Lead extended at Winton with fifth Foster win if '09 (28/6/2009 at 9:04:26 AM) TEAM BRM driver Joey Foster has extended his lead at the top of the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship after a competitive weekend at Winton Raceway in Victoria. Racing at the Victorian circuit for the first time in four years, Team BRM entered the round having prior form at the circuit – 2004 champion Karl Reindler having been in a position to win at the circuit before an ‘unfortunate’ drive though penalty cost him the success. With Joey Foster taking win number five for the season at the weekend, and finishing a close second in race one as well; it’s fair to say that the team returned to the track in impressive fashion. Foster qualified second for race one and took another pole position – his fifth of the year – in Qualifying two before he went on to wage an epic battle with Macrow for the race one win. The pair was never split by a margin lager than a second with Foster finishing in the same place he started at the nearly impossible-to-pass circuit north of Melbourne, in one of the best races of the season. In the second race Foster made a strong start and leaped to a lead that he would never cede, fending off pressure from Macrow over the 14 lap duration to record a win and extend his championship margin. As a result he now takes a 20-point buffer into round five, to be held at Sydney’s Eastern Creek raceway – a track where Team BRM was utterly dominant at in 2008. “It was a very tough weekend because it’s so hard to pass at Winton, but overall it was a great one,” Foster said. “Race one was so tough, a really good fight with Macrow and just a matter of me putting as much pressure on him as I could to try and force him into a mistake, which unfortunately for me never came. "In race two I got a good start and I was able to hold Tim off to take the win, which was fantastic. They were two great races and very good for our points situation overall which is pleasing for the championship. “I can’t wait to get to Eastern Creek,” Foster said. “Team BRM were dominant there so I’m obviously hoping that can continue this year!” Team BRM manager Mark Rundle said that the team carried strong form into one of their strongest tracks. “It was a good weekend and the team keeps getting the car better and better, and Joey keeps doing a better and better job behind the wheel as well,” Rundle said. “As a team we’re very happy to be 20 points ahead but we know that it’s still very close and that it’s going to be a good fight for the rest of the year, however we’re looking forward to Eastern Creek where Nathan (Caratti) and James (Winslow) were very fast last year.” The Eastern Creek round will be held between June 17 – 19.