Formula 3 Championship contender Tim Macrow has spoken out in support of the recent prizes confirmed for the 2008 F3 season. Klynsmith / F3 Photo

One of the three contenders for the 2007 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship has lauded the recent announcement of over $500,000 worth of prizes for the 2008 season as ‘the biggest thing in the series' history’.

The opportunities have been provided by new Formula 3 partner Opes Prime stockbroking and offer significant chances for career advancement, as well as the offer of $120,000 in prize money split between two classes.

Tim Macrow, 23, sits second in the championship with just one round to go and says that the changes will give drivers more reasons than ever before to race in Australia’s only Wings and Slicks national championship – as well as potentially massive return on their investment to go racing.  

The Victorian driver – one of the most experienced and successful active drivers in the series - said that whilst value was always present in the category, the new prizes made it one of the most lucrative series in Australia.

”I saw already value in Formula 3 as a category that can develop drivers to progress through the ranks, which is why I have raced it for the last two and a half years,” Macrow said.

”But the new prizes from Opes Prime are a massive incentive for new drivers to join the Australian Formula 3 grid.  I don’t know of any other series that offers the same amount of reward for the winners in terms of cash-in-hand as well as opportunities for career advancement.

”It gives new drivers coming into the sport a chance to go right through the ranks for a level of affordability I don’t think has ever been seen in Australian Motorsport.

”A driver could feasibly win National Class, get a free drive in Championship Class, win that and then go to race Formula V6 Asia. That step to an international category and it’s a huge ‘carrot on the end of a stick’ for those that will race for the championship next year.

”If these prizes were on offer when I was finishing up in Formula Ford then I would have been in F3 even quicker.” He said.

Macrow, who made his Australian Formula 3 debut in 2005 in a privately-run F301 Dallara before graduating to his current-specification Cooltemp / Scud F304, said that the prize would also add renewed significance to the 51-year-old Australian Drivers Championship / Gold Star award.

Tim’s dad – Peter Macrow – contested the Gold Star throughout the 1980s when the award was recognised as one of the ‘big two’ series – along with the ATCC – to win in Australian Motorsport.

”It’s probably fair to say that the Gold Star award has lacked a bit of meaning lately,” Macrow explained.

”I think that the prizes on offer will be a factor to add significance of the award and try to get it somewhere near a level it used to be when It was either Open Wheel or Touring cars – and nothing else – in the sport.

”I really think that the whole package next season is looking very strong. With the new cars, expansion of several teams and the prizes on offer it’s going to be a huge year.”

With Macrow looking to explore both domestic and international opportunities to take his career to the next step, he said today that the focus at the moment was on preparation for the finale’ at Oran Park raceway on November 3 – 4.

”It’s all going to be decided at Oran Park and I can’t wait,” he said.

”It’s obviously going to be a huge round so I’ve been working hard on my fitness and preparation for the last few weeks since Tasmania to make sure I’m in the best possible shape for when Oran Park rolls around.”

Macrow twice finished second in Oran Park’s first 2007 F3 hit out at the popular Sydney venue in April this year, and will head into the final round in a three-way title fight with Leanne Tander and Astuti Motorsport’s British-based Charlie Hollings.

The Oran Park round will be the scene of the closest title decider in series history and one of the closest recorded in Gold Star history, less then 10 points splitting the three protagonists.

For more information about the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship and the massive new prizes on offer for 2008, please visit www.formula3.com.au

ENDS