One of the largest pileups in the history of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship has marred practice for round three of the championship at Oran Park today.
A five-car smash at a blind section of the racetrack badly damaged all cars involved and eliminated three competitors from the 20-car field entered this weekend.
All drivers involved were fortunately unhurt though the same could not be said for the ruined mess of carbon fibre and components that littered pit lane following the second of two practice sessions.
On track, Piccola Scuderia Corse driver Neil McFadyen dominated proceedings, topping first practice by 1.1 seconds and the second by 0.8 – but it was the crash ten minutes into practice two that was the talking point of the day.
National Class competitor Graeme Holmes spun exiting turn seven (in the hollow just prior to the old Suttons corner) and was stranded in the middle of the racetrack.
Unsighted, McFadyen was the first car on the scene and was barely able to avoid the stranded Dallara – the same could not be said, however, for Leanne Tander, who was following McFadyen at the time.
Tander, unaware of the stranded car and with no where to go, spun sideways into Holmes’ car in a brutal initial impact. Scud Racing driver Mathew Radisich also made contact and ended in the wall, whilst Mat Sofi managed to avoid a majority of the crash yet unfortunately ended his day after hitting the then-stranded Radisich.
South Aussie youngster Jesse Wakeman then ploughed into the opposite side of Holmes’ car and was the last to be involved.
Radisich, Wakeman and Holmes will be forced out of competition this weekend due to the severe damage caused to each car.
Jesse Wakeman and Graeme Holmes’ cars were virtually destroyed, causing catastrophic damage to the engines, gearboxes and all four suspension ‘corners’ on each car. The impact on Holmes’ and Wakeman’s cars was enough to tear the inlet trumpets from the head of each Spiess engine.
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