The car that took Nelson Piquet Jnr to British Formula 3 championship success in 2004, made a special TV appearance in Australia this weekend as part of a Formula 3 promotion to increase awareness for the country’s leading open-wheel category.

Former Australian Formula Ford champion and current V8 Supercar star Cameron McConville suited up at the official test day at Sydney’s Oran Park last week, turning in some stunning laps in the immaculate Trans-West Racing Neil Brown Engineering Mugen Honda powered Dallara F304 in his role as an expert commentator for the high-rating Channel Ten ‘RPM’ motorsport program.

Purchased direct from Piquet Sports at the end of it’s British Championship tenure, the F304 has been campaigned in Australia in past seasons by former CIK karting star Mathew Sofi, the Sydney native recording a sixth in his first full F3 campaign in 2007, prior to stepping up to a former Carlin Motorsport F307 for the 2008 season - Australia, like many ‘regional’ series’ campaigning the previously homologated models, in contrast to the new 2008 machinery used in both the British and European Championships.

“What a buzz,” McConville beamed afterwards, “that was fantastic, I want one!” The V8 Supercar regular was no slouch either, despite it being ten years since he last drove a Formula 3 car (for Alan Docking during a test in the UK), he was quickly on the money, lapping within four seconds of the experienced stars in their F307s.

A typical racer, McConville was quick to adapt and ready to turn in some serious laps, but had to remind himself that he was there to do a job in his role as a commentator for ‘RPM’. As the network’s expert Formula One commentator, McConville and co-anchor Greg Rust were keen to get to the bottom of the acknowledged F1 ‘feeder’ category, and provide McConville with some current experience behind the wheel of a ‘wings and slicks’ car more reliant on aerodynamic and mechanical grip.

“These things are so much different to the Supercar that I drive every weekend, so I had to remember that I could rely more heavily on the grip and the car. I got faster with each session, and would have loved the chance to go quicker, but I was here for a reason, and I didn’t want to make myself look like a clown in front of millions of viewers across the world by having a lose..”
Testament to McConville’s speed was his best lap, a time that would have put him almost two seconds clear of the V8 Supercar pole position time for the same venue in 2007, despite lacking some 420 horsepower on the popular saloon-based cars.

For Piquet fans though there is also some good news about the car. Once it has completed it’s tenure of commitments as the ‘second’ car in the Trans-West Formula 3 stable, team-boss Sam Sofi has confirmed that it will be returned to it’s former guise in identical livery to that which Piquet won the British Championship, and he is also searching for the original engine to ensure its complete authenticity.

“I’ve always been a fan of keeping my equipment as pristine and original as possible,” Sofi agreed. “And this car has a history and heritage that should be restored. It has no real sentimental value to me, so it will be up for sale once restored..”

Apart from it’s mechanical history, much of the data that was produced by the car during that championship season is available with the car.

“Everything that we have for that car will be sold along with it, and that includes some pretty amazing historical data..”

Trans-West Racing are proudly supported by; Total Developments, E-Steel, Trans-West Insurance Brokers, Beaver Sales, Gemelle Ristorante Italiano, Enterprise Financial Solutions, Luton Smash Repairs and Performance Friction.