F3 TITLE FIGHT ALIVE, WALL AND KINGSLEY

Melbourne’s Tim Macrow closed the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship title battle as Joey Foster had a mixed day, while David Wall and Matt Kingsley took their Porsches to victory in Round Three of the Shannons Nationals at Phillip Island.

Wall won in the Australian GT Championship and Kingsley in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, while the Sentinel Fire Services Commodore Cup, Kumho Saloon Cars and a Porsche Club Regularity also featured in this weekend’s action at a wet, cold and windy Phillip Island.

Macrow claimed pole position for both Formula 3 races and led the way early in the wet opening stoush, before Englishman Foster took the lead and went on to win by 26 seconds.

Foster’s day went downhill in Race Two, though, failing to finish after an opening lap clash with Mat Sofi.

Macrow won, moving into second place in the championship and reducing Foster’s advantage to 17 points.

Kiwi Ben Crighton recorded his best-ever result with second place, ahead of team boss Leanne Tander, driving an older, 2004-model car in a one-off return to the series.

“It was a pretty perfect race,” Macrow said after Race Two.

“We got off the line well and the incident between Joey and Mat worked to our advantage.

“The track was dirty and slippery early on, so it was tough going, but it got better and better during the race.”

David Wall took out the Phillip Island GT Classic, extending his championship lead.

Wall won both one-hour legs, leading home the Lamborghini of Mark Eddy and Dean Grant on Sunday, with fellow Shannons-sponsored Porsche driver Jim Richards third.

Allan Simonsen and Nick O’Halloran were seventh with John Bowe and Ted Hughlin 10th, while Tony Quinn was quick but had a troubled run and finished 16th.

“The weather made it really challenging, but I’m pleased to get the win,” Wall said.

“Our strategy worked out well, particularly staying out on slick tyres when it rained in the middle of Saturday’s race.

“The car was quick, we were able to push hard and bring it home.”

Matt Kingsley moved into the lead of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, with the Round Two victory.

On debut, 997 Trophy driver Shaun Juniper won Race One, with Kingsley second.

In a wet Race Two, Kingsley romped to a 45-second victory over Kane Rose, followed by a win ahead of 2008 champion Sven Burchartz.

“We came here hoping to run in the Top Five, leaving with the round win and championship lead is great,” Kingsley said.

“In practice, we spent some time running on slicks in the wet to see where the grip was, which was really helpful in Race Two.

“At Bathurst we had good pace, but a broken driveshaft put us on the back foot; this weekend couldn’t have gone any better, though.”

Bouncing back from a Race One incident which saw him finish ninth, Brett Holdsworth won the remaining two Sentinel Fire Services Commodore Cup races.

The wins gave Holdsworth the Round Two honours, ahead of Nick Parker, who retains his championship lead.

Reigning champion Tancredi was third, despite a mechanical problem in Race Three, which saw him drop from second to 15th.

After an intense, weekend-long battle, Shawn Jamieson won Round Two of the Kumho Saloon Car National Series over Steve Kwiatkowski.

Jamieson took two race wins to Kwiatkowski’s one, with 0.1776 seconds the biggest margin of the three races, while Clint Harvey was third for the weekend.

Ursula Weidenmuller took out the Porsche Club Regularity, driving a 1960 Porsche 356.

Round Four of the 2009 Shannons Nationals will be held at Adelaide’s Mallala Motor Sport Park on 6-7 June.

This weekend’s racing from Phillip Island will be broadcast on SBS’ Speedweek next Sunday, 24 May, from 1-3pm.

For more information about the 2009 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships, visit www.thenationals.com.au.