LOBB TAKES WINTER SERIES - RACE REPORT FROM ROUND 4

Caine lobb wrapped up the Manfeild Winter Series last weekend with solid performances in all three races. Christchurch based Lobb had a healthy points lead heading into the weekend's races and needed only to finish consistently to take the series comfortably. At the end of the day, Lobb's three second placings were more than enough for him to claim the top spot.

A good field of sixteen competitors fronted up for the meeting including Selby Allison, who had not raced for quite some time. He was joined by most of the regular Winter series event entrants with a few drivers also making appearances for the first time this winter.

Qualifying Despite track conditions being less than ideal, it was once again Lobb who topped the time sheets with a 1:25.499 lap. He was followed by Selby Allison on 1:25.754. Lobb and Allison were the only two drivers to break the 1:26.000 barrier in qualifying. Jamie McNee was not far off however with a good solid qualifying lap of 1:26.099. Next came Simon Hardy, Chad Ace, Alistair Wooten, Bradley McDonald, Alan Dunkley, Matthew Stubbs, Stefan Webling, Sheridan Bonner, Jason Coley, Dave Scammell, Logan Cameron, Zayne Martin and David Ruthven. The entire field was separated by a little under 4 seconds. The session had started slow, but sped up as the track afforded the drivers more grip.

Race 1

Selby Allison took two wins from three starts. Race one was all about Lobb and Allison. Both cleared away from the field quickly and built up a healthy gap over the opening laps. From there it was the classic Formula First duel to decide the winner. Lobb took the lead on the last lap as the cars crossed the start line, leaving Allison in the prime position to slipstream past on the final straight in to Dunlop corner. Lobb forced Allison to take the long way around, but the experienced Wanganui driver Allison took it in his stride and drove into Dunlop in front. He held the lead through to the line to take the win, with Lobb as close as he could be without colliding with the back of Allison's Alvee.

Jamie McNee had caught the leading pair on the last lap and was close at the line. McNee had driven most of his race battling with SpeedSport Scholarship Winner Alastair Wooten and had got the better of him in the final few laps. As Allison and Lobb attempted to out-fox one another, their pace slowed and McNee closed up. Wooten held onto fourth ahead of Simon Hardy, who's car appeared to be falling off the pace, then regaining its speed intermittently. Race two would expose the problem more graphically.

The rest of the pack crossed the line in close proximity. Alan Dunkley lead the pack, followed by Bradley McDonald, who was driving his new car for the first time, then Webling, Bonner, Ace, Stubbs, Ruthven, Coley, Martin, Cameron and Dave Scammell. Hardy was not the only to suffer problems - Dave Scammell also finding himself in trouble early on with a sticking throttle.

Race 2

Jamie McNee took his first Formula First win in race 2.

Jamie McNee held pole for race 2 after his fastest lap in race 1, but off the line it looked like another Allison/Lobb benefit. Unfortunately for Allison, his car broke a pushrod only a few laps in and he was forced to park his extremely sick sounding Alvee on the infield. This left Lobb, McNee, Ace and Wooten all battling for the lead. The race proved to be yet another classic battle as the four Sabre drivers all vied for the top spot all race long. It was a jubilant McNee who eventually took his first Formula First win just inches ahead of Lobb. Chad Ace finished in third, with Wooten once again crossing the line in fourth. The top four spots all going to Sabre team drivers. Bradley McDonald held on to fifth place after a race long battle with Stefan Webling, who crossed the line ahead of Dunkley, Bonner, Scammell, Cameron, Coley and Martin.