PitsBits...

      Formula Ford.gif (3884 bytes)                Confederation of Australian Motor Sport - Australia's governing body.     

5th May, 2002
Round 2

Whincup scores a double at the Island

Young Victorian driver Jamie Whincup has increased his championship lead, taking a pair of Phillip Island race wins to claim an exciting round two of the 2002 Ford Racing Australian Formula Ford Championship.

Close racing saw Whincup battle for the lead in both races with his Valvoline Cummins Repco team-mate Marcus Marshall and Bosch Batteries' Mark Winterbottom.

After mechanical problems caused by contact with another car forced pole-winner Andrew Jones to retire early in race one, Whincup, Winterbottom and Marshall fought a thrilling three-way battle for the lead.

Victorian Glen Hastings clocked the fastest lap of the race with a sensational 1 min 41.1153 secs but was unable to hold off Whincup's Sonic Motorsport stable-mate Barton Mawer for fourth position.

With the Valvoline Cummins Repco Van Diemens of Whincup and Marshall on the front row and Winterbottom sharing the second row with Mawer, race two continued the day's thrilling racing. 

Again, Whincup and Marshall battled for the lead with Winterbottom continuing to challenge setting the fastest time of the day (1 min 41.0679) on the second last lap.
 
Whincup took the lead on the second last lap and held it despite desperate attempts by both Marshall and Winterbottom, with Mawer again overcoming Hastings to take fourth position.

Former karter Neil McFadyen continued his impressive transition to Formula Ford, finishing in fifth place overall.

Van Diemens dominated the lower end of the top ten with Kurt Wimmer, Brett Francis, Tony Pugliese and Andrew Jones each winning six valuable championship points.

Whincup's two race victories increased his championship lead to 73 points, with Marshall on 64 and Winterbottom on 60.

"Phillip Island always allows for exciting racing, and today was no exception," said Whincup.

"I'm really enjoying the battles with Marshall and Winterbottom, and I look forward to it continuing at Canberra."
 
The fight for the 2002 Championship will continue when Formula Ford makes its GMC400 debut, in Canberra on June 7-9

2002 Australian Formula Ford
Round Two Pointscore – Phillip Island, VIC

1. Jamie Whincup (Van Diemen RF01) 73;

2. Marcus Marshall (Van Diemen RF01) 64:

3. Mark Winterbottom (Spectrum 09) 60;

4. Barton Mawer (Van Diemen RF01) 52;

5. Neil McFadyen (Van Diemen RF94) 28;

6 = Justin Cotter (Spectrum 06B) 20;

6 = Glen Hastings (Van Diemen RF94) 20;

8. Richard Chamberlain (Spectrum 06B) 17.

9. Brett Francis (Van Diemen RF02);

10. Andrew Jones (Van Diemen RF02) 9.

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