Nick Foster gets maiden Formula Ford podium with second at Albert Park

Nick Foster in action at the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne

Nick Foster has scored his maiden Formula Ford podium result with second place in the opening round of the Ford Genuine Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship in Melbourne, Victoria today.

The opening round of the 2010 season, held at the Formula 1 Qantas Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, was a successful outing for the Queenslander in his first event with the crack Sonic Motor Racing Services team.

Foster qualified in fifth position aboard his #13 Steeline Mygale SJ10a before turning in a strong drive in the opening race of the weekend on Saturday to move up the order and finish in second place behind long-time karting rival Chaz Mostert.

Foster dropped to third at the start of the second race of the weekend on Sunday and just as he set out to chase down Sonic team-mate Ryan Simpson and Mostert, the race was red flagged due to a sizeable crash at the Turn 3 hairpin, with the race declared a non-event and round results based off of Saturday’s event.

The next round of the 2010 Ford Genuine Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship will be held on April 30-May 2 at Queensland Raceway in Ipswich, Queensland.

WHAT NICK HAD TO SAY …

NICK FOSTER – #13 Steeline Mygale SJ10a:

“This is a good way to start the year,” said Nick Foster.

“We’ve got the team that can keep us at the front all year so we just have to keep plodding along and picking up the championship points and see where we are in a couple of rounds time.

“For this round it’s really good to be at the front. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get to complete our second race. I did get a poor start in that second race.

“Poor qualifying put me on the back foot a little bit for the weekend but we know we have the pace and maybe we can show that next round with a win, but the main thing is that we just need to stay consistent.

“I think that Chaz (Mostert) and I both had our first ever race meeting in go karts together and here we are, 12 years on, first and second in Formula Ford at the Australian Grand Prix.

“It’s funny how we have stayed together, racing against each other this whole time. He’s a good driver and a fair driver too and we’ll see how the championship plays out. We will try to get one on him next time.

“It’s nice to be racing at an event where we are supporting elite classes like V8 Supercars and Formula 1.

“I was standing on the podium and I looked down and I could see Michael Schumacher. It’s nice to be racing at this event and to do well and get to stand on the podium in front of this massive crowd.”

2010 Ford Genuine Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship
Championship Standings After Round 1 of 8
1. Chaz Mostert 21
2. Nick Foster 16
3. Ryan Simpson 14
4. Ashley Walsh 12
5. Nathan Morcom 10
6. Adam Graham 8
7. Geoff Uhrhane 6
8. Andre Borell 4
9. Jack LeBrocq 2
10. Garry Jacobson 1

RESULTS: Race One
1. #15 Chaz Mostert 13 laps
2. #13 Nick Foster
3. #16 Ryan Simpson
4. #45 Ashley Walsh
5. #71 Nathan Morcom
6. #6 Adam Graham
7. #2 Geoff Uhrhane
8. #5 Andre Borell
9. #49 Jack LeBrocq
10. #55 Garry Jacobson

RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #15 Chaz Mostert 2:04.4693
2. #6 Adam Graham 2:04.8377
3. #16 Ryan Simpson 2:05.0022
4. #2 Geoff Uhrhane 2:05.0424
5. #13 Nick Foster 2:05.0820
6. #5 Andre Borell 2:05.5916
7. #31 Martin Short 2:05.6177
8. #71 Nathan Morcom 2:05.6990
9. #45 Ashley Walsh 2:05.7105
10. #76 Ben Jurczak 2:06.2264