AUS: Martin only short on notice for F3 debut

NEW ZEALAND driver Martin Short went to sleep last night as a Formula Ford driver.

Then much to his surprise, the 19 year old from Hamilton awoke this morning as a competitor in the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship.

Short took the last-minute opportunity to jump in the second seat at R-Tek Motorsport for this weekend's fourth round of the 2010 Australian Drivers Championship, jumping into the deep end for his first serious hit out in a top-level, high-downforce open wheeler.

Short, a competitor in the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship this season for Team BRM, was on-hand at Mallala this weekend to lend his team's Formula 3 operation a hand on the spanners.

But when the opportunity presented itself to jump behind the wheel of R-Tek's second car, the New Zealand Formula Ford Champion was the first to stick up his hand to have a drive - even if it does leave Team BRM one man down on the other side of pit wall.

"It's a great opportunity and I'll try to make the most of it," the former Rotax Max (NZ) Karting champ said.

"It all came together very late so it's lucky I had all my gear with me this weekend - proof that you never know what might happen!

"The car felt good (in first practice this morning at Mallala). It seems to have a lot more grip than the TRS car I tested in New Zealand, and more Aero but that's the only thing I can compare it to. They are good to drive so I'm looking forward to the next couple of days."

Short is part of a two-car team at R-Tek Motorsport, which surely must take the mantle as one of the most inexperienced ever assembled for a Gold Star race.

17-year-old Tasmanian driver Josh Burdon will make just his second ever F3 round start this weekend after impressing with his maturity and developing speed on his debut in Tasmania, in April.

This weekend's fourth round of the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship for the CAMS Gold Star marks the series' return to Mallala for the first time in two years.

Tom Tweedie leads the championship by just eight points, however Mitch Evans remains undefeated this season after sweeping the first and third rounds of the championship.

Ben Barker is a further twenty points back but remains a true chance for the title with 46 points up for grabs this weekend alone.

-source: formula3.com.au