The Opes Prime National Class is evolving into a close-fought two-way scrap between Lee Farrell and Chris Gilmour after the Kumho Tyres Australian F3 Championship encounter in Adelaide saw the Australian claim victory in the second race at the Clipsal 500.
The pair are now split by just two points after Queenslander Gilmour won the twelve-lap affair, holding off Daniel Schulz and Mathew Radisich in a close fight. With Farrell winning race one on Saturday, the pair look likely to duel for the class prize of either $40,000 cash or a funded Championship Class drive the in 2009.
Gilmour made a brilliant start to pass two cars off the line, jumping from third on the grid to the lead before turn one. From there, he withheld brief pressure from Farrell until the Irishman locked up and ran off the circuit at turn three. From there, the race one winner could only manage sixth in class.
”I was pushing hard and hit the bumps before turn three when I was down-changing,” Farrell explained, ”It put me into the air and spun me around. I had a lot of speed and was looking to challenge Chris, so it's very disappointing.”
Gilmour went on to record a win ahead of Schulz, starting his last F3 race before work commitments take him overseas.
”I thought my prior experience would have given me some advantage, but the class of driver is very high so I knew it would be competitive coming into the weekend,” Gilmour said, ”I'm kind of renowned for my starts and I got off the line really well. I got the two guys in front and that was it – from there, I held my position. The car wasn't that great, but we held on and I'm very happy with the result. We're right back in the battle for the Opes Prime National Class win, which is great.”
Scud Racing's Radisich was third, making a strong comeback from an engine change earlier in the weekend, whilst Samantha Reid recovered from an early drama to finish fourth in class.
![Chris Gilmour [PIC CREDIT: Dirk Klynsmith]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/408191.jpg)
