The four support categories for the Falken Tasmania Challenge have completed their preliminary sessions at the Symmons Plains circuit today.
This weekend sees the final round of the 2011 Formula 3 Australian Drivers’ Championship, with season-long rivals Chris Gilmour and James Winslow entering the event just 19 points apart.
The Briton edged Gilmour in both practice sessions, ending the day 0.23s clear at the top of the times with a 51.31s best effort.
“The car feels good – it feels like it did at Phillip Island (last weekend) during race two when we won,” said Winslow.
“There’s more to come and times were a bit slower than expected but so far, so good.”
Tim Macrow was third fastest in his first drive of an F3 car in five months – the F304 model Dallara-Renault just 0.41s off of Winslow’s pace.
Mat Sofi, Steel Guiliana, Josh Burdon, John Magro, Ben Gersekowski and Roman Krumins rounded out the field.
In the final round of the Australian Formula Ford Championship, the focus is on the battle for second in the standings behind runaway champion Cameron Waters.
Nick Foster put his claim for the position on the table by setting the fastest time today, ending the second session just 0.02s clear of Waters.
“I really want to end this year on a positive note, it hasn’t panned out the way I would have liked, but a win this weekend would definitely be a nice consolation,” said Foster.
“To be honest the car wasn’t that great throughout both practice sessions, but the fact that we still did enough to be fastest does fill me with confidence heading into qualifying and race one. I feel like we have a good race car here, so I’ll be pushing for race wins.”
Daniel Erickson was third fastest, ahead of Trent Harrison, Jack Le Brocq, Shae Davies, Mathew Hart, Jonathan Venter, Elliot Barbour and Rhett Noonan.
Also completing practice today were the Australian Superbikes, with Suzuki rider Robbie Bugden the proving the fastest man on his GSX-R1000.
The top seven were separated by just 0.332s at the end of the day’s two sessions, with Jamie Stuffer, Josh Waters, Wayne Maxwell, Glenn Allerton, Troy Herfos and Craig Coxhell all hopeful of knocking off Bugden tomorrow.
Friday was qualifying day for the Aussie Racing Cars, with Kyle Clews lapping 0.04s quicker than Paul Kemal. Sheridan Phillips, Adam Gowins and Maurice Massi completed the top five.
See below for Speedcafe.com’s Symmons Plains Race Guide
See below for Speedcafe.com’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Race Guide