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JAKE CAMILLERI and the Grand Prix Mazda team are on the hunt for a hat trick of outright round podiums and third in the 2009 overall standings, as the Australian Manufacturers Championship winds up at Sandown International Raceway next weekend.
After bouncing back from an incident packed round at Eastern Creek in July, Camilleri took second outright at his home event at Morgan Park Raceway in August, and followed that top result with third overall at Oran Park.
Although Camilleri has easily accounted for the competition in Class B, retaining his title from 2008 prior to the season finale, outright success drives the team, with the Mazda 3 MPS continuing to punch well above its weight.
In the outright Australian Manufacturers Championship, Camilleri sits a mere three points off third placed Rod Salmon and 20 points off second placed Lee Castle.
Recent testing for the team at Queensland Raceway has put the team in top stead before the title decider.
“I really can’t wait for Sandown,” said Camilleri.
“The circuit probably doesn’t suit our little car as much as some of the other tracks, but we don’t care, we just want to get out there and race.
“The Mazda 3 MPS is exceptionally good around the tight sections the track, especially the areas where we can use a lot of kerb, and if it rains, it will really work in our advantage.
“After the test at Queensland Raceway we are probably a bit ahead of our expectations, so the preparation has been really good, bring it on!”
Team manager Joseph Camilleri has been working hard behind the scenes, ensuring that development of the car has continued since the previous championship round at Oran Park in late August.
“Sandown requires a totally different set up to Oran Park, and I think the test session has proven that we are on the right track,” said Joseph.
“Like a lot of the other competitors, we will be using the weekend as the starting point for our Bathurst preparations, with the longer races a good test of the machinery.
“We are really looking for some more outright success, and if we make the most of our opportunities, it would be great to be in the overall top three for the season.”
The weekend features a pair of one hour long races, where a handicap starting sequence will be utilised, which could work strongly for the Class B competitors.
Grand Prix Mazda Racing would like to thank Castrol, Esanda, Allianz and All Star Tuning Systems for their continued support.
Australian Manufacturers Championship
Weekend Timetable
Friday 27 November
10:20am Practice 1- 20 minutes
12:40pm Practice 2- 20 minutes
3:00pm Practice 3- 20 minutes
Saturday 28 November
11:05am Practice 4- 20 minutes
1:10pm Qualifying- 30 minutes
4:15pm Race 1- 1 hour
Sunday 29 November
11:05am Warm Up- 10 minutes
4:05pm Race 2- 1 hour
John Bowe Drivers Award -after 4 of 5 rounds
1. Lee Castle - Subaru WRX Sti - 266 points
2. Rod Salmon - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 - 248 points
3. Garry Holt - BMW 335i - 224 points
4. Jake Camilleri - Mazda 3 MPS - 172 points
5. Steve Glenney - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 - 162 points
Australian Manufacturers Championship
1. Garry Holt - 302 points
2. Lee Castle - 278 points
3. Rod Salmon - 261 points
4. Jake Camilleri - 261 points
5. Colin Osborne - Toyota Celica - 225 points
Class B Championship
1. Jake Camilleri - 294 points
2. Peter O'Donnell - 204 points
3. Jeremy Gray - 150 points
4. Matt Brady - 78 points
5. David Ryan - 68 points
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