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[FF] Nicolaou snares podium at PI final
pic: Bam Media
Two-time Australian karting champion Leigh Nicolaou has finished the sixth and final round of the Victorian Formula Ford Series in third overall at Phillip Island.
Part of the Britek Motorsport Scholarship, 18-year-old Nicolaou will now switch his attention to a fulltime campaign in the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship in 2009.
As well as contesting all rounds of the Victorian State Formula Ford Series, the Taylors Lakes racer has also competed in karting. However, his priority has been to complete Year 12 studies.
Under the guidance of Bruin Beasley, team principal of Minda Motorsport and Director of the Britek Motorsport Scholarship Formula Ford program, Nicolaou qualified fourth from a field of 20 starters for the opening 10-lap race.
The team experimented with running qualifying gearing for the race. He lost out at the start, but came through to fourth showing great speed.
He once again started fourth in race #2, staying with the lead bunch throughout despite the car jumping out of gear.
The final race of the weekend featured a fantastic battle with Nicolaou climbing to second place. He enjoyed a race-long battle, but was beaten to the line to finish fourth despite setting the same lap times as the race winner Luke Ellery.
“Finishing third overall marked a very good weekend,” said Nicolaou.
“You need to be very confident with the car at Phillip Island and the Minda boys certainly gave me a great race car.
“I have certainly gained a lot of experience from the weekend and the whole year. It all helps as we look towards the national series in 2009.
“The opportunity to run as part of the Britek Motorsport Scholarship around the country next year is something I’m keen to make the most of.”
Minda Motorsport Team Principal Bruin Beasley was pleased with Nicolaou’s progression throughout the year.
“Leigh has been an excellent student this year,” said Beasley.
“He has taken-in everything we have told him and importantly he wants to learn more.
“Even this weekend we tried some different things which he was happy to experiment with to better understand the car.
“Over the course of the season he has driven very well on both tight and fast tracks, also in dry and wet conditions.
“In the last race he enjoyed a great battle with Tom Tweedie who will also be part of our group in 2009. So it is good to have two strong youngsters in the team moving ahead.”
The Britek Motorsport Scholarship offers career-path drivers the chance to enter into a professional motor sport development program. The program caters for Karters and aspiring open-wheel drivers that want to move into V8 Supercars or pursue a career overseas.
Owned by former Bathurst winner and driver of the #25 Fujitsu Racing Falcon Jason Bright, Britek Motorsport also campaigns the #26 IRWIN Racing Ford of Marcus Marshall.
The Britek Motorsport Scholarship covers many key areas including; sponsorship, public relations, personal development, fitness, technical comprehension, data analysis and engineering.
Nicolaou competes with the assistance of sponsors, world electronics giant LG, International electronics supplier NCE and Muscrete Constructions.
Driver Profile:
Name: Leigh Nicolaou
Date of Birth: 18 July 1990
Resides: Taylors Lakes - Melbourne
School: Overnewton College (VCE- Year 12)
Career Highlights:
2 times Australian National Karting champion
5 times State Karting champion
10th 2007 Victorian FF Championship (1st Year)
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