MATTHEW PENROSE THE FORMULA FORD SURPRISE AT MANFEILD
Predictions that the established points leaders could be threatened by the persuing group of hard chargers came to fruition at Manfeild Park over the weekend during the Round 6 of the 2009 MTA Formula Ford Championship. Rangiora driver Matthew Penrose shocked racing pundits when he took the overall round honours with two seconds and a fifth placing. Championship points leader Richie Stanaway (Tauranga) took 2nd place overall with a mixed weekend while Invercargill’s Damon Leitch completed the podium through sheer perseverance despite encountering setbacks.
Saturday qualifying was held in wet conditions after a deluge fell earlier in the morning but it was Mitch Evans (Auckland) who dominated proceedings to take pole position by 0.220 secs from Stanaway. Stefan Webling (Oakura) was a further 0.547 back with another 0.905 secs to the ever impressive Matthew Penrose (Rangiora) in the first of the pre-1993 cars. Simon Evans (Auckland) and Leitch completed the top six while Martin Short (Hamilton)and Wellington’s 15 year old sensation Jamie McNee (Wellington) suffered on-track misfortunes to finish 7th and 9th either side of Barry Sullivan (Nelson) who was in 8th.
At the start of Race 1 (10 laps), Mitch Evans and Stanaway perfectly judged their wheelspin in the waterlogged conditions and opened an immediate gap on the rest of the field. Behind them a furious battle developed between Webling, Simon Evans, Penrose and McNee with Sullivan close behind. The race leaders settled into a pattern with Evans holding a small lead over Stanaway but cruel luck saw the leader retire in the closing stages as a result of a broken oil pump bolt thus leaving Stanaway to savor another race victory.
Major interest in the race, however, was centered on the battle for second which eventually to Penrose ahead of Simon Evans and McNee who recovered well from contact with Webling. Sullivan came home 5th ahead of Leitch and Webling who both suffered excursions during the race. Unfortunately Short was unable to take the start owing to technical problems resulting from his qualifying dramas.
Sunday morning’s Race 2 (10 laps) was in direct contrast to Race 1 being held in dry sunny conditions under a clearing sky. Mitch Evans and Stanaway again led away from the start but a tight squeeze into Turn 1 saw Stanaway spin to rejoin at the rear of the field. The resulting chaos saw Webling seize the opportunity to cut through for the lead he was to hold for several laps until being overwhelmed by Evans under braking for the final corner.
The battle for third resulted in Leitch breaking away for a comfortable 3rd ahead of the dicing Short, Penrose and Simon Evans. Stanaway recovered to take valuable points for 7th ahead of the hard charging Sullivan. The major disappointment of the race was the non-start of McNee who suffered a front wheel malfunction beforehand.
Race 3 (15 laps) was an action packed affair as Mitch Evans, Stefan Webling and Martin Short battled for the lead after Webling led away from pole position owing to his fastest lap time in Race 2. Around mid-distance, Evans held an unassailable lead as Webling and Short tangled dropping them down he order allowing Matthew Penrose up into 2nd.
What effectively became a fight for 3rd between Damon Leitch, Simon Evans, Richie Stanaway and Jamie McNee saw both Leitch and NcNee take excursions but recover to continue. Eventually, Leitch fought back to take 3rd ahead of Evans, Stanaway, McNee, and Sullivan with Short and Webling following some distance behind. Evans race victory was made all the better as he was awarded the Morrie Smith Memorial Trophy named in memory of the father of racing legend Ken Smith.
The final round of the Championship will take place at Pukekohe Park Raceway, near Auckland, on March 15th and 16th.
Welington’s Jamie McNee did not have a good run at Manfeild but has proved a sensation of the season
Photo: Graham Blow of SportProMedia
Championship Points After Round 7:
Richie Stanaway (Tauranga) 1073; Mitchell Evans (Auckland) 976; Stefan Webling (Oakura) 939; Jamie McNee (Wellington) 863; Matthew Penrose (Rangiora) 825; Damon Leitch (Invercargill) 820; Simon Evans (Auckland) 804; Martin Short (Hamilton) 768; Brett Sullivan (Nelson) 561; Chris Cox (Rangiora) 552; Matt Williams (Christchurch) 312; Nick Donaldson (Christchurch) 291; Stephen Heffernen (Invercargill) 229; Clara Bond (Christchurch) 214; Kerry Ross (Tauranga) 185; Kim Crocker (Tauranga) 154; Ken Smith (Auckland) 111; Daniel Jilesen (Taumarunui) 96; Henry Thomas-Kircher (Taumarunui) 65.
END.
For Further Media Information Contact:
Kevin Lancaster
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Ph. 021 627 824 (mobile)
Email: kevlancs@xtra.co.nz
