Tasmanian Super Prix

The Tasmanian Super Prix is a motor race for open-wheel racing cars eligible to international Formula 3 regulations held at Symmons Plains Raceway, near Launceston in Tasmania. First established in 2006, the race exists in a role to re-establish a signature race for domestic level open wheel racing cars in Australia, a role that has been largely left vacant since 1985 when the Australian Grand Prix became a round of the Formula One World Championship.

Tasmanian Super Prix
Symmons Plains Raceway
Race information
Number of times held4
First held2006
Last held2010
Most wins (drivers)no repeat winners
Most wins (constructors)Dallara (4)
Circuit length2.41 km (1.5 miles)
Race length72.3 km (45 miles)
Laps30
Last race (2010)
Pole position
  • New Zealand Andrew Waite
  • Team BRM
  • 15:43.2671
    (winning Race 2)
Podium
Fastest lap
  • Australia Tom Tweedie
  • Team Tom
  • 0:51.2413

The race was first held in 2006 as the second of two rounds of the Australian Formula 3 championship held over the Symmons Plains round of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships. Originally held over 25 laps (60 km) of the 2.41 kilometre race track it was expanded to 30 laps (72 km) in 2007. The winner is awarded the John Bowe Trophy, named for the Tasmanian racing driver who twice won the Australian Drivers' Championship in 1984 and 1985, before going on to win the Bathurst 1000 in 1989 and 1994, as well as the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1995.

The inaugural Super Prix winner was Michael Trimble leading home Chris Alajajian by three seconds with British racer Ben Clucas finishing third. In 2007 Barton Mawer scored an upset win ahead of Leanne Tander and eventual series champion Tim Macrow. 2008 saw Tander go one better and take the win, but it would not be enough for Tander to defeat British driver James Winslow to the title victory as the final round of the season. Nathan Caratti finished second ahead of Tim Macrow.

The 2009 race was cancelled along with the entire Symmons Plains round of Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships after several support categories withdrew from the meeting removing the meetings financial viability. Formula 3 organisers had vowed that the race would return for the 2010 season and it was allocated to the Hidden Valley round of the 2010 championship and has been held there since. Moved to an early season date, Tom Tweedie won the 2010 race, leading home Team BRM pair of Ben Barker and Andrew Waite.

Winners

Year Date Winning driver Winning car Winning team
2006 9 April Australia Michael Trimble Dallara F304 Astuti Motorsport
2007 2 September Australia Barton Mawer Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel Team BRM
2008 21 September Australia Leanne Tander Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz TanderSport
2009 18 October race cancelled
2010 11 April Australia Tom Tweedie Dallara F304 Sodemo-Renault Team Tom
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