Phillip Island GP Circuit, Australia's fastest track was the perfect venue for the final round of the Australian Formula 3 Championship over the weekend. Friday practice saw Lockie top the time sheets for the national class although his main rival Queenslander Hayden Cooper was snapping at his heels just 0.3 second off Lockie's pace. Qualifying on Saturday was a nail biting affair with Cooper just piping Lockie by a mere 0.02 second, literally the blink of an eye.
Race 1 on Saturday afternoon saw Cooper capitalize on his advantageous starting position and ended up leading Lockie to the cheque red flag. Again each driver's best lap times were separated by just 0.03 second. Race 2 on Sunday morning started in atrocious conditions with wind squalls and heavy rain blowing across the track from Bass Straight. Cooper got a flying start and was never headed. Lockie, in a game of catch up had a couple of spins and was never really in a position to put pressure on his Queensland rival.
The all important final race saw Lockie starting from a midfield grid spot two rows behind Cooper. In a dramatic start two cars stalled when the lights went green and as Cooper got away his Dallara broke a drive shaft and was forced to retire early. With his main rival sidelined Lockie proceeded to build a comfortable gap on the second placed national car and finished off the 14 lapper without challenge. Lockie also came home in front of two of the faster Championship cars (which have improved aerodynamics better suited to fast circuits like Phillip Island). In a post race interview Lockie said it was "great to take the win but it was bad luck for Hayden, I was really looking forward to racing him in the final"
The Phillip Island round capped off a successful debut season for Lockie in the Australian Formula 3 Championship. Over the last four rounds of the season Lockie scored 2 wins and 2 second places in the National class which was enough to earn him 3rd place in the Forpark National Class Championship despite missing the first three rounds due to a broken arm.
Lockie would like to thank his sponsors LORD Chemicals, Hare & Forbes Machinery House, Ontime Distribution, Forensic Consulting, A1 Signs, Elf Racefuels, Connexus, Campbellfield Truck Services, Kyneton Autopro, Kyneton Toyota, Bridgestone Kyneton, Body Corp Highpoint Accident Repair Centre, Point Precision Engineering, Race Recall and Unique Marine for their support through the year.
You can watch in-car videos from Phillip island and follow Lockie’s progress on his website, Facebook and Twitter
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