champion Barker now confirmed for the full-time Porsche ride this year, the top-three finishing drivers from the 2010 F3 Australian Drivers Championship have all secured significant steps forward in their respective careers this season.

2010's second-placed driver Mitch Evans recently confirmed a deal to race in the GP3 series with MW Arden, supported by Australian Formula 1 star Mark Webber, as he continues his meteoric rise to Formula One.

Tom Tweedie, who finished third in the 2010 championship and won the F3 National Class, will contest the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Championship driving for MW Motorsport.

F3 Australia alumni Tim Slade, Karl Reindler and Michael Caruso have also started their respective 2011 V8 Supercar campaigns strongly following the opening round at Abu Dhabi.

-source: ausf3