Geelong’s Ricky Occhipinti is back – and he wants to throw a spanner into the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship works at Phillip Island this weekend.
Occhipinti, the 2006 Australian Formula 3 National Class Champion, has confirmed that he will return to the seat of a wings and slicks open wheeler after nine months on the sidelines with the race winning Astuti Motorsport team at Phillip Island, where he hopes to tackle the established pacesetters in the series at one of his favourite circuits.
Melbourne-based Astuti are riding the crest of a wave at the moment, having dominated the recent Oran Park round of the series with Yorkshireman Charlie Hollings – lifting the British ace into second in the championship.
Occhipinti, 22, dominated last year’s National Class – for 2001 model cars – with his family run Formula Uno Racing outfit but received some support from the Astuti camp throughout the season. He will drive the #10 Astuti Motorsport / Whispers Studio / Formula Uno Motors Dallara F304 – Renault in the Gold Star class at the weekend.
The surf coast youngster said that he was looking forward to a big weekend at the Island in his front-running return to the series.
”There is no doubt that it’s going to be a great weekend, ” ‘Ricky-O’ enthused.
”Sam and Tony Astuti run a very professional team and with Charlie as a team-mate I think the weekend will be about learning as much as possible so I can hopefully throw a spanner in the works on Sunday!
Occhipinti’s last competitive outing in a Formula 3 car came at the 4.46km circuit last season, Ricky outpacing a number of this years current championship contenders in his National Class machinery. Occhipinti clearly has an affinity for the circuit, having clamed a Gold Star / Australian Drivers Championship pole position there ahead of current A1GP Driver Johnny Reid a few years ago.
”It’s a track I know well, ” he explained.
”Without having sat in a ’04 F3 car and taking into account the front runners this year have done plenty of miles I think our goals are very realistic. ”
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