LEITCH WINS
Invercargill driver Damon Leitch broke through to take his first round win in the MTA Formula Ford Championship with an outstanding performance at his home circuit Teretonga Park this weekend.
After almost gaining his first race win of the series on Saturday evening when he crossed the line just .007 of a second behind championship leader Richie Stanaway of Tauranga he took his maiden victory on Sunday morning in the Zero Fees Stealth after a torrid battle. He then looked on target for another win in the third and final race on Sunday afternoon but the car was set up for a wet track and as it dried the handling deteriorated. However Damon still finished second in the race, the result more than enough to secure his first round victory.
All three races featured fantastic battles and the 16-year-old Southlander was in the thick of it.
"It was an excellent weekend," said the rising star after sealing the round win. "It was really close but we came out on top. It was great to do it in front of a home crowd. I was definitely hoping for it."
After competing in Class 2 last year Leitch is still classified as a rookie in the championship making the round win even more meritorious. "It's good to get that first win over and done with," he said. Talking of the final race Leitch said, "the car's handling was going off. It was set up for rain and as it got drier the car wasn't handling very well."
This was the young driver's second visit to the podium in the series. At Pukekohe in November he finished third overall for the round, missing second place by one point. At several other rounds his challenge has been blunted by mechanical and handling problems.
After qualifying fourth fastest this weekend, just .141 of a second off the pole position time the Southlander became involved in a frantic dice in the first race as he worked his way into second place. On the final lap he ducked out of the slipstream of Stanaway on the drag to the line, missing victory by the barest of margins.
In Sunday morning's race he made a good start from fourth on the grid and again drove impressively to be challenging for the lead. A nice pass on the outside of the loop saw him into the lead and ahead of Stanaway who became increasingly ragged as he tried to stay with the Zero Fees Stealth. Stanaway eventually went off the circuit and despite pressure from Wellington driver Jamie McNee and Mitch Evans of Auckland it was Leitch who took the win. His joy was evident as he put his arm in the in the air as he crossed the line.
In the third race Leitch got away in fourth place before drafting past McNee at the end of the second lap. He was soon into the lead and opened a healthy margin before the performance of the car fell away as the track dried. Evans was able to get past but Damon followed him home, safe in the knowledge the round victory was his.
The next round of the MTA Formula Ford Championship takes place at Manfeild Park in Feilding from 27 February to 1 March.
Damon's campaign in the 2008/2009 MTA Formula Ford Championship is supported by Zero Fees, EH Ball ITM Building Supplies, Ray White Real Estate,Toll Tranz Link, BNT, Kingsford-Smith Motor Painting Ltd, Advantage Advertising, Caltex Invercargill Oil Shop, Turntru Machining, Discount Tyres, PPG, Trade Tools, Teng Tools, Collingwood Foodcentre, Macaulay Ford, Courtesy Ford South Auckland, Howard Anderson Upholstery, Laker House Of Travel, Print & Copy, Office Shop, the Bell Booth Group, C&G Rothbury, Steve Rhodes Feature Cars, McIntyre Dick & Partners and Leitch Motorsport.
Round winner, 16-year-old Damon Leitch of Invercargill, in the Zero Fees Stealth at Teretonga Park during Round 5 of the 2008/2009 MTA Formula Ford Championship this weekend
Photo: SportProMedia.com
