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Team
BRM readies to attack the Island.
ADELAIDE - Monday, May 16th, 2005 – Team BRM will have the
strongest possible line up heading into this weekend’s upcoming
third round of the 2005 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 championship
at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, confirming today that
2004 series’ champion Karl Reindler will return for a one –
off drive with the team alongside current championship points leader
Michael Trimble.
With
South Australian driver Tim Slade unfortunatly forced to withdraw
from the series due to financial constraints, Reindler will slide
into the team’s second Dallara F304 Speiss chassis to give
him the best possible shot at taking a return win in the series
that he won so brilliantly on the Gold Coast in October last year.
“Its
good to be back with the team I won my championship with, and great
to be back in a car full stop!” he enthused. “I haven’t
actually raced this season, so it’s going to be really good
to get back in the seat.”
Reindler
said that it will be a good feeling to head into a race meeting
without the pressure to race for a championship.
“Personally
its just going to be great to head into a meeting with no pressure
so I can go out there and enjoy it – and go all out to win,
of course!” he said. “I think all the miles I have done
in these cars over the last few years will help me get back in the
groove quickly, so we should be very competitive.”
Someone
else who should be very competitive at Phillip Island is the team’s
current Championship leader Michael Trimble, who shares the points
lead with Chris Alajajian after two rounds of this year’s championship.
Phillip
Island will be something of a home round for the unassuming Victorian
steerer, who will head into the round attempting to get a break
on the field in the tight points battle.
“We
tested very well at Phillip Island a few weeks ago and we went very
well,” explained Trimble. “We are really looking to have
a good weekend and try and get a bit of a points lead in the championship.”
Trimble
freely admits that he was disappointed with the Mallala round of
the series a month ago, but believes that Phillip Island will be
the place for him to get back into victory lane.
“Mallala
was a tough round for us – we were just off the leaders pace,”
Said Trimble. “But we think we know where we can pick up some
pace, and we expect to be right on the money this weekend.”
And
whilst BRM will have to very competitive cars challenging for outright
glory at the top of the F3 timesheets, looking to continue his steady
improvement this season will be the team’s Kumho Tyres Trophy
Class contender Marc Williams.
The
16-year-old Kiwi Kid made a much-improved effort at the Mallala
round of the championship, taking pole position and two wins in
both races at the South Australian circuit.
Phillip
Island’s high-speed layout will certainly be a different kettle
of fish to Mallala for the young Kiwi, but his confidence will be
raised after strong performances at the other fast track the series’
has competed at this season – Albert Park at the Australian
Grand Prix.
Williams
heads the Trophy Class points heading into this weekend’s third
round.
Team
BRM Fast Facts – Phillip Island
THE
RETURN OF ONE – The prestigious #1 plate will return to Formula
3 competition this weekend on the car of Karl Reindler. With the
number of drivers heading overseas increasing every year, it is
increasingly rare to see the defending champion return to the Australian
Formula 3 fold. Only Peter Hackett has returned the year after a
championship success with the number 1 plate on the nose of a car.
EXPERIENCE
TO THE FORE – Without doubt, Reindler will be the most experienced
F3 driver in the 18 car field at Phillip Island, having started
31 races in his Australian Formula 3 career for five wins and of
course, the 2004 championship crown. His international experience
is growing as well, having competed at the Season-Ending Bahrain
F3 Super Prix late last year, as well as testing for renowned British
Outfit Carlin Motorsport mid last year.
BREAKING
A DEADLOCK – BRM’s Michael Trimble has held the championship
lead since the start of the season at Wakefield Park, but always
with another driver equal on points. The 20 year old Melbournian
will be keen to ‘make a break’ at the top of the table
to solidify his position as the leading driver in this years championship.
Team
BRM Track Facts – Phillip Island
Location:
Phillip Island, Victoria
Length: 4.66km, Clockwise
Lap Record: 1m27.1923 (Set in 2003 by James Cressey, Dallara F301
Speiss)
Team
BRM Race Dates – Phillip Island (round 3 of 8)
Qualifying:
Saturday May 21st
Races 1&2: Sunday, May 22nd
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