CHE Racing Formula Ford driver Lachlan Mineeff has rated the weekend’s third round of the Australian Formula Ford Championship at Winton as an exercise in damage limitation, finishing eighth overall with mixed results across the three races.
Winton Raceway’s notoriously changeable track conditions made Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions a challenge for Mineeff and the team, and he slotted into 13th on the grid for Saturday’s opening race.
A rain shower moistened the circuit for Race 1, Mineeff finding his Purple Sector Racing Mygale was well-suited to the low-grip surface, and he charged to sixth.
The conditions were drier for Races 2 and 3, and Mineeff was shuffled back in the typically cut-throat mid-pack battles, finishing seventh in Race 2 and ninth in Race 3.
“We started on the back foot on Friday, and didn’t quite find the right setup for qualifying,” Mineeff said.
“Race 1 was good – the car was strong in the wet and I had the confidence to pass quite a few cars.
“We knew the conditions were probably going to improve for Sunday, so we kept working on our dry setup and it was definitely an improvement. I didn’t maximise its performance in Race 2, and then I struggled with some of the mid-pack traffic in Race 3.”
Mineeff admitted Winton was always going to be a tough round for the NSW-based CHE Racing outfit, against Victorian teams with a wealth of experience at the venue.
“I’m not making excuses, but we were up against drivers and teams who had completed a lot of laps around Winton, and had a much better idea of what to expect with track conditions,” Mineeff said.
“I’m looking forward to the next round at Tailem Bend, which will be a more level playing field.”
Round 4 of the Australian Formula Ford Championship will be held at The Bend Motorsport Park as part of the Australian Motor Racing Series, 21-23 June.
Lachlan Mineeff is proudly sponsored by:
Purple Sector
Southern Star Truck Centre
Granger Design
Solo-Werks Suspension Systems
Race Stars
Round Results Summary
Qualifying: 13th
Race 1: 6th
Race 2: 7th
Race 3: 9th
Overall: 8th
Top 10 Points – After Round 3
1. Angelo Mouzouris – 131
2. Callum Hedge – 122
3. Tom Sargent – 117
4. Zac Soutar – 104
5. Cody Burcher – 92
6. Jay Hanson – 82
7. Lachlan Mineeff – 77
=8. Courtney Prince – 72
=8. Cody Donald – 72
=10. Liam McLellan – 68
=10. Jake Donaldson – 68
