Currently fourth in the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 championship, Fleetcare TanderSport driver Leanne Tander heads to the awesome Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in Victoria for the third round of 2007 this weekend.
Driving her Fleetcare Dallara F304 – Holden #42 entry, and coming off the back of a pair of podium finishes at Oran Park two weeks ago, Tander will be looking to take a step forward in the series thanks to a strong round at the high speed circuit south of Melbourne.
Phillip Island has been a strong circuit for Leanne since joining the Australian Drivers Championship – she finished inside the top six in her F3 debut there in 2005, and scored her career first Formula 3 Pole Position at the track last August – going on to finish on the podium in the process.
With the series rapidly approaching the half way point, Leanne sat down and talked about the thrill of racing at Australia’s fastest circuit and her current position in the championship.
Q. Phillip Island is the quickest track in the country. What’s it like to drive one of the quickest cars in the sport around it?
I have been around there in a V8 Supercar, a Formula Ford and many other cars but the F3 car is the most enjoyable to drive around the track – a circuit that is one of my favourites.
It’s not until you get in an F3 car until you realise how well the cars are suited to the circuit – it suits them really well.
Q. So what makes it so good?
It’s everything – I think because it’s a flowing circuit once you have the grip and the downforce of a Formula 3 car you can flow the car and build up a rhythm – it’s like the car is on rails around there which is a fantastic feeling.
Q. Is it a circuit where the driver, and not necessarily the car can make a difference between pole and, say, third on the grid, or in a race?
I think so. I have always been quick there in anything I’ve driven – I’ve always been in the front couple. It’s certainly a gutsy circuit – even with the extra grip and aero of an F3 car the circuit still requires that little bit extra from the diver to get the most out of the car.
I think it’s one of those tracks where if you try to hard it can cost you time. There is a balance to be found between pushing hard and not overdriving the car.
Q. What are the key parts of Phillip Island when it comes to putting together a good race or a good lap?
It’s hard to make any advantage through turn one because everyone is flat out through there – at 255kph – but I think turn two is critical.
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