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Photo: Tom Tweedie in
action at Phillip Island
Image: By Dirk Klynsmith /
Graphic DAK Photography - Click to download hi-res for media use
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Photo: Tom finished fourth in race
one at Phillip Island to extend his National Class lead.
Image: By Dirk Klynsmith /
Graphic DAK Photography - Click to download hi-res for media use
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TOM TWEEDIE has come though perhaps the sternest test
of his career in the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship with
enough new knowledge to take his racing to another level.
With the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit the most
challenging test for Formula 3 drivers in Australia, Tweedie managed to
extend his National Class points lead and again mix it with the leading
cars – and a former championship contender – whilst all the time
learning more about the cars and their setup.
Tom qualified his Battery World-supported Dallara
F304-Renault less than half a second outside of former outright
contender Leanne Tander’s similar F304 Dallara after just one day of
testing and one of practice at the 4.46km Victorian track.
In race one a gamble to utilise an older set of wet
tyres – anticipating a drying race track – failed to pay off when more
rain came causing Tom to slip off the circuit at turn four, on lap
eight, out of the race.
The second race went substantially better with Tom
finishing second in his class and fourth outright, substantially gapping
the remainder of the field and keeping in touch with the race leaders.
The upshot was not only an additional 15 points to his
National Class points’ lead, but a wealth of new setup information and
knowledge that he can use for multiple conditions in future championship
rounds.
"I think if I can take what we learned this
weekend from the different car setups and apply parts of that
to Winton we should put up another strong performance,”
20-year-old Tweedie said.
“This weekend at Phillip Island would have to be one of
the biggest learning curves we’ve had all season. Full credit has to go
to the team as the Wednesday test day was very strong as we tried a lot
of different setups while I was dialling myself into the track – that
was a great help going into the weekend.
"Qualifying just 0.5 and 0.3 tenths off current lap
record holder Leanne Tander in Q1 and Q2 was excellent.
“In race 1 we took a bit of a gamble and put a
very old set of wet tyres on that were a bit worn and
harder hoping the track would dry out but unfortunately the
track was considerably wetter and with the lack of grip I came off
at turn 4 and bogged the car,” he explained of his race one
incident.
"Finishing 4th overall in race 2 was a far
more pleasing result, gained ground after a turn two, lap one
crash and then I just had to keep my head down and try put up a
challenge to the leading cars."
Tweedie now leads the National Class by 26 points as
the series heads to Winton for the fourth rounds of the championship, to
be held on June 26, 27 and 28.
Tom Tweedie would like to thank supporters including
Battery World, Tizzana Vineyards, the Team Tom Membership base and
everyone else who has provided support throughout the 2009 championship.
For more information head to www.tomtweedie.com
ENDS |
