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Penalty Denies Barker Maiden F3 Win |
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 Britain’s Ben Barker appeared poised to break his Formula Three victory duck at Phillip Island, only for a harsh jump-start penalty to ensure that he is still waiting for the breakthrough.
Pre-race testing for round three of the Kumho Tyres Australian F3 Championship went well for the Formula Ford graduate, who defied his lack of track knowledge to trim his best time to within a few hundredths of more experienced team-mate Mitch Evans. That performance continued into qualifying, where Barker comfortably made it through into the ‘Quick Six’ shoot-out, but his promise was to be cut short when a sheared exhaust manifold bolt denied him a shot at pole in the final session.
“There was only half a tenth between myself and my team-mate but, towards the end of the first session, my car began struggling with bottom end power, which the team traced to the sheared bolt,” Barker noted, “The team tried everything they could to fix it, but it was too late.”
Consigned to sixth on the grid after failing to make it out for the deciding run, Barker knew that he needed to work hard in the opening race in order to improve his starting slot for the rest of the weekend. Fully focused, he made a great start, passing both Kristian Lindbom and Ben Crighton to nab fourth on the opening lap. Four tours later, and after a brief battle, the Team BRM driver accounted for Chris Gilmour to move into a podium position but, despite closing a three-second gap to championship leader Tom Tweedie over the remaining five laps, the 19-year old had to settle for third, taking fastest lap as an added bonus.
With race two taking place the following day, the Phillip Island weather had a chance to turn and, true to form, was raining by the time Barker lined up on the inside of row three. Being his first wet F3 race, the Briton was naturally cautious at the start, but his prudence cost a place to Gilmour, and allowed the leading group to open out a one-second advantage. Undaunted, Barker again recorded the fastest lap of the race as he not only closed down the gap, but also pulled off a pass around the outside of Tweedie going through turn two.
Catching Lindbom for second, Barker capitalised on a slight mistake by the Swede at turn four to inherit the runners-up spot, but was too far behind team-mate Evans to make the move that would have completed his comeback with victory.
On the front row for the finale, the Briton made a stellar getaway to lead into turn one, and quickly opened a two-second cushion over poleman Evans. Just as a maiden victory appeared possible, however, the stewards ruled that Barker had jumped the start, and punished him with a drive-through penalty that ended any hope of a third podium finish. Instead, the BRM driver rejoined in ninth position and immediately began working his way up through the field, only to fall foul of another driver and end his race with damaged suspension.
“It was a harsh decision by the stewards as I rolled about an inch then stopped again before the lights came on - there was no advantage off the line,” Barker insisted, “I was very frustrated about the jump start call, and then to end my day with avoidable contact was another thing.
“As I was making my way through the field, I caught a two-car battle and made a sensible move up the inside, but Graeme Holmes turned in on me, bending my front left wishbone and putting me out of the race.
“I felt confident enough, in both the car and myself, to know I had what it took to win the last race, but it wasn’t to be. Much as in round one, qualifying set me back for the rest of the weekend, and it was unfortunate that it was a mechanical problem that proved so costly this time. However, we showed good pace in races one and two, getting fastest lap in each, and then being able to lead and pull a gap in race three means that there are plenty of positives to take from the weekend and carry forward to the next round in Adelaide."
After three rounds, Barker lies third overall in the CAMS Gold Star standings, as the Kumho Tyres Australian F3 series heads to Mallala at the end of May. |
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