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A strong weekend at Symmons Plains


Samantha Reid has this weekend given a true indication of her performance potential after a strong showing at this weekend’s penultimate round of the Australian Formula Ford Championship, at Symmons Plains raceway.

On a completely level playing field for the first time this season, Reid scored her best ever results at this weekend’s event in Tasmania, lifting her spirits after a tough first half of the championship season and an equally tough home round at Mallala two months ago.

The 19-year-old South Australian driver scored her best ever Formula Ford result in today’s second race at the short Symmons Plains circuit, finishing seventh in wet/dry conditions this morning.

That result backed up a top ten finish scored in the first race, Reid able to race with the leading contenders in the championship thanks to the fact no team or driver had an advantage due to testing restrictions – that helped to level the playing field - at the circuit just outside of Launceston.

A lack of budget to test this season has been the only thing holding the determined driver back from running with the leaders this year.

The weekend started strongly with Reid qualifying 11th in a close session, just seven-tenths of a second outside of the front row.

The first 15-lap race went strongly, Reid making progress towards the front of the field to sit 8th with just a few laps remaining. Unfortunately, another competitor tagged the BMS Motorsport Van Diemen from behind at the notorious Symmons Plains hairpin, dropping the #42 car to 10th at the finish.

Race two was where the most progress was made, Samantha leaping to eighth in the first lap before moving into her finishing position of seventh two laps later.

This afternoon’s third and final race didn’t go quite to plan, however, difficult circuit conditions and worn rubber costing Reid a top ten position – eventually scoring 11th at the line.

“I’m generally fairly happy with the weekend, we were strong from the outset and really able to race with the leading group this weekend,” Samy said after the final race today.

“We were running eighth in the first race and things were going really well, unfortunately I just got tagged at the hairpin from behind which spun us around.

“The second race this morning was really good. I was able to make some good progress forward and I had a great dice with a couple of people. I couldn’t break away because of the slipstream but it was a good result.

“I was a bit disappointed that we couldn’t actually get any higher but I kept the car on track and was able to bring it home without getting it dirty, which is a good thing here today!” she said.

“Unfortunately we killed two front Tyres this weekend, one in an incident and one with a fault, so the car certainly wasn’t at its best in the final race.

“We didn’t have an ideal wet / dry setup and pulling the car up was pretty difficult.

“But it’s been a pretty good weekend and I think we now have a bit more confidence for the final round at Phillip Island.” She added.

The results today add to Reid’s championship point score, and elevate her further up the order in her rookie season contesting the national Formula Ford championship.

Samy Reid’s final round of the season will be in early December, at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in Victoria.

Published: 2006-11-12 00:00:00

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