MEDIA RELEASE- For Immediate Release, April 1

BROKEN TAILSHAFT PREVENTS ALAJAJIAN’S CHARGE

Misfortune has once again struck Australian Formula 3 racer Chris Alajajian at the Fosters Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, this time preventing him from even starting yesterday’s second Dodo F3 race.

The Thursday collision with another competitor which ended his race while in contention for a podium position resulted in a tremendous effort by the insight F3 team to find replacement parts, repair damaged parts and then put the car back together.

Among the heavy damage from the incident was a damaged sidepod, damaged suspension pieces, a broken ECU harness and a broken radiator.

The repairs were completed just in time for Alajajian to take part in Race 2 of four around the Albert Park circuit aboard the Jack Hillermans Smash Renault-Sodemo Dallara F304.

Alajajian would be starting from well down the order - 18th place - but a strong result wouldn’t be totally off the cards. In 2005’s corresponding race, he carved his way through the field from 19th to finish third.

Any hopes of repeating, or even bettering, the feat were cruelly quashed when a tailshaft snapped as the Sydneysider set off on the formation lap.

“I went to leave the grid to start the formation lap and I didn’t get very far,” explained a dejected Alajajian. “I was looking forward to the race, we have a pretty good car this weekend and we could have made up a lot of ground through the field.

“Unfortunately it wasn’t to be.”

Despite the crushing blow, Alajajian was able to look forward.

“There are still two races this weekend,” he said. “The guys did a great job to get the car back together in time for Race 2; it was just a shame that it went unrewarded.

“Hopefully in todays race this horrible bad luck we’re having will give us a break, so we can score a good result and get good grid position for the last race on Sunday.”

Alajajian will be hoping for his fortune to change in time for the third race of the weekend, which will take place at 5:00pm today. The final Formula 3 race around Albert Park will take place tomorrow, Sunday, morning at 9:50am.

Chris Alajajian thanks the ongoing support of Jack Hillermans Smash, Subaru Australia, Elf Oil, insight F3, Scuderia Veloce Motors, Nudie, Workflow Systems, Bilstein, Moody Kiddell & Partners, Travel Café, Heasman Steering and Disc Brakes Australia.

For more about Chris Alajajian, check out the all-new TheChris.com.au

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