AUSF3: Adelaide: Mat Radisich preview

MAT RADISICH TO LINE UP FOR CLIPSAL 500 F3 START

AFTER LAST YEAR impressing everyone with a stunning performance in a National Class Dallara at Symmons Plains, Mathew Radisich will line up in a Gold Star-spec Formula 3 car at next week's Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

Radisich will drive a Dallara F307 Mercedes for Team BRM, his first shot at outright honours in the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship.

Last year Radisich, then driving for TanderSport, scored pole position at Symmons Plains in the final round of the championship despite driving the older-specification 2004-spec car. He then led several laps of the first race and was pulling away from the outright championship contenders before eventually slipping back.

The starring performance opened many eyes to the young Victorian-based New Zealander's capabilities, the driver hoping to go one better and again lead from the front on the streets of Adelaide next week. "Last year I was able to show my speed and race pace, now I just need to show the consistency and the results should come," Radisich said today.

"It's a great opportunity to race at Clipsal with a championship winning team like Team BRM. I'm really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the championship class car."

Radisich said having strong teammates - like international F3 race winner Joey Foster who confirmed on Monday that he would join the team this year - would help his cause significantly.

"It will be great to work with the engineers and compare my data with my teammates and see where I am gaining or losing time," he explained. "I think that we can challenge for race wins and if not, the top three. The competition is going to be strong but if I can be in the top three and in contention for the win then that will be great.

"I can't wait to get back behind the wheel again."

Radisich and Foster will be two of several drivers shaking down their cars ahead of the Clipsal 500 at a pre-event test at Mallala this Friday.

The Team BRM car of Joey Foster, TanderSport driver Ben Crighton and local ace Jesse Wakeman will all unveil new liveries ahead of the seasons start the following week.

The series will also announce two new sponsor partners during the day, both of whom will be providing contingency awards throughout the 2009 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship schedule to further value-add for competitors.

-credit: formula3.com.au