Asian Motor Sports

Ben Clucas, the man who has dominated this year’s Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star, had confirmed today that he will be testing for the Ford Performance Racing V8 Supercar team next Monday, August 21^st.

Whilst often regarded as a category primarily used for gaining an international open-wheel Career, the championship has rapidly proved itself as a breeding ground for young talent in demand by V8 Supercar teams domestically.

A number of current leading V8 drivers have used the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 championship as a major part of their development towards a Supercar career.

This year 2003 Series champion Michael Caruso is making his mark on the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Championship with Sydney-based Decina Racing. Caruso finished a strong second at the weekend at Oran Park and currently sits 6th in the championship after four rounds.

Caruso won eight Australian Formula 3 Championship races, his last win coming as recently as April, 2005.

Fellow Sydney driver Chris Alajajian is also making his mark on the Fujitsu series, having made his V8 debut at Queensland Raceway with Protecnica Racing at Queensland Raceway three weeks ago before scoring strong top-ten results last weekend at Oran Park.

Alajajian, a multiple race winner in the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, completed the full season last year and finished third in the standings despite a number of team changes during the season. Alajajian has continued to prove his pace in a number of selected Formula 3 appearances this season before his V8 Supercar debut.

Multiple 2004 race winner Marcus Marshall is also racing in the V8 Supercar championship with Glenfords racing following a year in the Champ Car World Series that directly followed outings the previous year (2004) in both British and Australian Formula 3.

Leading V8 Supercar contender Russell Ingall, James Courtney and their former team mate Marcos Ambrose all carried significant International Formula 3 experience into their respective V8 Supercar seats.

Caruso, Alajajian, Marshall and now Clucas’ local exploits mirror the likes of James Manderson, Christian Jones, Karl Reindler, Barton Mawer and Will Power who have contested the local Formula 3 Championship before racing internationally.

British driver Clucas came to Australia at the start of the year with the view of breaking into the V8 Supercar circuit and has proved his talent and adaptability from the first round, winning nine of the ten races held this season and taking a 60 point lead into the sixth round (of eight this year) to be held this weekend at Phillip Island, in Victoria.

Pushed hard all season by the likes of Michael Trimble, Tim Macrow and Chris Alajajian, Clucas now sits second on the all time list for most wins in a single season of Australian Formula 3.

“It’s very exciting for Formula 3 Australia that the current leader of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 championship has been selected to test with Ford Performance Racing,” said Formula 3 Australia chairman Jeff Mattner.

“Not only is it a clear indication that Ben’s talents are being recognized by V8 Supercar teams, but it’s also a clear reminder that V8 teams are keeping a close eye on the talent within the entire Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship field.

”It’s further proof that competing in Australian Formula 3 is not only a great way to launch an International career, but also a way to launch a domestic career and be noticed by the teams in the V8 Supercar championship.” He said.

The Sixth round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 championship for the CAMS Gold Star will be held at the 4.46km circuit this weekend, August 18 – 20