In the first round of the 2008 season, teams and drivers from within the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship had to deal with sodden conditions and an abbreviated second-race, at Eastern Creek in late January.
In round two they had to deal with the Clipsal 500 Adelaides' notorious bumps and hard, unforgiving concrete walls.
Now, after a two-month break, the challengers have to adapt to the news that they will have six rounds in six months in which to decide the winner of the 2008 Australian Drivers Championship starting this weekend at Oran Park Raceway in South Western Sydney.
The undulating Narellan circuit has become known for its close Formula 3 battles throughout the past two years - culminating in the stunning 2007 championship decider held at the circuit late last year. Oran Park has also been the scene of some stunningly close qualifying action with four of the last six pole winners scraping their way onto the top spot by less than one-tenth of a second.
That closeness of competition should be reflected in the field entered for this weekend's third round of 2008 with points leader Neil McFadyen leading the way into his home championship round.
But McFadyen won't have it all his own way; with Formula 3 Australia chairman James Rosenberg confirming that he anticipates a grid of between 19 to 21 cars for the round.
We are looking at a fantastic grid for Oran Park and its proof that nothing has really changed since Clipsal, he said. We should have at least 19 cars on the grid and possibly a few more. There is a new F307 car being run by Sam Astuti's team as well as the cars that have already shown their capabilities in the first two rounds.
The championship is moving forward with confidence and the support of our competitors. We are very excited about the year ahead with great fields and the great racing the championship produces.
