Barton returns to Australian Formula 3

Barton has made an unexpected return to the Australian Formula 3 championship by racing at round 6 at Phillip Island on the 11/12 August.

The deal came about late with the Opes Prime team expanding to a two car entry in the championship alongside Englishman James Winslow. The growing team is proving a force to be reckoned with not only in Australian F3 but also in other categories. In a positive twist of fate Barton is racing in the very car that took him to pole and 2 commanding victories at the 2005 Australian Grand Prix F3 support races.

“I was asked by Opes Prime if I would like to do the final 3 rounds of the championship and I jumped at it like a flash! With not much racing happening for me at the moment this opportunity has been very good timing”

Returning to Phillip Island for the first time since his victory there in 2003 Barton was excited to be running on Australia 's fastest circuit.

Friday Practice

Barton ended the second practice second fastest and only 7 hundredths off the fastest time. The team were very happy with the speed and it was a great comeback for Barton.

Saturday Qualifying 1

The heavens opened up on Saturday and qualifying was always going to be difficult for the teams to pick a set up for with the changing conditions. Barton was on pole at the mid point of the session before a few laps passing slower cars meant he missed the prime time of the circuit as another rain shower came before the session was over leaving Barton in 4 th .

Qualifying 2

This session was cancelled due to extreme wet conditions.

Sunday Race 1- 14 laps

Race day proved just as chaotic with the weather as Saturday was. The team decided to start the race with a full wet set up as the circuit was wet with clouds imminent all around. Barton got up to 3 rd and was challenging for second from Macrow after a safety car restart. As the circuit was drying quickly however Barton's front tyres were destroyed causing sever understeer which prompted slipping off the circuit briefly at Siberia and falling to 5 th by the chequered flag.

 Race 2- 14 laps

This race was very wet however Barton was confident of a strong result as he had proven his speed in the wet. While running in 5 th there was an early safety car. Barton was winding up for a cracker of a restart to pass eventual winner Tander when he experienced a big snap oversteer slide which meant he ran off the circuit coming onto the straight flat out in 5 th gear. He slid off the circuit and was bogged in the deep water and mud. It was a disappointing and dirty way to end the weekend.

“Our final results are definitely not what we came here for. But we showed our speed and I am just so happy to be back racing again”

The delayed telecast will be shown on Speedweek on SBS in the coming weeks. Stay posted for dates and time.

The next round of the Australian Formula 3 championship is at Symmons Plains on 1/2 September. Barton is already looking forward to that race and you can be sure he will be back up the front battling for the lead.