MTA NEW ZEALAND FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP

FORMULA FORD DRIVERS READY FOR BATTLE AT TAUPO

The 2008/09 New Zealand Motor Racing Championship Series is about to get under way for the new season with Round 1 being held at Taupo Motorsport Park this weekend. Once again, one of the closest fought and most enduring and exciting classes, the MTA Formula Ford Championship, will form part of the Series.

The last season of Formula Ford will be remembered by racing fans for an incredibly hard fought Championship battle which went down to the wire only to be resolved at the final race of the final round. Dunedin’s John Whelan was the eventual victor but was he chased all the way by Caine Lobb (Christchurch), Andrew Waite (Auckland), Stefan Webling (Oakura) and Alastair Wootten (Auckland). None of these drivers was in any way dominant as they all shared race wins and their fair share of drama as the pressure proved relentless over the seven rounds and 21 races.

Unfortunately, most of the above drivers have taken opportunities to move on to other classes of racing although Webling will return as favourite to take this season’s title. In fact the top Rookie’s debut season was so impressive, he was awarded the MTA Scholarship and has been signed as Junior Driver for top Porsche GT3 outfit Triple X Motorsport. However, Webling cannot expect to have things his own way as other young chargers from last season are returning having established worthy reputations. Of these we can expect Simon Evans (Auckland), Jamie McNee (Wellington), Damon Leitch (Invercargill), Martin Short (Hamilton) and Matthew Penrose (Christchurch) to be the most formidable.

Evans actually stunned racing fans last year by taking out his debut race win at Round 2 and will be joined by his impressive younger brother Mitch who has been promoted up from the Formula First Series. Interest will also surround Short who will campaign an all new Mygale car making its New Zealand Formula Ford debut with debutant team-mate, Richie Stanaway (Tauranga).

The season will also be notable for the return of veteran Formula Ford racer Kim Crocker (Tauranga) who will use all his experience and cunning to test the young guns at every opportunity. Another veteran contesting the opening round will be the incomparable Kenny Smith (Auckland) who has celebrated over 50 years in motor racing and will be competing at Taupo in just a one off appearance.

This weekend’s opening round will commence with Qualifying on Saturday morning with Race 1 in the afternoon followed by Races 2 and 3 to be held on Sunday.

 

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For Further Media Information Contact:

Kevin Lancaster

Ph. 09 627 8219 (Home)

Ph. 021 627 824 (mobile)

Email: kevlancs@xtra.co.nz