Title Contenders Set For Points Bonus In Tassie Thanks To Leaders Absence

LEADING DRIVERS entered in round two of the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship will be looking to capitalise on an unexpected potential bonus points haul at Symmons Plains this weekend.

Formula 3 cars in action at Symmons Plains in 2008, the last time the series visited the Tasmanian circuit. Credit: Australian F3

The series heads across Bass Straight with the unexpected circumstance of the two leading drivers in the Gold Star points' battle - Mitch Evans and Ben Crighton - not scheduled to compete.

The situation will allow drivers like Ben Barker (Team BRM Dallara F307) and Tom Tweedie (Team Tom Supporters Club F304) to attempt to get 'one up' on their competition before they return in full force at Phillip Island in May.

Whilst work commitments will keep Ben Crighton in New Zealand for the round, Wakefield Park winner Mitch Evans is utilising a School Holiday break to take advantage of an opportunity to test with a leading open-wheel team in Europe.

The 15-year-old was forced to juggle his brief holiday from School with the overseas testing opportunity, the timing unfortunately clashing with the Symmons Plains round - however his #4 car will remain on the grid with a more than adequate replacement behind the wheel.

Evans will be replaced in the Team BRM Dallara by fellow Toyota Racing Series frontrunner Andrew Waite, from Auckland, who will make his F3 debut at Symmons Plains.

20-year-old Waite finished fourth in the 2009/10 TRS championship and tied with Evans for second place in the final round held recently at the Taupo Circuit.

He also has some experience of Australian racing having contested several Australian Formula Ford Championship races in 2008 and 2009.

Evans has confirmed his return to the F3ADC for the Phillip Island round of the championship on May 1-2, but could face either a narrower margin or even a points deficit after sweeping a near-maximum score from round one.

Evans leads the series on 46 points, leading Crighton (35), whilst third-placed Tom Tweedie (28) and Ben Barker (fourth, 24 points) will be the key contenders to take advantage of the leaders' absence.

48 points will be up for grabs in Tasmania across the three races, with bonus points also scored for fastest laps and pole position.

The addition of Andrew Waite to the field, along with the conformation of young Tassie driver Josh Burdon and the return of Queensland charger John Margo, plus others, adds further depth to the field set to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of racing at Symmons Plains.

Hard work from Formula 3 Administration will ensure a larger grid at round two of the championship, but the added bonus will be an increased level of competition and depth amongst the grid.

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