 Championship leader Chaz Mostert has continued his good form on street circuits in 2010, by finishing on top of the time sheets in Townsville for Round 5 of the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship.
The Synergy Motorsport driver led both practice sessions in what is the first visit by the category to the North Queensland street circuit. Lap times decreased dramatically between the two sessions as drivers came to grips with the nature of the new track.
Mostert finished the day marginally ahead of the Team Sonic Mygales’ driven by Ryan Simpson and Geoff Uhrhane.
“It’s nice to have a positive start to the weekend, especially at a new venue,” Mostert said.
“The Synergy Motorsport Spectrum was great straight out of the truck and I have to thank the boys for doing such a great job preparing the car after Darwin.
“I’m looking forward to qualifying tomorrow, which will be important, so hopefully we can stay at the front.”
Simpson continued his strong run on Friday’s so far this season to end the day in second position. The Mygale pilot was pleased with the result and impressed with the new circuit.
“I’m pretty happy with how today has gone, but importantly it’s great to be somewhere fresh and new,” Simpson said.
“I think the track should provide some good racing and hopefully we’ll be at the front and in the thick of it tomorrow.”
Teammate Uhrhane was third, continuing his mid-season charge after a few mechanical issues earlier in the season.
“We’ve made a nice clean start this weekend, which is good and we’re right were we need to be at this stage,” Uhrhane said.
“We need to jump up slightly, hopefully two positions, in qualifying, but I think we’re in a strong position bearing in mind it’s a new circuit.”
Nick Foster kept himself within reach of the leaders with fourth ahead of Ash Walsh and 15-year-old Cameron Waters. While Adam Graham’s New Zealand replacement Nick Cassidy was seventh, with Matthew Brabham, Tom Williamson and Ben Jurczak rounding out the top 10. Local driver Zac Schonberger finished the day in 21st position.
Round 5 of the series continues with qualifying and Race 1 tomorrow at the Townsville Street Circuit.
Find the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship on twitter @ffordaustralia to keep up to date with Australia’s premier junior development category.
TOWNSVILLE, QLD - PRACTICE 1 & 2
1. Chaz Mostert, Spectrum 012, 1:17.4393
2. Ryan Simpson, Mygale SJ10a, 1:17.7122
3. Geoff Uhrhane, Mygale SJ10a, 1:17.8506
4. Nick Foster, Mygale SJ10a, 1:17.9288
5. Ashley Walsh, Spectrum 012, 1:18.2363
6. Cameron Waters, Mygale SJ06a, 1:18.2395
7. Nick Cassidy, Mygale SJ10a, 1:18.3968
8. Matthew Brabham, Spectrum 011d, 1:18.4299
9. Tom Williamson, Mygale SJ09a, 1:18.4435
10. Ben Jurczak, Spectrum 012, 1:18.7152
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.
|
