Leading Formula 3 Australian Drivers’ Championship team principals Mark Rundle and Ian Richards have praised the performances of the rookie drivers that tested their cars at this week’s Kumho Tyres F3 Experience drive-day.
Held at South Australia’s Mallala circuit – the home venue for both Team BRM and R-Tek Motorsport, the day saw nine rookie drivers take to the track.
The line-up consisted of 2011 Aussie Racing Cars Champion Adrian Cottrell, two State Formula Ford Champions from New South Wales (Steven Charman) and Queensland (Hayden Cooper), multiple karting champion Tyler Greenbury and now Brisbane-based South African driver Gordon Connelly, who has competed in both open-wheel and saloon racing in his former homeland.
Also running were Victorian Formula Ford racer and former Commodore Cup race winner Scott Andrews, South Australian state Formula Ford frontrunners Chris Slusarski and Greg Edwards, plus winning Karter and state Formula 3 racer Garnett Pattison.
According to Richards, who forms a key part of Formula 3 management in addition to his role as R-Tek team owner, the drivers took a measured approach to learning the wings and slicks cars.
“Overall there was a very high standard of young drivers present on the day and there is no doubt each of them could be successful in Formula 3 if they wanted to go down that career path,” said Richards of the drivers.
“Each and every driver that sat in our cars made significant improvement throughout the day and all took a very level headed and mature approach to a day that wasn’t about setting the fastest lap, but about learning what these cars are capable of.
“Now they have an understanding of what the cars can do and the engineering that goes on behind the scenes.”
Echoing Richards’ thoughts, Rundle also said that the test will prove beneficial to the two participating teams as well as the nine drivers.
“Even though the three guys we ran came from vastly different backgrounds and had such different levels of experience they each genuinely impressed in their own ways,” said Rundle.
“We were pleased to be involved in the day and it has opened up our eyes to some of the talent out there that might not be well known to the wider racing community just yet.”
R-Tek confirmed at the test day that its 2011 Forpark F3 Scholarship winner Steel Guiliana will return to the team next season to take on the outright title. CLICK HERE for Speedcafe.com’s previous news story.
A new team, Harvest Motorsport, is also set to be on the grid with a Mygale M-08. CLICK HERE for Speedcafe.com’s previous news story.
The 2012 F3 Australian Drivers Championship will kick-off at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide on March 1-4.
