| Winslow jets in to set practice pace in Darwin |
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By: F3 Media Release Date: 15/6/2012 at 5:51:05 PM |
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It’s a long way from NASCAR to Australian Formula 3, but that hasn’t worried British ace James Winslow.
Fresh from finishing fourth in the most recent round of the all-new European Nascar series, the 2008 F3 Australian Drivers’ Champion and current points’ leader topped practice today at a sweltering Hidden Valley Raceway, near Darwin.
Winslow flew direct from Europe to compete this weekend, traveling from Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps circuit almost directly to Darwin before arriving yesterday following the final leg of the journey, from Singapore.
He was fractionally quicker than a group of drivers that included his closest rival - reigning champion Chris Gilmour – to the point where the pair were split by just 0.04s in the second 20-minute session this afternoon.
“It has felt good right out of the box,” Winslow said.
“The car is good. The track is very hot and as such it’s pretty slippery and you have to be pretty careful not to overdrive, but I’m happy with the day. I think it’s going to be very competitive and it will be interesting once some more rubber has gone down on the surface.”
Second-placed Chris Gilmour admitted he ‘threw away’ his best lap after a minor off in the second session – but was none the less pleased with the speed his washit.com.au Dallara showed today.
“It’s quick and I like it here, I feel comfortable,” he said.
“We’re still working on the car but it feels like a good start. This is the round where our championship challenge begins and for some reason I feel very confident at this place. One thing is for certain though – it’s going to be very close. There will be hundredths (of a second) in it.”
Team BRM duo Jordan Skinner and John Magro, R-Tek’s Steel Guiliana (who missed first practice after a late flight) and even Mygale driver and reigning Formula Ford champion Cameron Waters were all within a few tenths of the leader today, setting up a potentially thrilling qualifying session tomorrow.
For his part, Waters’ got the previously untested Mygale to within eight-tenths of the benchmark time today, an impressive feat given the young Mildura-based driver has never raced an F3 car prior to this weekend – and that the car had never turned a competitive lap in anger prior to this morning.
Hayden Cooper topped the Forpark Australia National Class times, but an impressive performance from newcomer Locke Marshall in his Lord Chemicals Dallara saw him feature close to the BF Racing driver.
An electrical issue in the second session curtailed his running but the young Victorian Formula Ford Champion looks to have settled into the high-speed world of ‘wings and slicks’ quickly.
Ben Gersekowski and Mike Wayne completed the runners in practice today
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