MEDIA RELEASE- For Immediate Release, March 5

ALAJAJIAN ON THE PODIUM IN F3 SEASON OPENER

The form which made Chris Alajajian was a contender in the 2005 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star carried over to the new season, with the Sydney teenager scoring a podium finish in the opening race of the year.

Having made steady progress throughout the weekend at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park Raceway - his first time in a race car since December 2005 - Alajajian and the insight F3 team had a pair of front row starting positions to their name entering race day.

In the opening race of the year, ‘The Chris’ put his front row starting position to good use, quickly settling into second place.

After finding a rhythm, Alajajian lapped consistently and at a similar pace to eventual race winner Ben Clucas. He brought the Jack Hillermans Smash Renault-Sodemo Dallara F304 home in second place.

“After those first couple of laps, we just got into a rhythm and our times were pretty close to the fastest,” said Alajajian after the opening race.

“It could have been better, though, as I know we are capable of catching Ben and that we have the car to do so.

“We progressed well between the qualifying sessions yesterday, hopefully we can progress again today between the races and find that little bit of extra pace that we need.”

After further improvements to the car, Alajajian looked set for a strong run in race two, which he would start from pole position.

Unfortunately for Alajajian, his podium-obtaining form wasn’t the only thing that followed him to 2006. Also joining him in the new season was the bad luck that dogged his 2005 campaign, and an early spin dropped him well down the field.

“On the warm-up lap, I was concentrating more on in getting heat into the brakes, and not the tyres,” Alajajian explained.

“We were running a lot of rear-brake bias and when I hit the brakes at the start of lap two, the rears locked up, and as the tyres weren’t up to pressure the car skidded and spun me out.”

Alajajian recovered to finish the race in sixth place, and was left to rue the lost opportunity.

“The bad luck is still with us,” he lamented.

“What we are really looking forward to is not a win - although that would be good - but just to get rid of this bad luck which is affecting me and the teams I have driven for recently.

“Hopefully in the next race meeting it can all turn around and we can achieve the results I know we are capable of.”

After the opening round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star, Alajajian sits in a tie for third place with 22 points.

The next stop on the Australian Formula 3 schedule is the Formula 1 Fosters Australian Grand Prix, where non-championship races will feature on the support card.

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 www.TheChris.com.au

Wakefield Park Race 1
1. Ben Clucas
2. Chris Alajajian
3. Michael Trimble

Wakefield Park Race 2
1. Ben Clucas
2. Michael Trimble
3. Tim Macrow
6. Chris Alajajian

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