Case Of What Might Have Been For Cressey

JAMES CRESSEY MOTORSPORT

08-09-02 For immediate release

CASE OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR CRESSEY

It was a case of 'what might have been' for young New Zealand racing driver James Cressey in the second race at the sixth round of the 2002 Australian Formula 3 Championship at Melbourne's Sandown International Raceway this afternoon (Sunday September 08).

After winning the first race and setting a new class lap record in the first race yesterday (Saturday September 07) the 18-year-old Aucklander - winner of both the New Zealand Formula Ford championship and the Bruce McLaren Scholarship in 2001 - started today's second race as the odds-on favourite.

Unfortunately, he spun off the track on the sixth lap, clouting the armco and losing the rear wing off his TimberWorld Dallara F300.

Though he got going again - and even made up a place!!! - he was black flagged and forced to return to the pits and pull out of the race.

It was an unfortunate end to what was shaping up to be another good race for the young Aucklander.

He quickly worked his way from his starting position of fifth to second and was closing in on early race leader James Manderson when he spun.

Despite the disappointment of a dnf Cressey did get a consolation prize - another fastest race lap.

It was a good one too - at 1.09.4716, the lap was almost half a second faster than James Manderson's best and almost two seconds faster than defending class champion Peter Hackett's best.

Today's race was won by pole sitter Manderson from BRM teammate Darren Palmer and Hackett.

With a win today and a fifth place in yesterday's race, series points leader Manderson now has 180 points, 36 more than second placed teammate Darren Palmer (144) and 48 more than third-placed Cressey (132).

To recap Saturday's race, Cressey won it in barn-storming fashion, qualifying on the front row of the grid and catching, passing then pulling away from pole sitter Manderson.

On the way the young Aucklander not only set the fastest lap of the race, he also lowered the existing Formula 3 lap record, leaving it at a scintillating 1.09.4252, faster even than the pole time in each qualifying session.

The win was Cressey's second this year.

ends

RESULTS

2002 Australian Formula 3 Championship Rnd 6 Sandown International Raceway Melbourne Saturday/Sunday September 07/08

Race 2 (Sunday): J. Manderson (Dallara F301) 18.53.7856 1, D. Palmer (Dallara F301) 19.14.6311 2, P. Hackett (Dallara F301) 19.17.1176 3, W. Power (Dallara F398) 19.18. 0582 4, M. Caruso (Dallara F301) 19.280.469 5, R.Occhipinti (Dallara F396) 19.45.4776 6. Fastest lap: J. Cressey (Dallara F300) 1.09.4716 Race 1 (Saturday): Cressey 18.57.1706 1, Palmer 19.09.7696 2, Hackett 19.12.7341 3, Caruso (19.12.9744 4, Manderson 19.22.7014 5, Occhipinti 19.44.1772 6. Fastest lap (and new class lap record): Cressey 1.09.4252. Qualifying (Saturday) Session 1: Manderson 1.09.6320 1, Cressey 1.09.6553 2, Power 1.09.6633 3, Hackett 1.10.5262 4, Caruso 1.10.5575 5, Palmer 1.10.6311 6. Session 2: Power 1.14.9543 1, Manderson 1.16.1284 2, Caruso 1.16.5438 3, Hackett 1.17.0260 4, Cressey 1.17.1616 5, Occhipinti 1.17.3775. Practise (Friday) Session 1: Power 1.10.6194 1, Cressey 1.10.8316 2, Caruso 1.11.0354 3, Manderson 1.11.1362 4, Palmer 1.11.1767 5, Hackett 1.12.3882 6. Session 2: Power 1.09.8027 1, Manderson 1.10.4719 2, Caruso 1.10.6185 3, P.Stephenson (Dallara F396) 1.12.5387 4, Justin Watt (Dallara F301) 1.12.5488 5, Cressey 1.12.7296 6.

Prepared by FAST COMPANY on behalf of James Cressey Motorsport. To find out more about James' 2002 Australian Formula 3 Championship campaign contact Ross MacKay on 021 677 919 or ross@editorial.co.nz

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