The Australian Formula 3 Drivers Championship has thrown its support behind the upcoming Kumho's Pink Fitters Day to raise money for the McGrath Foundation by staging a pink podium at Bathurst's Mt Panorama.

The podium saw winner Chris Anthony, runner up Ben Gersekowski, third placed Simon Hodge, national class winner Chelsea Angelo and Kumho Cup winner Roland Legge sporting the same hot pink shirts that more than 1000 tyre dealers around the country will also be wearing on Friday 2nd May.

Formula 3 hopes to raise awareness of the fundraising efforts Kumho has planned on the day to support of the work the McGrath Foundation does.

In addition, South Australian Simon Hodge stunned the crowd by shattering the lap record set yesterday with a staggering time of 2m02.6701s on the final lap of the race.

Hodge's stunning lap adds to the outright lap record he claimed at the opening round in Adelaide in March.

"I honestly didn't expect it!" he said.

"Our pace was building throughout the race and I was trying to chase the guys down in front, but then I dropped off a little bit from their tails and that gave me the clean air I needed to press as hard as I could.

"As the car got better the lap times dropped and to see that time on the dash, as I crossed the line and got the checkered flag, was an amazing feeling."

Hodge's feat is even more considerable given his Dallara Mercedes Benz had gear box troubles through the race.

"I couldn't select gear properly in some parts of the track so there is definitely more time to be found," Hodge said.

"There is no such thing as a perfect lap around here but this one felt pretty awesome."

Formula 3 uses a specially designed Kumho Ecsta racing tyre and is the only 'wings and slicks' category in Australia.

A naturally 2.0 litre motor with more than 230 horsepower powers the open wheelers and exalts the importance of handling and grip over brute horsepower.

The category holds the outright lap record at Mt Panorama, Adelaide's Parklands street circuit, Wakefield Park and Morgan Park.

Ben Gersekowksi holds a mere one point lead lead over Simon Hodge as the championship heads to Darwin for round four 20-22 June.

Since its inception in 1960, Kumho Tyres has been a model of steady growth amid dramatic changes of business landscape. Driven by innovation in management and technical development Kumho has become one of the top ten tyre companies in the world.

Over the past half-century Kumho Tyres has built the foundation for a sustainable company, which has thrived through a full range of business environments.

Kumho has succeeded in the development of superior tyres for all vehicles including high performance, passenger, sports utility and recreational vehicles, as well as light trucks, heavy truck and buses, industrial, agricultural, mining and construction vehicles as well as aircraft.

Kumho produces more than 68 million tyres annually with a massive research and development program which comprises more than 600 research personnel and 300 testing machines at proving grounds in South Korea, China, Europe and North America, Kumho leads the world with the latest in tyre technology, safety and performance. In Australia Kumho markets an extensive range of tyres for cars, 4WD's, light commercials, trucks and buses with a network centred around five state locations with the ability to distribute tyres to retailers across all areas of Australia.

For further media information contact:

Tom Worsley
Thomson PR
Ph 0400 454 731
tom@thomsonpr.com.au