 The battle for the 2010 Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship will continue this weekend at Winton Motor Raceway during Round 3 of the series.
After two action packed weekends of racing, Steeline Mygale driver Nick Foster leads the title race following a fantastic debut victory at Queensland Raceway last time out. Foster will no doubt be keen to preserve his title lead, but there is a hungry pack of drivers chasing his tail.
Pre-season favourite Ash Walsh currently sits ninth in the championship after a disappointing start to his campaign, but is looking forward to kick-starting his season as a circuit he knows well.
“Our plan at the start of the season didn’t include being ninth after two rounds, but we’re only 30 points off the lead, so it is shaping up to be one of the toughest championships for quite a while,” Walsh said.
“This makes it more of a challenge, but we can definitely win this year.
“We definitely need a good result at Winton. We know the track well and have been going well in testing, so it is a case of getting the most out of ourselves over the weekend and that should see as starting to move forward.”
Sonic Motor Racing Services pilot Geoff Uhrhane is another driver who has experienced a frustrating few rounds and finds himself eighth in the championship. Mechanical dramas cost Uhrhane a certain top three result at Queensland Raceway and he is keen to make up for it this weekend.
“The start of the year has been really disappointing so far, especially because we’ve had really good speed at both the Grand Prix and at Queensland Raceway,” Uhrhane said.
“I’ve had really good speed at Winton in the past, so I’m hoping it’s going to be a case of third time lucky this year for me.”
In 2009 the round was dominated by Nick Percat, but with the South Australian no longer in the category, the door is open for the rest of the field to stamp their claim on the Victorian circuit.
This weekend will see 22 drivers contesting Round 3 as the championship continues to attract positive grid numbers. Reigning Victorian State Series champion Jesse Fenech will make his debut in the national series for Borland Racing Developments, while Queenslander Liam Sager will line up for his first run with the CAMS Rising Star squad.
Find the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship on twitter @ffordaustralia to keep up to date with Australia’s premier junior development category.
Weekend Preview:
Round 3 2010 Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship
Winton Motor Raceway, Winton, Vic
Friday May 13 – Sunday May 16
Weekend Schedule: AEST
Friday
09:50-10:10am - Practice 1 (20 minutes)
12:50-13:10pm - Practice 2 (20 minutes)
Saturday
10:40-11:05am - Qualifying (20 minutes)
13:10-13:25pm - Race 1 (10 laps)
Sunday
10:55-11:10am - Race 2 (10 laps)
15:15-15:30pm - Race 3 (10 laps)
Australian Formula Ford Championship – after two rounds
1. Nick Foster, 58
2. Chaz Mostert, 49
3. Adam Graham, 42
4. Ben Jurczak, 38
5. Ryan Simpson, 36
6. Nathan Morcom, 32
7. Andre Borell, 32
8. Geoff Uhrhane, 31
9. Ash Walsh, 28
10. Tom Williamson, 8
Formula Ford is the world’s premier junior development motorsport category and has been a prominent fixture within Australia since 1969. Ford has been a proud partner of Formula Ford in Australia since the beginning and will support the category again in 2010 as it continues to grow. The relative parity between local and international makes produces some of the closest and most exciting racing seen on any circuit around Australia.
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