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Team BRM ventured to Christchurch, New Zealand, Ruapuna circuit
for the second year in a row to race for the Lady Wigram Trophy.
Our
team finished 1st and 2nd in the event last year with Darren Palmer
winning.
This
year our cars were to be driven by our 2003 Rookie of the Year,
Karl Reindler. Karl was joined at the last minute by 2003 Australian
Driver Champion, Daniel Gaunt, who being a Kiwi was keen to win
this prestigious event. Our 398 car was to be driven by New Zealand
Speedsport Scholarship winner, Nic Jordan, who was making the big
step from FVee to F3.
Testing
on Thursday saw Reindler suffer a massive accident hitting a tyre
barrier surrounding a marshal's post and damaging the car. However
the Team BRM crew were able to repair it and send him out for the
last run of the day where he posted the fastest time.
Daniel
Gaunt acquitted himself quickly to the more sophisticated F3 cars
and was quickly doing competitive times.
Young
Nic Jordan instantly revealed talent, which would be proven as the
weekend progressed.
Qualifying
1 Saturday saw lap times 1.5 seconds faster than last year with
pole for Race 1 going to Karl Reindler followed by Daniel Gaunt
and in 3rd James Cressey. The surprise of the day was Jordan qualifying
in the 4th only 1 second shy of the top 3.
Qualifying
2 saw the top times fall further with Gaunt coming out on pole with
a 1.18.1 followed by Reindler .05 second behind and Cressey 3rd.
Once again Jordan put in an impressive performance for the 4th place.
Race
1 had some changes when Starion Team Director, Paul Grimm, discovered
a loophole in the regulations for the meeting and fitted new tyres.
Team BRM Technical Director, Ian Richards, quickly worked out that
our best strategy would be to run on current tyres for Race 1 and
fit new tyres for Race 2. Cressey opted for the opposite.
A poor
start by Reindler and Gaunt saw Cressey come through from row 2
to lead the race, however Reindler and Gaunt soon regained their
momentum and a wonderful 3-way battle commenced for the whole 25
lap race. Three very talented young drivers racing hard. The final
result was Cressey, Gaunt, Reindler.
Our
other car driven by Nic Jordan was running in 4th position when
an off track excursion saw a wheel seriously damaged.
Race
2 had both Team BRM cars on new tyres and Cressey electing to run
his Race 1 tyres. A poor start again by Reindler and Gaunt let Cressey
through to lead with Reindler being hit by a hard charging Caratti
ending up in the dirt. The race between Gaunt and Cressey was intense
with several lead changes and finally Gaunt producing a very daring
outside pass on Cressey coming onto the main straight, from then
he was never headed.
Reindler
recovered from his disastrous first corner to chase Cressey down
from a 20 second deficit to be only .5 second behind him at the
chequered flag.
Nic
Jordan had an uneventful race chasing Caratti when he had an unexpected
off track excursion which resulted in front suspension damage.
So,
Daniel Gaunt the local Auckland driver who had never driven a Formula
3 before this weekend showed his undeniable talent.
Technical
Director, Ian Richards, on analysing Gaunt said "he is one
of the most polished drivers he has ever seen." "Gaunt
is now working to secure a budget to move up from the F4000 to the
international F3 cars" said Team Owner, Bronte Rundle.
"We
are keen to run Gaunt as a team-mate to the wonderfully talented
Reindler who showed just why he was named F3 Rookie of the Year."
"To recover from a huge accident, set pole and race with proven
drivers like Cressey and Gaunt shows that Reindler will be one of
the favourites for the 2004 F3 championship" said Bronte Rundle.
Nic
Jordan at 15 years of age, possibly the youngest F3 driver in the
world can now prove to his supporters that he can drive these cars
and hopefully will be seen in a Team BRM Trophy class car in 2004.
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