SHEPHERD TOPS THE TABLE - WOOTTEN SHINES ON DEBUT

It was business as usual for Michael Shepherd at round 1 of the Formula First National Championship held in Taupo over the weekend.

Shepherd, the reigning Formula First Champion, put in solid performances throughout the weekend with a win, second and third from the three events - leaving Taupo on top of the points table with 202 points.

However much of the talk in the pitlane revolved around the performance of Speedsport 'Star of Tomorrow' Scholarship Winner Alastair Wootten. Wootten's clever drive in race one on Saturday had topped off a perfect Saturday for the young Aucklander - having first secured pole position during qualifying earlier in the day. Added to that, he also achieved the fastest lap of the race, giving him the first lap record at the new Taupo venue. More was to come.

Caine Lobb performed consistently to take second in the points race. Race 2

Michael Shepherd was out to stamp his authority on the field during race two. The changeable conditions made for a greasy track which quickly spread the field in what was an unusually quiet race. Initially Sabre driver Caine Lobb headed the field, but he was passed in a dominant fashion by Shepherd under braking as the two drivers approached the corner leading onto the pit straight. From there Shepherd simply drove away from Lobb and maintained a healthy gap. The track soon began to dry and Lobb started to close the gap, but it wasn't enough as Shepherd cruised home to take a comfortable win.

Ian Foster crossed the line in third place after a great climb up the field from grid 7. Foster had looked set to challenge the top two until his car developed a misfire in the last few laps - ending any serious challenge he would have been able to make for the lead. Foster decided to nurse his car home in third place rather than risk further damage to the engine.

Next across the line was Simon Hardy, happy to get a good result after a DNF in Saturday's race 1. Hardy, runner up in the 2005/2006 championship season, has not had the best of starts to his championship campaign. Engine issues during the last round of the pre season Winter Series at Manfeild left the Tauranga builder on the back foot for round 1 - and a suspected faulty condensor had put paid to any chances he'd had during race 1.

Fifth place was occupied by Scott Fountain. Fountain, known for his skills in wet conditions, had come from far back on the grid in what had to be one of the top drives of the race.

Race 1 winner Alastair Wootten had held 6th place for most of the race but spun coming onto the start finish straight during the end of the second to last lap. Wootten could not free his car from the dirt run-off area and he remained beached there for the remainder of the race - a DNF blotting his, up till then, perfect debut.

Wootten's misfortune was Selby Allison's benefit. Allison had made a terrible start and had charged his way back up through the field - only to make a mistake and have to do it all over again. His cause was helped when Wootten parked in the dirt - handing sixth place to the popular Wanganui mechanic.

Rookie Bradley McDonald was next home, followed by another Rookie, Stefan Webling - both having put in solid drives in the difficult conditions.

Rounding out the top ten was Bryan McConkey, the Kapiti resident enjoying his first meeting in the ex Leo Francis Alvee.

The decisive moment of race three. Alastair Wootten squeezes down the inside of Michael Shepherd as they approach the final complex of turns on the last lap. Wootten took the win from Shepherd. Click for a larger view. Race 3

The dry conditions of race three made for some great action, with four main contenders being Shepherd, Lobb, Wootten and Allison. These four were the class of the field as they battled for the full six laps.

The result was anyone's guess as the four drivers all vied for position down the back straight on the last lap. Wootten appeared to have managed to get the jump on Shepherd as they approached the esses for the final time and, after some intense late breaking by both he and Shepherd, emerged in the lead. Wootten held on to take a popular win from Shepherd with Allison crossing the line ahead of Lobb. The top four were separated by less than 1 second. The winning margin: a mere .29 seconds.

The win left Wootten with two wins and a DNF for the weekend, making him the most successful debut driver in recent history. An amazing result for the ex-speedway and karting Rookie.

The spirited fighting amongst the top four in the final few laps had allowed a following bunch of three drivers, consisting of Ian Foster, Rookie Jamie McNee and Scott Fountain to close right up to the back of Lobb. Indeed they finished in that order all less than 2 seconds behind winner Wootten.

Rookie Matthew Stubbs put in another good result, coming home in 8th, as did Sabre team mate and fellow Rookie Stefan Webling - who finished in 9th.

Bryan McConkey rounded out the top 10 after having running with Webling for much of the race.

So at the end of the weekend, Shepherd heads the points table on 202, ahead of Lobb on 188, with Ian Foster in third on 163.

Photos and Report: Cliff Field