 Older Article | Newer Article |
[FF] Mostert sets Sandown pole
CHAZ CONTINUES GOOD FORM AT SANDOWN
1 August, 2009
Factory Enterprises racer Chaz Mostert has snared pole position in a fiercely fought qualifying session for round five of the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship at Sandown International Raceway this morning.
Mostert was consistently at the top of the time sheets in this morning's session, out-pacing CAMS Rising Star Luke Ellery by just one hundredth of a second for the top spot on the grid. So intense was the pace this morning that just one second splits the top 13 drivers for the start of race one this afternoon.
"That was hard work!," Mostert said.
"It was more like a race than a qualifying session ... everyone was really pushing hard out there today and you just couldn't afford to rest ... every time I thought I'd posted a great time,I'd look over to the pit board and see that someone else had topped me!
Thankfully my tyres hung in there and were still good for a quick time at the end of the session," he said.
Young Victorian Luke Ellery also had a great run, and for the first time this year finds himself lining up alongside Mostert on the front row.
"As Chaz said, it was pretty intense out there ... I'm not sure how much longer we all could have kept that pace up without someone losing it," a relieved Ellery noted.
"I think the fastest lap time changed something like seven times throughout the session, and when you look at the fact that the top 13 are split by about a second it shows that plenty of the boys are carrying some serious speed this weekend," he added.
Sonic Racing's Geoff Uhrhane also posted his best qualifying performance of the year and will start race one from third place on the grid.
A surprise of a different kind also emerged from this morning's qualifying, in the form of Nick Percat, who after dominant qualifying performances all year could only manage eighth fastest – the first time he will not start from the front row this year.
Over the last 40 years, the Australian Formula Ford Championship has launched the motorsport careers of dozens of our country's greatest racers. The first Australian Formula Ford race was held at Sandown Raceway in 1969, won by Richard Knight in an Elfin 600, a precursor to his victory the following year in the inaugural Australian Formula Ford series. Since those early days many of the world's top drivers have come through the ranks of Formula Ford to score major international successes.
Round five of the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship will be contested over three races beginning on Saturday at 1.05pm. Race one will be televised live on the Seven Network – please check your local guides.
| Older Article | Newer Article |
| Browse 'OPEN-WHEEL' | |
