Look past the front gaggle of cars at this weekend's third round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship and you're likely to see a battle just as intense as the one raging for the outright lead.
The Formula 3 National class has exploded in 2008 with a depth of competition and ferocity of racing that has only been rivalled by the championship class in the last two or three seasons.
Primarily made up of the 2002 – 2004 specification cars that contested the outright class for the past three years, the National Class is a hot mix of talented youngsters and experienced veterans all looking to make their mark and snare the lucrative $40,000 cash prize on offer to the winner this year.
Heading into this weekend's third round at Oran Park, National Class leader Lee Farrell heads Chris Gilmour by just two points after both caused the outright cars to look over their shoulders at the Clipsal 500 in February.
Drawing on the three years worth of data and over 15 outright race wins in 2004-spec cars that Team BRM has on offer, Farrell had every reason to be considered the class favourite ahead of this season but has backed up expectation with solid results in the first two rounds.
Matching his Irish rival for pace, and certainly overshadowing him in the experience stakes, is affable Queenslander Chris Gilmour.
Australia's self-proclaimed ‘Fastest Real Estate agent' makes his day-to-day living selling houses in the greater Brisbane area, but after several years of toiling against bigger budgeted teams and drivers is using the National Class to re-establish his winning Formula 3 credentials with his family-run Gilmour Racing Dallara.
Gilmour has over 50 Formula 3 race starts and at the Clipsal 500 won his class in race two, his first F3 win since winning five times en-route to second outright in the 2004 championship.
Behind the leading pair a group of new and revitalised drivers will attempt to challenge for class supremacy.
Youngster Mathew Radisich has lived up to his big surname in the championship to date, 2008 marking the first time he has committed to a full season's running with successful team Scud Racing.
Radisich sits fourth in the points race but is less than one race win away from the leaders.
Behind Farrell, Gilmour and Radisich, several drivers that contested the opening two rounds have moved on from the championship – but no fear; their seats have been filled by some equally capable talent.
