Podium place for racer Kyle

Pictured above: Kyle Evans in race action at Winton. Picture Zelin Shu Paddocker Australia

Redcliffe racer Kyle Evans was back on the podium again after a hard-fought second round of the Australian Formula Open (AFO).

The 19-year-old, who won the national series opening round in February, was third overall at Winton Raceway, Victoria over the weekend.

Evans quipped he’s “loving the smell of champagne” but already has his sights on round three at Sydney Motorsport Park on May 24-26.

Driving the Gilmour Racing/KCK Racing Australia 2011 Dallara, Evans arrived at Winton with no Formula 3 experience on the circuit.

But after four practice sessions was on the heels of the more experienced local drivers and was pipped for pole in the final laps of qualifying.

Starting from fourth, Evans “dropped a tyre on the entry of turn four” and spun off and stopped beside a track wall. Fortunately there was no damage to the car.

Having not finished the opening race, he started race two from the back of the grid, but by the end of lap one was fourth.

And when one of the leading cars spun off Evans moved to third where he took the chequered flag as the race ended behind a safety car.

In the feature race, he started third and maintained that position despite a "broken header" (exhaust, making the car less powerful) halfway through the race.

Evans finished third behind Ryan MacMillan and Miles Bromley, the latter winning the round and moving top of the AFO points table.

This is Evans’ first year in the seven-round AFO series after impressing the Gilmour Racing team on his debut at the Phillip Island Grand Prix last November.