AUS: Series Eastern Creek summary

BARKER WINS AGAIN AS F3 TRIO READY FOR TITLE FIGHT

BEN BARKER, MITCH EVANS AND TOM TWEEDIE will fight for the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship at Sandown in October with the three leaving Sydney's Eastern Creek split by just twelve points.

Ben Barker brilliantly won his third feature race in a row to return serve on his young New Zealand teammate today, beating Mitch Evans off the line in the main race to back up his wins at Morgan Park and Mallala.

Evans was also beaten to the flag by Tweedie, who elevated his older-model Dallara to second with a brilliant start and then held off the flying 16-year-old for the entire race to keep himself in title contention.

Evans third place ensured he too remained in the fight with the three now split by just twelve points with one round and three races to go.

"The car was great and we really have had the ball rolling since Mallala," an elated Ben Barker said.

"We've kept the results going since then and kept winning which is just fantastic. The final round is going to be tough for me because I've never been to Sandown before, whilst both Mitch and Ben raced there last year - but you can bet I'm going to go there and give it everything.

"After round one I never thought I would be in this position so to be able to go into the final round leading the championship is fantastic. I'm going to do my best to bring it home."

Tweedie drove perhaps the race of his career to finish second today; withstanding immense pressure from Evans the entire race to score a result he said "Felt like a win".

"We came here expecting to be third, so to get second in the main race is like a win for us.

"The car was great. I knew where my strengths were and I knew where Mitch was quick. I had a few kays more straight line speed and used that to my advantage to keep him behind - he just couldn't get close enough to pass.

"My start was awesome - it was 'gun start' Tweedie today," he added.

"This result is beyond out expectations. We need to win at Sandown but we know we can. The car is great and the fight really begins now."

Evans third place came after two stunning wins in the sprint races, the 16-year-old sweeping to a strong win this morning to score enough points to start the main race from pole position.

Whilst the feature didn't go to plan, Evans is just eight points behind his team-mate in the championship going to a circuit where he won at last season on his F3 debut.

"I think I'm going to be stronger than ever at Sandown - I 'm better now than I was last year," Evans said.

"I have more experience in the cars than last year and I'm a lot more confident. I can only go there looking to dominate the weekend because I really want to win this championship.

"It's been a frustrating weekend and was all going to plan before the feature race."

Behind the title-contending trio there was plenty of action, with Chris Gilmour finishing fourth as he continues to return to form in his F3 comeback.

Formula Fordster Nathan Morcom was impressive en route to fifth place, quickly coming to grips with his R-Tek Dallara to finish with times not far from the national-class benchmark Tom Tweedie.

Mat Sofi's comeback endured a spin in the second sprint race and a slow start in the feature, though on both occasions he was able to come through the field to finish the weekend in sixth place.

John Magro was seventh, Ben Gersekowski continued his strong rookie season with eighth whilst Graeme Holmes and Roman Krumins completed the top ten.

Zhang Shan Qi and Nick Foster both failed to finish the race with mechanical issues slowing their progress.

The final round of the 2010 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship will be contested at Melbourne's Sandown raceway on October 23 - 24.

-source: formula3.com.au