FORMULA 3 CAR SETS FASTEST OFFICIAL BATHURST LAP TIME

An open wheel race car has returned to the top of Mount Panorama’s fastest lap holder – breaking a 10 year drought.
John Magro, driving his Team BRM Dallara F307-Mercedes, set a time of 2m05.5361s at the famous Bathurst road course during this afternoon’s qualifying session. The time is the fastest-ever qualifying lap of the circuit.

It is the first time since Neil Allen’s 1970 lap of the old Bathurst layout that an open wheeler has held the track’s fastest lap.

The lap time stands as the fastest-ever lap recorded in an official track session at the 6.213km Mount Panorama circuit. To officially beat the lap record, the F3 cars must match or better the time during tomorrow or Sunday’s races.

The current race lap record is held by Allan Simonsen, who set a 2m06.3311s in a Ferrari 458 GT3 during this year’s Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour,
Magro’s Team BRM team-mate Jordan Skinner will start from position two, ahead of James Winslow, reigning champ Chris Gilmour, Steel Guiliana and Carrera Cup regular Nick Foster.

Race 1 will be run at 1435 tomorrow, with the forecast for the Bathurst region showing late showers.
Formula 3 is competing at Bathurst as part of the annual Bathurst Motor Festival, which includes the Aussie Racing Cars, Historic Touring Cars (Group N), HQ Holdens and Production Sports

http://www.speedcafe.com/2012/04/06/formula-3-car-sets-fastest-official-bathurst-lap-time/

After much confusion, a Formula 3 car can finally lay claim to be the fastest car around the Mount Panorama circuit.
Reigning F3 champion Chris Gilmour has set the new Bathurst benchmark, lapping the famous track in a 2m04.6187s – officially, the fastest-ever lap time produced in a motor race around the 6.213km road course.

The lap time was set during the class’s second race of the Bathurst Motor Festival – the first time the category has visited the track.

Gilmour’s time eclipses Allan Simonsen’s 2m04.9560s lap time, set in a Ferrari 458 GT3 last November during a Super Sprint event.

Despite not winning, Gilmour was stoked to be the fastest around Mount Panorama – officially.
“It’s the best race of my life,” Gilmour said.

“I can die a happy man after this weekend and to be able to set some history at this incredible place is amazing. Congratulations to James for winning the race but our car is amazingly good right now and I think we can go with him in the main race.”

The lap record was actually broken a number of times during the later stages of the race, won by championship leader James Winslow. Winslow was the first to break the mark on the penultimate lap, setting a 2m04.9153s. Winslow sliced the time by another two tenths on the final lap before Gilmour ended it with his 2m04.6187s.
Nick Foster finished third.

The final F3 race of the weekend is scheduled for 1600.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2012/04/08/formula-3-car-finally-breaks-bathurst-lap-record/

WOW. That was great!