Oct 26, 2007

For the first time in series history three female drivers are set to race in a round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship.

They may have teamed up in the Bathurst 12-hour production car race earlier this year, but next weekend current championship leader Leanne Tander (#42 Fleetcare TanderSport) will race against both Lauren Gray and Samantha Reid for the first time, in the final round of the Gold Star championship.

It’s the first time three female drivers will have taken to the track at once in the history of Formula 3 in Australia.

20-year-old Victorian Gray will return to the seat of her Scud Racing F301 Dallara to attempt to lock second place in the Kumho National class away, whilst young South Aussie driver Samantha ‘Samy’ Reid will make her second career start in the Scud Racing Trophy Class Dallara.

All three will test at Winton Raceway in Victoria next week before heading to Sydney later in the week for the 2007 finale’.

Tander – a nominee for the 2007 CAMS Motorsport personality of the year award – said that she was pleased to see the increasing number of talented females racing at the top level after being the sole representative at a national level for several years.

“There have only been one or two female drivers – none of them Australian – make it on the international stage, so it would be great if one or all of us could do that via Australian F3, ” Tander said.

“It’s really good to see both Lauren and Sam on track at Oran Park. It’s obviously good for the series and good for their careers as well. I think it says a lot for the development of female talent in Australia and how quickly they are starting to come up through the ranks.

“It’s pleasing that they have got the chance to show that they can do the job in the quickest cars in Australia. ” She said.

After a back injury forced her out of the seat earlier this year, Victorian Lauren Gray will return to the #25 Scud Racing Dallara F301 – Spiess at Oran Park in a quest to score second in the National Class.

“We are going there with the aim of scoring as many points as possible to see how the championship plays out, ” Lauren Gray said.

“I’m looking forward to having the three of us on the grid at the weekend: I’ve raced against Leanne since I was 16 (in both Production cars and, more recently, F3) but I’ve never raced Sam before.

“We had a great experience at Bathurst and we all get on outside of the car, but this will be something difference, and it’s something I’m really looking forward to.

“It’s great for Formula 3 and also great for my team, Scud Racing. Hopefully Sam and I can work with Tim (Macrow, championship contender) to make sure we all have a successful weekend and get the most out of it that we can. ” Gray added.

“It’s great to be returning to Formula 3 to race alongside Leanne and Lauren, ” Samantha Reid said.

“We worked well together at Bathurst but we also like to compete against each other so this will be a different experience and hopefully a lot of fun.

“We all have very different goals to take out of the weekend which we won’t be directly competing – which will make sure that it’s an enjoyable weekend. ”

“I enjoyed learning about Formula 3 cars on my debut in Tasmania and I can’t wait to get back into one at Oran Park. I have been working hard to put together plans to compete in the National Class next year, and now Opes Prime has supported the championship with the new prizes I’m trying even harder. ” She said.

The final round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, featuring a winner-take-all showdown between Leanne Tander, Tim Macrow and Charlie Hollings, will be held over two races at Oran Park raceway next weekend, on November 3 – 4.

[Source: Auto Racing Daily]