The opening round of the 2008/09 MTA New Zealand Formula Ford Championship has sprung some major surprises with the usual action packed close racing resulting in a points table nobody predicted. While most of the returning drivers from last season featured prominently, it was the performance of 14 year old rookie Mitchell Evans that captured the attention with two race wins from three races to lead the Series on points.

Saturday morning’s qualifying was the first indication that race fans were in for a spectacle as last season’s MTA Scholarship winner Stefan Webling (Oakura) was comfortably on pole position with the impressive Evans (Auckland) joining him on the front row, all be it 0.512 secs behind. He was closely followed by Martin Short (Hamilton) debuting the all new Mygale manufactured car with veteran Kim Crocker (Tauranga), Kenny Smith (Auckland) and Simon Evans (Auckland) completing the top six grid positions.

From the start of Race 1 (8 laps) on Saturday afternoon, it was obvious that the rapid Mitchell Evans was not going to allow Webling to have it all his own way and after a pursuing the Taranaki driver over the opening laps, eventually took the lead which he was to hold to the finish. Crocker held his good pace to come home third ahead of another hard charging teenager, Jamie McNee (Wellington), while Smith and Richie Stanaway (Tauranga) followed closely behind. Martin Short was hampered by problems which relegated him to the rear while Simon Evans was a satisfying seventh.

Sunday morning’s Race 2 (8 laps) was as closely fought despite the prevailing wet weather and once again it was the 14 year old Aucklander Mitchell Evans who took out victory but this time chased home by the fully recovered Martin Short with Stanaway an excellent third ahead of a frustrated Webling. Matthew Penrose (Christchurch) gained one of his best results to date in fifth with Crocker well in the points in sixth.

The 12 lap feature race on Sunday afternoon was a contrast to the earlier races with Webling confirming his class with a dominant victory by nearly six seconds over the young Mitchell Evans. Stanaway drove hard for another top three placing ahead of Short, Crocker and a consistent Simon Evans. The overall Round 1 podium positions saw Evans on the top step in his debut MTA Championship appearance with Webling and the rapid Stanaway joining him for the prizegiving ceremony.

The next round of the MTA New Zealand Formula Ford Championship will take place at Pukekohe Park Raceway, near Auckland, over the weekend of November 8th and 9th.

 

Championship Points after Round 1:

Mitchell Evans (Auckland) 217; Stefan Webling (Oakura) 196; Richie Stanaway (Tauranga) 165; Kim Crocker (Tauranga) 154; Martin Short (Hamilton) 147; Jamie McNee (Wellington) 135; Simon Evans (Auckland) 129; Matthew Penrose (Christchurch) 127; Kenny Smith (Auckland) 111; Damon Leitch (Invercargill) 102; Brett Sullivan (Nelson) 96; Kerry Ross (Tauranga) 89; Chris Cox (Rangiora) 84.

 

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For Further Media Information Contact:

Kevin Lancaster

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Email: kevlancs@xtra.co.nz