MEDIA RELEASE- For Immediate Release, April 6

ATTACKING FRAME OF MIND ACCOMPANIES ALAJAJIAN TO THE 'APPLE ISLE'

With nothing to lose, Chris Alajajian will be going all-out this weekend in Round 2 of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains Raceway.

The Sydneysider’s plan for the weekend is simple; attack.

“We’re just going to go for it this weekend,” said the 19-year old, who will drive the Jack Hillermans Smash Renault-Sodemo Dallara F304 in Sunday’s two races.

“We’ve really got nothing to lose, so it will be straight-out attack from the first session and we’ll see what happens from there.”

While Alajajian wasn’t among the F3 drivers to test on the 2.4km circuit earlier in the week, he is one of the few drivers in the field to have previously raced at the circuit, albeit in very different machinery.

It came back in 2003, in just his second car race meeting when - at 16 years of age - he steered a BMW 323i to a pair of class podium finishes in the Australian Production Car Championship.

“Obviously they are very different cars, so other than knowing which way the track goes, there won’t be much crossover and it won’t make a great deal of difference this weekend,” said Alajajian.

“It’s a good circuit, a fun track and with lots of deep braking, it’s awesome.

“The hairpin will be very interesting for these cars, with the camber on the road, you’ll probably see huge gaps between the ground and the left front tyre.

“It’s full lock, so you’ll see the front left wheels pretty high off the ground and some action down there, because it is a spot where you see plenty of overtaking.”

It was a disappointing outing at the Australian Grand Prix Formula 3 support races for Alajajian last weekend. After qualifying on the front row of the grid and leading the majority of the opening race, his weekend went downhill and in the end included a DNF and a pair of DNS’.

Alajajian enters the weekend in a share of third place in the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star, having scored a pole position and a podium finish in the 2006 season opener. He is confident that he will again be on the pace in the Apple Isle.

“The insight F3 guys have done a good job to make sure the car is ready for the weekend, with the quick turnaround,” said Alajajian.

“They’ve got a new computer in it, and all the other problems that we had in Melbourne have been fixed so we’re all set and should be right on the pace.

“Not being able to get a good result last weekend was very disappointing. Everything was looking good, but it all turned out so badly.

“After all that we’ve been through, especially with the Grand Prix last weekend, a couple of podiums or wins this weekend would be a great result.”

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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