30-06-2008 NSW Formula Vee - Rd3 - Qualifying Report

A damp track beckoned as 34 Formula Vee's hit the track to qualify for Round 3 of the NSW State Championship. Rain had initially been forecast, though it was a bright sunny sky that welcomed the crews. The circuit though had not enjoyed basking in the sun long enough to dry, streams of water and puddles threatening to punish the adventurous.

It was a tentative start to the weekend as drivers took to the track. Weary of the potential of an interrupted session it was John McDonald in his Filesaver Document Manager Mako 03 leading the pack onto the circuit.

McDonald's fears soon became reality as the red flag was shown early on after the luckless Michael Stipo's Mako Mk II succumbed to a combination of gearbox and battery problems. It was unfortunate for Stipo, who returned to his 1200cc SRD Racing Team cockpit, sporting a new gearbox and rebuilt engine for this weekend.

Nick Herford was a casualty of the session too as Daniel Pauperis' General Auto Instruments Gebert 2005F tagged the back of the Freemans Claims & Insurance Service Jacer. The collision was heavy enough to crack the gearbox casing of the F2K7, as well as sparking a heated exchange of insurance details in the paddock afterwards. The team were confident Herford would make the grid for Race One, attracting an audience as they made the necessary repairs repair.

Leigh McGarvie returned to the series in his Body Alliance Jacer having missed the opening two rounds, clearly enjoying being back in the seat. His enthusiasm clearly evident he commented his efforts placed him “about perfectly midfield.”

There was laughter too in the Lakesedge Engineering camp. Kevin Humphrey had made a change to his steering during the Friday sessions. Overnight Humphrey's evident lost the Herculean strength with which he practiced, parking the distinctive Kevant KM6 stating he “couldn't turn the bloody thing”.

Matt White too was forced to park his Team 43 Spectre, poor handling and a misfiring engine the culprits. His dedicated crew were confident a new plug and a makeshift cable to control rear wheel camber will see him on the grid for Race One, before more permanent solutions can be applied in readiness for the second race on Sunday.

Story of the day however went to Shane Hart, who debuted his new Mick Motors / Exelite Jacer F2K8 by putting it on pole position. His was an understated session, the sparkling white livery seemingly masking the speed with which he hurled his new mount around the Oran Park circuit. It was 0.3s faster than next best Daniel Reynolds' Wild Digital Sabre 01, followed closely by Michael Kinsella in his Kinsella Engineering Jacer F2K7.

Philip Contessa shone in the Team Contessa Racing Mako, claiming pole for the 1200cc class by over a second from title opponent Sean Birk. Despite struggling with a gearbox gremlin which had hampered him at Eastern Creek in Round Two, Birk was clearly thrilled to have got through Birko Racing Elfin NG through a session which caught out many, including young gun Aaren Russell, who all but spun his Go Karts Go sponsored Elfin NG.

As the sun continued to bear down on the circuit the surface however would dry, the nature of the beast changing as the drivers prepared for the opening race of the weekend. The battle lines however had been drawn for another nose to tail, hugely entertaining, race in what has to be Australia's most competitive open wheel category.

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