Paul Kellaway unknowingly hijacked the round victory at Queensland Raceway in Round 3 of the QLD Formula Vee Championship. Finishing runner-up in each of the weekends races, consistency paid reward for the Jabiru driver as race winners Shane Hart and Paul Manteit struck mechanical troubles. Hart claimed pole and commanded the first three race wins without challenge, but was forced to the sidelines when his Jacer suffered oil-system problems during the dummy-grid formation for the final race. Despite the failure, Hart claimed enough points to still finish runner-up for the round. Manteit overcame early weekend troubles with his own new Rapier, winning the final by 0.0014 seconds from Kellaway in a drag-race to the flag.

HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS FROM ROUND 3:
+ QUALIFYING supremacy of the Mick Motors team cars locking out the front-row by 2 seconds. Blistering new qualifying record of 1:25.838 by Shane Hart backed up by Paul Kellaway (1:26.2).

+ Return of David Naish to vee racing after a very long break, return of former FVAQ President David Harrison and his class-leading historic Nimbus and debut of Clinton Leibinger aboard Mike Smith's '08 FVAQ championship winning Gerbert.

+ Volks Engineering's debut of a second Rapier chassis in the QLD championship. The teams turbulent start from Bathurst continued with Paul Manteit's new steed suffering brake and clutch problems in quali and race 1, while Mike Smith almost found the Turn 2 exit wall in quali. Manteit's win in the final race was bitter-sweet reward after a tough weekend.

+ RACE 1, almost-lap-record-pace of Hart, enroute to win by 10 seconds on the SHORT circuit, lapping upto 7th place!

- Clutch and brake troubles for Manteit in race 1, having to start in 3rd gear and falling to last by turn 1, but salvaging a credible 4th...

+ Clutch and brake trouble for Manteit in race 1, allowing 1200cc leader Kent Cross to fight for 4th place with Manteit, only loosing out on the final straight run to the flag!

+ RACE 2. Both Rapiers surviving! It was an anxious moment when the teams pair of cars, running nose-to-tail, almost became scrap-metal as Smith spun through the high-speed Turn 2...

+ RACE 3. 0.0631s separating the Don's after countless passes! The battle for 10th has never been more fiercely contested! For the record, Len beat Alan.

- RACE 4. Hollywood rivaling drama! Pole-sitter Hart suffers oil-system problems on the dummy grid and misses race. 1200cc leader Kent Cross detonates a clutch off-the-line. Smith finds gravel trap more enticing than tarmac.

+ RACE 4. Manteit wins by 0.0014sec from Kellaway! Giant killing performance by David Boulton for an rare outright podium in a 1200! The Don's separated by a massive 0.2s.

- Bob Robert's tumble from the Historic championship lead, suffering two DNF results, but revenge with 6th outright and the historics class win in Race 4.

+ Successful first meetings for David Naish and Clinton Leibinger without any collisions... casting agents for 'Disney on Ice' were impressed though! Well done!

+ Improved 'driving-standards'. Fast circuit, close racing, no damaged cars!

+ Consistency wins. Literally. 2nd in each race rewarded Kellaway with the round win, while Hart delivered 24 laps (of his 30) that were faster than his nearest rivals single best time!


Consistency rewards Paul Kellaway. Mike Smith chases through Turn 1.