Round two of the 2008 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship didn't go to plan for TanderSport pairing Leanne Tander and Samantha Reid on what ended up being a destructive weekend on the 3.2km street circuit.
Improving pace throughout the weekend for Tander and a strong debut in the Opes Prime National Class for Reid were bright points in an event that can best be described as character-building for the team.
Tander struggled for car speed in qualifying but raced strongly in race one to finish where she started, in sixth position.
In race two she was an unwilling participant in a massive crash that eliminated the #42 TanderSport car and two other championship class competitors in one hit. Earl Bamber's car had ridden the kerb exiting turn nine and subsequently veered across the racetrack. Tander tagged Bamber with her rear wheel as she passed to the left, looking for clear track.
Unfortunately, Bamber then tagged his team mate Nathan Caratti who veered into the wall right into the path of Tander's Dallara. The impact caused damage to three corners, a nose box, underfloor and other ancillary components of the F307-Mercedes car.
It was a really disappointing weekend. I know that the car and I am good enough to run at the front, Tander said. To be back in sixth and eighth in qualifying was not a good enough result for me. I was, however, pretty happy with the improvements on the car for the second race I had moved up to seventh and was feeling confident that I was going to be able to move up a spot or two but then the incident happened and I was in the wall.
I just had no where to go. I went left to try and stay away but my rear clipped Earl. I felt like I could carry on but then Caratti's car came in front of me and that was it. These things happen when you race on a street circuit; It's disappointing and expensive but unfortunately, unavoidable.
