MEDIA RELEASE- For Immediate
Release, August 20
TOUGH DAY AT THE PHILLIP ISLAND OFFICE
FOR PROTECNICA RACING
To end a
day having qualified fourth in one race and fifth for the other, you
could be forgiven for being satisfied with days work. However, such
has been the impressive form shown by Formula 3 newcomers Protecnica
Racing, the result in qualifying for round six of the 2005 Kumho Tyres
Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star at Phillip
Island isn’t quite what the team had in mind.
Protecnica Racing’s Chris
Alajajian entered the day having set the second practice fastest time
on Friday, and looking for his form to follow a similar trend as the
remarkably improved weather – with rain giving way to sunshine
and increased temperatures – from the opening day of action
at the Island.
In the opening qualifying session,
a brush with another competitor as the pair closed rapidly upon a
slower car would cost Alajajian valuable laps, while encountering
traffic at vital parts on his fastest lap would also prove detrimental.
His fastest lap – 1:28.0821
– would eventually secure him a starting position on the outside
of the second row on the grid for the opening race of the weekend.
Another laptime in the ‘28’s during the second session
will see him start from fifth on the grid in race two.
“Things could have been better
today, with both the car and the driver,” Alajajian reflected.
“When I damaged the wing in the first session, it was frustrating
because it cost us some laps and didn’t give us enough time
to get a feel of the car to use when making changes to the setup.
“Then in the second session,
we went backwards a little bit and we weren’t as quick as in
the first.”
Needless to say, the results weren’t
what the 18 year old Sydneysider entered the day looking to achieve,
but Alajajian remains committed to continuing his strong form from
recent rounds which has seen him close to within ten points of second
placed Michael Trimble in the standings.
“Given our results since
Protecnica started to run the car, we aren't really happy with the
qualifying today, obviously,” he concluded. “Between now
and the race we will be working hard to make things better.
“We’ll go and have
a look at the data, work with Othmar [visiting F3 engineer Othmar
Welti], see what we can come up with for the races tomorrow.”
Tomorrow, the pair of fourteen
lap races that make up round six of the 2005 Kumho Tyres Australian
Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star take place at 10:20am
and 1:40pm.
Protecnica Racing thanks the ongoing
support of Jack Hillermans Smash, Elf Oil, Scuderia Veloce Motors,
Nudie, Workflow Systems, Bilstein, Moody Kiddell & Partners, Heasman
Steering, Disc Brakes Australia, Hawk Performance, Monza Mens Boutique,
H & R Springs and APT Signs.
For more about Chris Alajajian,
check out www.TheChris.com.au
Phillip Island Race One Grid;
1. Aaron Caratti – 1:26.7820
2. Michael Trimble – 1:26.9989
3. Chris Gilmour – 1:28.0604
4. Chris Alajajian – 1:28.0821
5. Neil McFadyen – 1:28.3304
6. Daynom Templeman – 1:28.5235
Phillip Island Race Two Grid;
1. Aaron Caratti – 1:27.0462
2. Michael Trimble – 1:27.6641
3. Chris Gilmour – 1:28.2095
4. Neil McFadyen – 1:28.3023
5. Chris Alajajian – 1:28.5224
6. Daynom Templeman – 1:28.8395
