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53
years split Formula 3 field at Albert Park.
ALBERT PARK, MELBOURNE (Thursday, 3rd March, 2005.) When the Trading
Post Australian Formula 3 field takes to the scenic Albert Park
Grand Prix track this weekend, the category – regarded for
its close competition and strong development of young driving talent
– will break all previous records regarding age at the AGP:
the 24 car field will have the youngest and oldest drivers ever
to take to the circuit that celebrates it’s 10th anniversary
this weekend.
Team
BRM Drivers Nic Jordan and Marc Williams and 70-year-old Australian
Motorsport Icon Brian Sampson will all compete in the Trading Post
F3 competition, representing each end of the motorsports age barrier.
Both
aged just 16, the two kiwi kids will become the youngest ever drivers
to take to the Australian Grand Prix Circuit. Jordan, the older
of the two, is now in his second season of Australian Formula 3
competition after dominating the Formula 3 Trophy Class competition
last season. This year, Jordan will take to the 5.4km circuit in
an outright class Dallara F301 – the same chassis that the
team took the championship with in 2004.
Teammate
Marc Williams made his Formula 3 debut last weekend at Goulburn’s
Wakefield Park Raceway for the opening round of the 2005 Kumho Tyres
Australian Formula 3 championship. After an initial baptism of fire,
Williams settled down to produce solid results in the Trophy class
competition, meaning his rivals will be looking over their shoulders
this weekend for the youngster to impress at Albert Park.
And
whilst Sampson isn’t competing for team BRM, he brings an immense
amount of motorsport success and prestige to the Australian Formula
3 field.
Ready
to hit the track in a Rod Anderson entered Reynard F3, this weekend
marques a special moment for the 70-year-old’s career –
it will be the 51st anniversary of Sampson’s first ever race
around the Albert Park Lake, In which Sampson took to the track
circuit driving in the Moomba Argus 100mile TT race.
Since
then, Sampson has competed at the top of Australian Motorsport with
many huge results, including the famous “Privateer victory”
at Bathurst with Peter Brock in 1975. Sampson has also raced at
every grand prix around the streets of team BRM’s Adelaide
home, in a succession of Formula Atlantics, Formula two and Formula
Holden cars. Sampson also raced in the Formula Holden support races
at Melbourne in 1996 and 1997, meaning that a lack of track knowledge
wont be a problem.
Currently,
Sampson is competing in the Victorian State Circuit Racing series
Formula Ford Championship with strong results in his privately entered
Van Diemen.
He
said that it was sensational to be racing people more than 50 years
his junior.
“Its
terrific, really terrific to be driving against people so young.”
He said.
“I
really enjoy racing, the competition and the people. It means more
to me to be able to get out to the track and do this by myself.
I get just as much out of it racing with mates as I would in a professional
team, and I don’t mind spending my own money to do it, either.”
And
despite the 54 years between them, neither the young Kiwi’s
nor Sampson will be making up the numbers at Albert Park this weekend.
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