Formula3 PODIUM TURNS PINK IN SUPPORT OF KUMHO McGRATH FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER

The Australian Formula 3 Drivers Championship has thrown its support behind the upcoming Kumho's Pink Fitters Day to raise money for the McGrath Foundation by staging a pink podium at Bathurst's Mt Panorama.

The podium saw winner Chris Anthony, runner up Ben Gersekowski, third placed Simon Hodge, national class winner Chelsea Angelo and Kumho Cup winner Roland Legge sporting the same hot pink shirts that more than 1000 tyre dealers around the country will also be wearing on Friday 2nd May.

 

[caption id="attachment_10109" align="aligncenter" width="383"] Formula 3 staged a pink podium to raise awareness about Kumho's Pink Fitters Day.
L-R: Ben Gersekowski, Roland Legge, Chris Anthony, Chelsea Angelo, Simon Hodge.


Formula 3 hopes to raise awareness of the fundraising efforts Kumho has planned on the day to support of the work the McGrath Foundation does.

In addition, South Australian Simon Hodge stunned the crowd by shattering the lap record set yesterday with a staggering time of 2m02.6701s on the final lap of the race.

Hodge's stunning lap adds to the outright lap record he claimed at the opening round in Adelaide in March.

"I honestly didn't expect it!" he said.

"Our pace was building throughout the race and I was trying to chase the guys down in front, but then I dropped off a little bit from their tails and that gave me the clean air I needed to press as hard as I could.

"As the car got better the lap times dropped and to see that time on the dash, as I crossed the line and got the checkered flag, was an amazing feeling."

 

[caption id="attachment_10110" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Simon Hodge shattered the outright Bathurst record with an impressive 2m02.6701s lap.


Hodge's feat is even more considerable given his Dallara Mercedes Benz had gear box troubles through the race.

"I couldn't select gear properly in some parts of the track so there is definitely more time to be found," Hodge said.

"There is no such thing as a perfect lap around here but this one felt pretty awesome."

Formula 3 uses a specially designed Kumho Ecsta racing tyre and is the only 'wings and slicks' category in Australia.

A naturally 2.0 litre motor with more than 230 horsepower powers the open wheelers and exalts the importance of handling and grip over brute horsepower.

The category holds the outright lap record at Mt Panorama, Adelaide's Parklands street circuit, Wakefield Park and Morgan Park.

Ben Gersekowksi holds a mere one point lead lead over Simon Hodge as the championship heads to Darwin for round four 20-22 June.