Race No. 4, Qualifying Round No. 8

Times were slower in Formula 3’s second session. Track temperature was higher, with a stronger wind blowing.

The top two drivers from the first qualifying session swapped places in the second session, with Michael Caruso taking pole in 1:06.7172, despite losing fourth gear part way through and ending the session sitting disconsolately on the infield. Barton Mawer was second fastest with a 1:06.9121. At 1.2 seconds slower than his pole time this morning his team felt that Mawer’s car seemed more adversely affected by the windy conditions than others.

While everyone else was recording slower times, the big improver was James Cressey, who was third fastest. Although his time of 1:07.5092 was only .38 sec faster than his best time in the first session, he made up a huge six places on the grid.

Hackett’s session got off to a bad start, losing the engine cover off his car on his first lap out. After losing several laps while repairs were made, he qualified only sixth fastest - his car now suffering from major gearbox dramas.

Christian Jones and Karl Reindler were consistent, qualifying in fourth and fifth places respectively - as they did in the first session.

Kenny Habul had another good session, and finished eighth fastest, He was again sandwiched between BRM team-mates, Matt Fitzgerald in seventh, and Darren Palmer in ninth.

Sadly for Bevan Carrick, his Cooltemp’98 Dallara Toyota dropped a cylinder during the second session. His team mate Maher Algadrie may step out of the team’s other car, to allow Carrick to race tomorrow.

In the Yokohama Trophy class, young local driver Gilmour again took pole in 1:10.0852 ahead of Borg and Maddocks. Chris Coombs’ miserable weekend continued, with his car suffering a blown head gasket.