Melbourne-based Formula 3 team Astuti Motorsport have proved that three weeks is like an eternity in Motorsport following last weekend’s third round of the 2007 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship at Phillip Island.
After British driver Charlie Hollings dominated at Oran Park in Sydney a fortnight ago, the team came back to earth slightly at the high-speed 4.46km circuit but continued to close the margin to the championship lead – heading into the half way round in the series with Hollings trailing the series lead by just eight points.
Astuti Motorsport returned to a two-car operation at Phillip Island with local driver Ricky Occhipinti joining the team to drive the #10 car steered by Walter Grubmuller at the start of the season. Hollings qualified his #11 car fourth for race one and fifth for the second race, however his session was not without its problems.
A damaged steering arm meant that for the duration of the second session the Yorkshireman’s car was tracking incorrectly, leaving him pleased to be just three tenths of a second from pole position. ”I am happy to have qualified where I did given the steering problems we had. The boys will fix it and the car should be quick in the race, ” said Charlie after qualifying.
Occhipinti continued his learning curve and adapted to the new car by qualifying eight for both races – just one second behind the pole position benchmark in each session. Hollings made an aggressive start to race one and on the opening lap leaped from fourth to second, a position he would hold for the remainder of the race – dispelling a last-lap challenge from Marco Mapelli to cross the line just. 05s ahead.
In race two Hollings again made an aggressive start but the altercation with the other car left him behind the eight ball and in sixth place at the finish. However the results closed the margin to the championship leader as Tim Macrow leaving the Astuti car just eight points behind heading to the half-way round.
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