Victorian driver Lauren Gray hopes to use a positive test session at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit to lift her up the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship National Class pecking order at the circuit next weekend. Gray, 19, currently sits 2nd in the National Class – for the ’99 – ‘01 model F3 cars – standings after two rounds but will head into next weekend’s event at Phillip Island looking for a positive showing after a strong test at the weekend.
Gray completed three sessions behind the wheel of her Scud Racing / Dodo / Powcon Dallara F301 Spiess entry and professed herself happy with a strong day at the high speed circuit two hours south of her home in Melbourne. Formula 3 cars average over 180kph per lap at the world-class circuit and strong preparation is vital to a strong performance in this year’s ultra-competitive wings and slicks Formula 3 championship.
Changing conditions gave Gray the chance to experience driving the challenging 4.46km circuit in all sorts of weather in preparation for a weekend that has every chance of being wet. “The track was very slippery in the morning and there was a cold wind which made it quite hard to get heat into the Tyres in the first session, ” Gray explained.
”But for us the day was very beneficial. Having a decent amount of heat in the Tyres, a clear track and a good car makes life easy! I found a lot of speed throughout the day and was really able to find my limits there. ” Gray improved her best lap by over eight seconds over the course of the day as she gained mileage and conditions improved, driving the same car that scored pole position at the circuit in the F3 round there last August.
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