Neil McFadyen has every reason to be pleased to be back on the streets of Adelaide - and after today he's got even more after dominating opening practice for this weekend's second round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
McFadyen took his Piccola Scuderia Corse Dallara F307 – Mercedes Benz to the top time in this afternoons second session, his 1 minute 19.5426 second lap some seven-tenths quicker than second place Ben Clucas.
The Sydneysider was second fastest in the opening session to cap off a strong day for the 2004 Gold Star Champion, in front of over 44,000 people present at the track.
McFadyen finished fifth in the opening round of the championship at Eastern Creek, but set fastest lap in the race to show his speed credentials ahead of this weekends' second round.
”We didn't get a chance to test before this round so we're doing it today - and obviously it's going well," he enthused. "I'm really pleased with the way it's gone. The team has put an excellent set-up in the car and it's performing really well.
"It's awesome to drive and I think today's performances are an indication of where we are going to be this weekend. We're going to take it as it comes and getting ourselves into a groove for qualifying tomorrow."
British driver Ben Clucas was second this afternoon, rebounding from a gearbox failure that left him stranded on the circuit after minimal laps in practice one.
His Opes Prime Team BRM team-mates, James Winslow, Nathan Caratti and Earl Bamber were next in the order - Caratti topping practice one, whilst Leanne Tander was also well in the mix in her TanderSport #42 car.
In something of a surprise, Sydneysider Mat Sofi was third quickest in practice one showing the continuing potential from both the laconic driver and his Transwest Racing team.
![Neil McFadyen [PIC CREDIT: Dirk Klynsmith]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/408192.jpg)
