Ben Back With a Bang In Carnage-Filled Adelaide F3 Finale'

Ben Clucas has today stormed to the 12th win of his illustrious Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship career after winning a crash-filled race two at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

Whilst other outright-contending cars crashed around him, Clucas kept his cool to record a stunning victory ahead of race 1 winner Neil McFadyen (Piccola Scuderia Corse) and Opes Prime Team BRM Team mate James Winslow.

McFadyen's second position vaulted him to a clear nine-point championship advantage whilst Winslow's consistency paid off to lift him to second in the race for the Gold Star.

In just one round Clucas has scored 36 points - enough to lift him to third in the championship.

Today's 12-lap encounter started strongly with Winslow making the best start and clearly leading the field into turn two, McFadyen, Clucas and Earl Bamber slotting in behind.

Clucas was immediately on the attack, however, and slipped past McFadyen on lap three and instantly began applying the pressure onto his countryman, and race leader, Winslow.

The status quo was maintained for several laps as the safety car was called out to clear the wrecked car of Chris Reindler, who had rolled after a clash with the fellow National Class entry driven by local Samantha Reid.

Reindler clipped the rear wheel of Reid's TanderSport Dallara and completed a full 360-degree flip at the turn nine hairpin - fortunately emerging from the car sore but unscathed thanks to the high safety standards employed by the latest Formula 3 chassis.

Clucas attacked on the race restart, pressuring Winslow for two laps until making a well-executed move for the lead on lap six at the turn nine hairpin.

Clucas - who had a strong tow down Brabham straight - ducked out at the last minute and was able, despite Winslow's strong defence, to steal the lead from his team-mate. All hell broke loose behind them, however, with three championship contending cars caught up in a massive crash behind the leaders.

Forced wide as Clucas passed Winslow, Earl Bamber's car ran onto the outside kerb - leaving him without steering. Moving forward, the car then flew across the circuit into the path of former points' leader Nathan Caratti, the two Opes Prime BRM cars colliding.

Caratti's car was tagged sideways back across to the outside of the racetrack - directly into the path of a hapless Leanne Tander who was trying to avoid the carnage. Whilst all three drivers were unharmed, all three were out of the race.

On the second restart Clucas was able to hold off McFadyen and Winslow to record a stunning return victory 18 months after his last Australian F3 start. The Brit has now won 12 of his 14 F3 race starts in Australia.

Stuart Kostera (Scud Racing) finished a stunning fourth, whilst Mat Sofi (Transwest Racing) finished fifth. Chris Gilmour won the Opes Prime National Class and finished sixth outright in the attrition filled event.

"I was actually a bit disappointed getting second yesterday as we had good pace in our car in both races - but we struggled in qualifying," Clucas explained.

"A lot of the race performances was me getting back into it.

"After the start (race 2) I was in third and I was thinking 'oh no - I'm going to have to get passed' - because it's so hard to pass here, but to be honest it's better to win the race like that because it's so close. I'm on top of the world at the moment - I knew if I could get a good start I would be a chance to win it." He said.

Clucas added that he was impressed with the growing strength and depth of competition in the domestic F3 championship.

"It's great that the competition is growing and getting stronger and stronger," he enthused. "It's great to be here with the V8s, with 23 cars - it's a great credit to the people behind the scenes in the series."

New championship leader Neil McFadyen said that his weekend was one of turnarounds - after a tough first round of the championship at Eastern Creek.

"It's a fantastic result. We came here from Eastern Creek with no testing. We've hit the track fast and from there we've had a fantastic weekend," he said.

"The team atmosphere is very positive and I think this is a glimpse of what is to come from Piccola Scuderia - Hopefully we can continue this momentum through the series and kick on well.

"It's been a huge one-round turnaround!"

Winslow jumped to second in the championship despite being disappointed with the weekend as a whole.

"I finished third, I'm a bit disappointed because it wasn't the best race for me," he said.

"I pulled away on the restart but Ben pulled a good move on me in the hairpin. It was a legitimate move so I let him have the corner and then Neil just touched the back of my car - and the tap pushed me wide under braking so Neil got passed.

"This has been a fantastic event. I raced at Macau in 2006 and this place has some bits a lot like that track. It's a great atmosphere."

The third round of the 2008 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star will be held at Oran Park Raceway in NSW, on April 25 - 27.

Race 2 Results 

Ben Clucas     (Opes Prime Team BRM) 
Neil McFadyen  (Piccola Scuderia Corse) 
James Winslow  (Opes Prime Team BRM) 
Stuart Kostera (Scud Racing) 
Mat Sofi       (Transwest Racing)

National Class - Chris Gilmour (6th outright)
Trophy Class   - Justin Tate   (9th outright) 



Championship points - after Round 2 of 8. 

1. Neil McFadyen 46
2. James Winslow 37
3. Ben Clucas 36
4. Nathan Caratti 29
5. Earl Bamber 23

Print This Page