Tim Hamilton triumphs on home soil
Tim Hamilton has taken top honours for round two of the 2019 Australian FF1600 Championship at Queensland Raceway over the weekend. Jarrod Costello looked like a man on a mission with an outstanding qualifying performance, placing his Van Diemen on pole position, four-tenths clear of Hamilton. The clouds above provided a healthy deluge during race one, challenging the drivers from start to finish. Costello and Hamilton jockeyed for position until the chequered flag dropped, but it was Costello who emerged as the victor. Greg Fahey rounded out the podium in his Van Diemen RF04. Sunday's races were just as enthralling, with the leading pair continually fighting for supremacy around the track commonly referred to as "the paperclip". Tim Hamilton returned serve in race two, his win strengthening his championship hopes. Costello and Hamilton entered race three with a win each and everything on the table. What resulted was another display of great racing between the duo. Hamilton was the first to cross the line, taking out the final race win along with the round. The pair of Queenslanders were separated by just over a tenth of a second. Long-time Formula Ford racer Greg Fahey ended up with the third place trophy in what was a consistent weekend. Tim Hamilton was determined to deliver in Queensland, after a post-race penalty at Sydney Motorsport Park deprived him of a clean sweep during the opening round. "I was pretty annoyed about the first round, having done a clean sweep and then losing the last race, so it made me very determined to fight back and get as many points as we could", said Hamilton at the end of the weekend. "It’s actually the first time that Jarrod and I have gone out for actual race wins. Most of the time it’s always been lower club level events and we were having some good fights out there", continued the Queenslander. New South Welshman Scott Tidyman embarked on the interstate pilgrimage to Queensland Raceway, but an engine issue during Friday practice ruined his weekend, forcing him to withdraw from the event. Hamilton and Costello are now heading to the last round at Phillip Island equal in points.
"I’m really excited. I’ve never actually been there [at Phillip Island]) before, but I’ve heard it’s a great track. I’m really looking forward to racing there", said Costello. The third and final round of the 2019 Australian FF1600 Championship will take place at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on September 27-29. 2019 Australian FF1600 Championship standings (top 5) 1st - Jarrod Costello / Tim Hamilton - 107pts 3rd - John Pereira - 37pts 4th - Scott Tidyman - 29pts 5th - Josh Glinn - 22pts 2019 Australian FF1600 Championship calendar Round 1: April 5-7 Sydney Motorsport Park (NSW) - NSW State Championship Round 2: May 3-5 Queensland Raceway (QLD) - RACERS Round 3: September 27-29 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit (Vic) - Vic State Championship
