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Photo: Tom Tweedie in action at Phillip
Island.
Image: Richard Craill Photo - Click to
download hi-res for media use
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Photo: Tom sporting the
super slick new Stilo helmet at Phillip Island.
Image: Richard Craill Photo - Click to download
hi-res for media use |
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TOM TWEEDIE, his small team and
older-model car continue to post giant-killing performances and lead the
Formula 3 Australian Drivers’ Championship as the series approaches its
half way point.
A consistent weekend at the Phillip
Island GP circuit in Victoria saw the Symmons Plains winner emerge with
a further two podium finishes and a handy – if somewhat reduced – eight
point buffer over Mitch Evans in the race for the CAMS Gold Star.
At a circuit clearly favouring the later-model F307 Dallara
chassis – with their additional downforce and aero capabilities – the
Sydneysider continued his good form by qualifying second and finishing
in the same position in the first heat race.
Tom made the best
start in race one and lead the early running before battling with Evans
who was eventually able to slip through - though he then rebuffed
advances from Ben Barker to maintain the position to the flag.
A
wet race two threw a spanner in the works and whilst it started well –
Tom again taking the lead with a strong start – it went slightly
downhill from there.
After engaging in another furious dice with
Evans and Kristian Lindbom on lap two, Tweedie settled in third place
before being caught out by the wet conditions and rotating his Team Tom
Supporters Club Dallara around on the exit of MG – eventually finishing
fifth.
Lining up third on the grid for the 18-lap feature – the
longest F3 race ever held at Phillip Island – Tom finished second and
ensured that he continued to maintain his lead in the championship as
the series heads to Mallala later in May.
“We achieved the goal
we had set out coming into this (Phillip Island) weekend which was to
finish on the podium and come away still leading the championship,”
Tweedie said.
“The only race that really didn’t go to plan for
us was race two, but aside from that it’s been a really good
weekend.”
Tweedie said that to score the podium results at a
circuit favouring the F307 cars indicated the teams ability to remain
contenders throughout the season.
“We knew coming here that it
would be hard to beat the F307s, so we had to maximise our results here
relative to how they went,” he said.
“In two of the three races
we beat all bar one of them so I think that we punched above our weight,
which is a great feeling. We think that Mallala will be a circuit a bit
more even between the two cars so we are heading there with a lot of
confidence.
“Our team is doing an awesome job and the car is
faultless so we’re really looking forward to continuing on from here and
see what we can do about remaining in the lead!”
Phillip Island
saw the addition of new support for Team Tom, with Wurth and Stilo
helmets joining the team for the first time.
The helmet provider
supplied Tom with a new ‘lid’ to utilise this season – the carbon-fibre
design a striking addition to the already highly-visible Team Tom
entry.
Team Tom would like to thank Tizzana vineyards, Wurth,
Stilo Helmets and the members of the Team Tom Supporters club for their
ongoing support of his Formula 3 campaign.
Action from Phillip
Island will be broadcast on SBS Speedweek program on Sunday, May 16th at
1PM. The Team Tom Dallara carried an onboard camera throughout Sunday's
two races capturing all the action.
For more information head to
www.tomtweedie.com and www.formula3.com.au
STANDINGS GOLD STAR AFTER 3 ROUNDS
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| 1st Tom Tweedie (AUS) |
100 points |
| 2nd Mitch Evans (NZ) |
92 points |
| 3rd Ben Barker (UK) |
72 points |
| 4th Ben Crighton (NZ) |
60 points |
| 5th Kristian Lindbom (AUS) |
43 points |
ENDS
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