SCHOOL'S OUT - RACING'S IN FOR FOSTER

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With his Year 11 mid-year exams now out of the way Queensland teenager Nick Foster can now turn his focus towards round four of the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship at Darwin's Hidden Valley Raceway this weekend.

Foster, who made his debut in the series only days after his 16th birt=day earlier this year, has been on a steep learning curve as he makes the transition from karting into the Formula Ford ranks.

During the opening three rounds he has continually improved and secure= his first championship points in the second round at Wakefield Park aboard the #13 Steeline Metal Framing Systems Van Diemen.

Last month at Sandown, Foster spent the time in between races cramming for his English and Maths exams, however, this round with the exams behind him he can now focus 100% on his racing.

"One of the things Dad always tells me is that schooling always comes first and that if ever my school grades were to drop because of my racing that I would have to take a break from racing, and I don't want that," said Foster.

"So, at Sandown it was a case of combining the two but now I can fully concentrate on racing and continuing to learn in a Formula Ford.

"I feel as though I've made some huge steps forward since my first event at Eastern Creek earlier in the year but there is still a heap more to learn.

"I think my experience in karts will help me this weekend as we'd often go interstate to race without knowing a lot about the track and would have to learn the characteristics pretty quickly."

To assist Foster in learning the circuits that are included in the eight-round championship he has spent a number of hours on a Hyper Stimulator as a part of his training.

"Many people may see the Hyper Stimulator as simply playing video game but it is a real simulator and has taught me a lot about the tracks we race at in the championship," said Foster.

"I think I've already done over 200 laps around the Hidden Valley circuit over the past few weeks, so now it is about using this information for when I get into the car for real this weekend."

Foster will take to the circuit in the #13 Steeline Metal Framing Systems Van Diemen Formula Ford on Friday before contesting qualifying and three 12-lap races across the weekend.

FACTS AND FIGURES ON NICK FOSTER
Age: 16
Born: Brisbane, Queensland
Lives: Daisy Hill, Queensland
Occupation: Student, year 11
Favourite Sports away from racing: Mountain bike riding, surfing and AFL (favourite team ˜ Essendon)

Round One - Eastern Creek, NSW
Qualifying: 22nd
Race 1: 14th
Race 2: 21st
Race 3: 16th

Round Two - Wakefield Park, NSW
Qualifying: 21st
Race 1: 15th
Race 2: 9th
Race 3: DNF

Round Three - Sandown, VIC
Qualifying: 18th
Race 1: 16th
Race 2: DNF
Race 3: 12th

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday July 4
10:00am - 10:20am - Practice 1
12:20pm - 12:40pm - Practice 2

Saturday July 5
9:55am - 10:15am - Qualifying
1:45pm - Race One (12 laps)

Sunday July 6
10:35am - Race Two (12 laps)
2:00pm - Race Three (12 laps)

2008 Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship

Championship Standings after 3 of 8 rounds
1. Paul Laskazeski - 134 points
2. Ben Morley - 88
3. Adam Graham - 82
4. Kristian Lindbom - 76
5. Scott Pye - 70
6. Brad Lowe - 62
7. Nick Percat - 61
8. Daniel Erickson - 56
9. Rob Storey - 46
9 Jake Chapman - 46
17. Nick Foster - 2