The Australian Formula 4000 Championship began this weekend at Mallala Raceway in South Australia. Paul Trengove, who last year finished the championship equal 2nd in his CPA Australia Reynard, did not have a drive for the 2004 season due to budget constraints.

Friday was 1st practice and Paul was at work when receiving a phone call from Graham Watson, team owner of the Sydney based Ralt Australia Team. 

“I was busy at work when Graham called my mobile and asked me to compete in his team’s second car. It was really out of the blue and was an offer I just couldn’t refuse.”

Trengove quickly left work and arrived at the race circuit only moments before 2nd practice commenced. There was not much time for Paul to get comfortable in the car, but he still was able to set a competitive time while learning the characteristics of the car. 

Saturday qualifying was always going to be tough with Paul having only one session to get used to the circuit conditions and the car. He quickly set the 5th quickest time, but was unable to get a clear lap in during the first half of the session. Then the Hocking Motorsport car of ex International F3000 star Rob Nguyen had a major problem, leaving fluid all through turn 2. After a red flag, Trengove had 3 minutes to post a faster time.

“I did not have a good qualifying session at all. On all 3 of my hot laps in the first half of the session, I was interrupted by other cars spinning off, which caused yellow flags. Finally I had some clear air and I drove hard in my final attempt, but the circuit was so slippery.”

At the conclusion of qualifying Paul pushed hard and set his quickest time of a 1:05.47, good enough for 4th position.

Sunday saw beautiful conditions for race day. Lap times were well down from the previous year due to the support categories such as the Supertrucks causing the track to become greasy. The Formula 4000 cars lined up for Race 1 with the reigning Australian Formula Ford Champion Neil McFadyen on pole, Rob Nguyen 2nd, followed by Ricki Occipinti and Paul Trengove. 

When the lights went green Trengove got a great start off the line, but when changing into 2nd gear the car turned right and nearly forced Paul off the track. Other cars were able to avoid a collision and he was able to still jump to 3rd position. Nguyen’s car again had mechanical problems and was forced out after lap 1, promoting Trengove into 2nd position.

The 2 Ralt Australia cars led the field for much of the race, with McFadyen holding a 3 second lead over Trengove. With around 5 laps remaining, Trengove was starting to reel McFadyen in until a safety car was brought onto the circuit for an accident further back in the field. With a 2 lap dash to finish, Trengove sat right behind McFadyen for the restart and was very close through the first 2 turns. The cars headed for the Southern Loop and McFadyen seemed to break early and Trengove nearly ran into the back of him. Whilst averting an incident, McFadyen was able to get a better run onto the back straight and held the one second lead for the remainder of the race to win the first round of the Australian Formula 4000 Championship with Trengove in 2nd and Occipinti in 3rd.

Race 2 was less eventful. Both Ralt Australia cars held the front row of the gird and at the start they charged towards the first corner with McFadyen just getting ahead. Again he was able to pull a couple seconds lead on cold tyres while Ty Hanger in Paul’s 2003 car was close behind in 3rd.

Trengove chased McFadyen for the whole race and again the 2 Ralt Australia cars pulled a lead on the rest of the field. But it was McFadyen taking the race win and Round win over Trengove with 2nd place and Ty Hanger in 3rd

“I’m very pleased with the way things went this weekend. After not having any testing in the car all year and missing out on first practice, I think I’ve done fairly well to finish 2nd on the day.”

Round 2 of the Championship heads to Winton Raceway in Victoria. However Paul is still without a sponsor and is unlikely to take part in what is set to be a fantastic championship, with the category also racing in Asia later in the year.

Paul will be trying his hardest to find a sponsor for the season, after being offered the drive for the rest of the Championship with Ralt Australia.

Australian Drivers Championship (after 1 of 5 rounds)

1. McFayden 40
2. Trengove 30
=3.Hanger 22
=3 Occhipinti 22
.