Sonic dominates as Winton supports kick off

Practice for the second round of the 2011 Australian Formula Ford Championship saw domination from Sonic Motor Racing Services, with team drivers Cameron Waters, Nick Foster and Matthew Brabham ending the day on top.

While Waters and Foster are expected to battle it out for the title this year, Brabham is completing only a part-schedule, and impressed with his pace today.

“I’m really enjoying working with Team Sonic and I think we’ve proved so far that it can be a good relationship,” said Brabham, who competed in the national series last year with the CAMS Rising Stars.

“I made the decision to step to the state series this year to focus on school, but it is nice to be competitive against the national guys straight away this weekend.”

Championship leader Tom Williamson had a difficult day aboard his Borland Spectrum, ending the two sessions 13th on combined times – more than a second behind Waters.

An eight-car field hit the track for the opening round of the Formula 3 Australian Drivers’ Championship, with R-Tek Motorsport’s Bryce Moore ending the day 0.25s clear of John Magro.

James Winslow (R-Tek), Chris Gilmour (Gilmour Motorsport) and Formula 3 rookie Steel Giuliana rounded out the top five.

Australian GT Championship practice saw Carrera Cup Australia regulars Craig Baird and Daniel Gaunt battle it out for the fastest time.

The Kiwis, who will co-drive the Porsche GT3 Cup Ss of Marc Cini and Dean Grant this weekend, were split by 0.25s at the end of the day.

Tony Quinn (Aston Martin DBRS9) beat son Klark Quinn (Mosler MT900) to third fastest, while the Nick O’Halloran/Jason Richards Ferrari 430 GT3 made it four marques in the top five.

The Aussie Racing Cars also took to the track today, with Qualifying 1 seeing Kyle Clews 0.09s clear of Simon Smith.

Peter Carr, Maurice Masini and Tyler Owen filled third through fifth, with karting hotshot David Sera quick enough for 16th in the 38 car field.