MEDIA RELEASE- For Immediate Release, December 20

THE YEAR THAT WAS FOR CHRIS ALAJAJIAN

There’s no denying that 2005 was a big year for Sydney teenager Chris Alajajian, who continued to show why he is one of the rising young stars of Australian motorsport.

Alajajian entered the year aiming for success; having already made his own slice of history when he won the 2004 Australian Production Car Championship, becoming the youngest driver to win an Australian national championship.

Racing in the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star and the Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship, it started off well.

He entered May in the enviable position of leading both championships, the 19 year-old having asserted himself as a front runner in each series, claiming race wins, podium finishes and displaying no shortage of pace.

From there, though, things didn’t go quite to plan. His Formula 3 team disbanded which, when coupled with a mechanical failure in the next round at Phillip Island, put a massive dent in his momentum and saw him drop from equal-first to third.

Meanwhile, some unfortunate mechanical gremlins and a scheduling clash with a Formula 3 round hampered his Performance Car Championship efforts. In the end, opting to concentrate on Formula 3, Alajajian contested four of the seven rounds in the competitive tin-top series.

Despite contesting a little over half the season, he recorded a series-high five race wins aboard the Protecnica Racing Subaru WRX STi.

“When we had the opportunity to race in the Performance Car Championship, there is no doubt we did well,” said Alajajian. “We scored some great results and the only thing that got in our way as far as contending for the championship is concerned was some bad luck and missing a number of rounds.

“Considering we had all those things go wrong, we held on very well and kept on putting in our best.”

In the lead-up to round four of the Formula 3 Championship at Queensland Raceway, Alajajian’s F3 activities were entrusted to Protecnica Racing. It is a team he knew and worked well with, from success aboard Subaru’s in the Production and Performance Car Championships in 2004 and 2005.

A flurry of podiums followed, before a sensational weekend at Eastern Creek in the A1 Grand Prix of Nations support races.

Third place and a new lap record in the opening race set the stage for race two, where Alajajian steered the Renault-powered Jack Hillermans Smash Dallara F304 to a dominant win.

“A1 was one of the highlights this year,” said Alajajian. “All the hard work that the Protecnica guys put in since they jumped into Formula 3 mid-year really paid off that weekend. They did an excellent job and got a podium in their first race in Queensland, so to give them a race win there was very satisfying.”

After another podium in the final round of the season, taking his tally to 12 from 18 F3 starts in 2005, Alajajian finished third in the championship.

“I wish I could have another shot at the year,” admits Alajajian. “The year started off very well. Then with the team splitting, it put us out of focus and we had to work very hard just to stay in the series, which was tough and costly for us.

“But once we got settled back into a groove with Protecnica, we were again able to show the sorts of results we are capable of achieving.

“We had our ups and downs, so, everything considered, third was a good result.”

Chris’ racing achievements were one of the focal points of a function in November at the Le Montage restaurant in Sydney’s inner west. Over 250 people attended the November 4 function, to support Chris’ future racing activities.

It included family, friends, current supports, prospective supporters and other special guests, including boxing legend Kostya Tszyu, who was among the speakers.

“Chris clearly has a real talent and I can see that he is committed to his goal of success in motorsport,” said Tszyu. “I have asked him to remain focused and to challenge himself everyday in his journey to the top.”

The support of everyone at the event, and Kostya Tszyu’s advice, is something Alajajian is grateful for.

“Seeing everyone at Le Montage made me feel very fortunate. To know that all these people are supporting me is something I’m very grateful for.

"I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me in my career so far, my sponsors, family, friends and everyone within the motorsport community who has helped me, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

“Kostya has worked very hard during his career to not just make it to the top, but to stay there, so there aren’t too many more qualified people who can give advice on reaching your goals, which I’ll be working very hard to achieve.”

With a strong 2005 - which also included a run in the Rally of Bathurst where Alajajian showed his versatility - under his belt, Alajajian turns his attention to 2006.

“We have a number of options for next year,” said Alajajian, “at the moment we aren't sure exactly what we are going to do.

“What will pretty much make that decision is money, what it will cost to race in what championship and where. In the coming weeks we will continue to look at all our options and see what we can come up with.”

Chris Alajajian thanks the ongoing support of Jack Hillermans Smash, Subaru Australia, Elf Oil, Scuderia Veloce Motors, Nudie, Workflow Systems, Bilstein, Moody Kiddell & Partners, Travel Café, Heasman Steering, Disc Brakes Australia, Hawk Performance, Monza Mens Boutique and H & R Springs.

For more about Chris Alajajian, check out www.TheChris.com.au

Chris Alajajian’s 2005 in numbers;

Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star ::
Starts; 18 (including non-championship Australian Grand Prix support races)
Wins; 2
Podium finishes; 12
Fastest Laps; 7

Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship ::
Starts; 12 (contested four of seven rounds)
Wins; 5
Podium finishes; 6
Fastest Laps; 5

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Media Resources ::

Chris Alajajian on-track during the final round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star. (Richard Craill photo, click for high-res)

Chris Alajajian (right) catching up with Kostya Tszyu at a function to promote Alajajian's career in November. (Copyright free for media use, click for high-res)