30th August 2004

Rounds 19 and 20 of the British Formula Three Championship at Thruxton proved a struggle for Will Power and the Alan Docking Racing team.ÿ Will went into the meeting feeling confident after a fairly successful test day in the wet on Friday, finishing fourth fastest without a new tyre run.ÿ However, after a day off on Saturday, Sunday Qualifying was predominantly dry and they found themselves very much off the pace for the first time this season.

Will qualified 13th and 12th in the two sessions and although they were working hard to improve the car it wasn’t until the second race before they found a good set-up.

Will made his way up to 10th and held his position throughout race one salvaging a point from the otherwise disappointing meeting.ÿ Qualifying back in the field meant chaos on the first lap in race two and Will found himself with half a front wing.ÿ Will managed to finish the race after a pit-stop for a new wing but his stop meant he finished down on laps.

“We were behind after the test day, not having got a good set-up for the dry so unfortunately, we struggled for the rest of the weekend.ÿ Starting down the grid always has the possibility of danger and in race two I didn’t managed to avoid it.” Explained Will.

“It is the only meeting so far this season where we have been off the pace so I am sure we will be stronger going into the next round at Spa.ÿ It’s just one of those meetings where if we started again today, we would be on it straight away.” Said Will.

On a more positive note, Paul Stoddart has recently confirmed that Will’s test with the Minardi Formula One Team will take place in Italy in the first week of November.ÿ (More details will follow shortly.)ÿ

Will is also in the process of organising tests with F3000 teams who are planning to make the jump to the new GP2 category next season.ÿ The plan is for GP2 to take over the current FIA F3000 series and travel alongside Formula One next year as F3000 do now.

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15th August 2004

After a string of unfortunate incidences, mechanical and on-track, Australian Will Power and Silverstone based team, Alan Docking Racing, stepped back into form this weekend when two solid qualifying results paved the way for two points paying finishes at rounds 17 and 18 of the British F3 Championship.

Will was second fastest in each of the two practice sessions, one wet, one dry, on Thursday so was confident going into Qualifying on Friday morning. (Session three, Will was fastest but it was rained out early on).

Only having one or two laps to place a time meant that Will had to get his lap in perfectly and then pit, hoping no-one could better it.ÿ Will was fastest for the majority of qualifying one with a time of 1 min 42.870 but was demoted down to fourth in the late stages of the session, still a strong starting position from row two on the grid.

Session two was much the same, the number 10 car putting in the fastest time early on.ÿ Will was on provisional pole with a time of 1 min 43.611, which again held for most of the session.ÿ When pitted Will's time was soon bettered, and he was not able to retaliate, the session closed with Will in a solid 6th place.

Returning to the track on Sunday after enjoying a free Saturday, the British F3 cars were to grid up on a dry track ready for round 17 of the Championship.ÿ Will didn't get the best start from the second row and lost a place to Danny Watts who soon made his way into third. Eager to gain back his lost place Will made an awesome move up the inside of Adam Carroll for fourth place at Brooklands corner and although the top five places continued to battle (Will gaining on third place in the closing stages) the positions remained fixed and Will crossed the line in fourth and with a welcome bundle of points to boot.

As the F3 cars were pushed into the pre-race area, drops of rain began to fall on the Silverstone circuit causing a scramble in the pit lane for wet weather tyres. Uncertainty overshadowed the formation and green flag laps due to the still ominous looking sky, all but one driver, fellow Aussie Marcus Marshall, electing to start on Wets.

Powering away at the start, Will moved up to 3rd place and was in a fierce battle with Rob Austin for second, swapping places and fighting a clean battle when they found themselves on a near dry track.ÿ Two other cars who qualified further back had gambled to come into pits during the start, Danilo Dirani and Alvaro Parente risked the change to slick tyres and the demotion of a pit-stop early on.ÿ Though the changes seemed to be paying off – Marcus Marshall was soon breezing though the field and the two others on slick tyres had been a lap down but were now not far behind.ÿ Rather than battling each other the race leaders were battling to stay on the track as eventually the three slick–tyred cars moved to the lead finishing the race in a shock 1st, 2nd and 3rd.ÿ Will crossed the line in 6th place, third out of those on wets.

"It's always a gamble when there is rain before a race start – wet or dry tyres? Unfortunately, we made the wrong choice this time, as did the majority of the field." Explained Will.ÿ

"It's a pity as you do feel robbed knowing that you were battling for second and that there is nothing you can do about being passed even though you have a quick car – I would like to have had the podium and points I was working towards, but as I said, it is a risk you take."

"I am happy with the finishes though, I haven't had much luck in the last couple of races even though I have been qualifying consistently, so it is good to have some points to walk away with this weekend."ÿ Consolidated Will.

The next round of the Championship is in two weeks time at the Thruxton circuit where will gained his first podium position of his British F3 career – 2nd place, last year.

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