Lehdistötiedotteet - Reflecting My F3 Australian Series - Season 8

Reflecting My F3 Australian Series - Season 8

This was my first proper season after joining MyRacingCareer on the 64th day of Season 7, and I have some grand memories of my first real crack at glory.
Being the total noob of the century, I ignored tips from ArkAngel and did not compete in a single Rookie Series event. Instead, I jumped straight into the F3 Australian Series, which would have to deal with me (Trevor Harvey), and my 29 racing colleagues for the next 10 weeks, expecting anything and everything from Albert Park to Adelaide on the calendar.

Round 1 - Albert Park, Melbourne
My first ever series event, at the home of the F1 Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park. I had no idea what I would be in for, so I jumped into qualifying with a blindfold over my eyes. By the end I realised I was all the way up in P9, and I was absolutely amazed. It was like taking Pole Position for the first time. I thought I was headed for the backmarkers with my 0 experience at the circuit, but to get my first ever Top 10 Qualifying was my first of many milestones in my season.
The 2 following races were even better. I scored 2 more top 10 finishes, again my first ever in MyRacingCareer, finishing 9th and 8th respectively. I was absolutely flabbergasted with my efforts that week, and wanted to keep reaching these milestones for the rest of the season.

Round 2 - Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast
Boosted by results at Albert Park, I wanted to go even better at the Surfer's Paradise Street Circuit on the Gold Coast - The perfect setting for a tropical street race. I qualified a little bit lower than at Albert Park, qualifying down in P14. I just couldn't get the speed into the car to make it go much quicker. Thanks to some luck in the pre-race warmup sessions, I managed to tweak my setup to the tune of another Top 10 finish in Race 2, following a 12th place finish in Race 1. I was ecstatic with another points finish and continued to Phillip Island with a big, bigger, world's biggest smile on my face.

Round 3 - Phillip Island, Melbourne
This was my second worst event in the F3 Aus Series throughout the whole of Season 8. I qualified a decent 12th in qualifying in my first visitnto the circuit, but due to some tough luck, retired from BOTH races. My world came crashing over the result. I knew I was on the back foot heading into the next race.

Round 4 - Eastern Creek, Sydney
My first visit to a New South Wales circuit proved to be my worst race event to date anywhere. Again qualified in the top half of the field, in P13, but went on to yet again, retire in BOTH races. To rub the salt into the wound, they were both in the first laps of each race. I almost broke my Galaxy Tablet when I opened the report.

Round 5 - Queensland Raceway, Ipswich
Queensland Raceway was the beginning of my return to 'Race Completed' status, although it is in my opinion one of the more boring race tracks in the country. Qualified in 13th again, but fortunately battled my way into 11th. All this work was undone though with yet another disappointing retirement, my 5th in 6 races. Surely my luck couldn't be worse?

Round 6 - Sandown, Melbourne
It was a longmtime coming, but I finally managed to get a full race weekend in! I got 6 full stints in, Qualified P14, and for once... managed to finish in both races! Iwas brewthing a heavy sigh of relief when the chequered flag flew, although it was a pointless round in P12 and P11, I was just happy to get across the finish line.

Round 7 - Symmons Plains, Tasmania
Round 7 came, and we made the trip across Bass Strait to the shortest circuit on the calendar, Symmons Plains Raceway. The tricky little 2.4km (1.5 miles) 7 corner circuit proved to be one many were confident of winning. The whole field was very condensed in Quali and the Races. Unfortunately the weekend for me yielded P11 in Qualifying, another DNF in Race 1, but a strong Race 2 saw me finish in P13 (becoming my favourite position haha).

Round 8 - Sydney Olympic Park
We came back across the ditch for the 8th Round of the series, at the Homebush Street Circuit based on the roads surrounding the Olympic Arenas. I achieved my personal best qualifying attempt to date, recording 6th place in another tight session. The races were both unlucky for me, an early pit stop due to damage and another DNF pretty much summed up my form in the series. With Bathurst and Adelaide still to come, arguably the 2 trickiest circuits on the calendar, I was hoping others could fall victim to crashes and propel me up the field.

Round 9 - Mount Panorama, Bathurst
The Penultimate round of the Australian F3 Series, at the mother of all circuits for some, and a picturesque destination providing awesome racing since the 1960's, and is the race everyone wants to win. It was my best F3 Australian Series event to date, as Trevor barely put a step wrong at the mountain, qualifying 8th, and finishing 6th and 16th respectively in the races. I was satisfied when he cross the line in Race 2. Given his recent form, to go to the toughest track in the country, I couldn't have asked for any more given our recent form.

Round 10 - Adelaide
Tears were falling for more reasons than 1, This was the final race of the Season, but my best was yet to come. I qualified 6th like I did in Bathurst, but it didn't stop there. I managed to take my first career Top 5 Finish in Race 1 of the event! It was an amazing turn of form for us. But it didn't stop there. What I right next will amaze every single reader.
I was running in P3 with 10 laps to go. I got overtaken with 4 laps to go and was feeling devastated as my rival pulled away, before the most amazing thing happened on the final lap. Jason King was leading by over 10 seconds, when his transmission went and he RETIRED ON THE LAST LAP! This handed us 3rd place, scoring our First Ever Podium in the Season Ending Race! I was crying after I clicked 'Next' for the final lap. It was truly amazing.

Given the circumstsnces, from Top 10's to Top Retirements, and the awesome Season Finale, I think this Series for me will stick for a very, very lomg time. I am proud of what I have achieved in Season 8, and cannot wait to do it all over again here in the best country in the world, Australia.