ANOTHER PERFECT WEEKEND FOR ALLISON

Selby Allison stormed to three wins from three starts at Pukekohe yesterday to strengthen his grip on the New Zealand Formula First Championship. Allison’s three wins boosted the Wanganui-based Automotive Engineer’s lead over rival Ian Foster to 69 points – with only one round remaining. In a day that provided some of the best Formula First racing of the season, Allison kept his cool and drove three calculated races to take victory, despite intense and repeated attacks from several of his main competitors.

Qualifying Qualifying was held in dry conditions - and as the field took to the track, the general feeling amongst the crews was that the session would produce some quick times. Expectations were more than met when, quite staggeringly, a total of 7 cars qualified quicker than 1 minute 14 seconds – making it the fastest ever Pukekohe Formula First qualifying session.

Selby Allison leading the pack into Jennian Homes during race 1. The racing was incredibly tight all weekend with up to ten cars running in the front bunch. Click for larger view. Despite the incredibly fast qualifying times, it was status quo at the top of the time sheets, with Allison setting the quickest time of 1:13.44. Foster ran second, 8 hundredths of a second behind. Next on the list was Simon Hardy, who was making a return to racing after missing a few meetings due to engine woes suffered earlier in the season. Speedsport Scholarship winner Alastair Wootten was next, followed by Bryan McConkey, Robin Bennett, Stefan Webling, Matthew Stubbs, Michael Shepherd and Chad Ace. The top ten were separated by less than 1.1 seconds.

John Young, returning to Formula First to run the last two meetings of the season, slotted his Challenge into 11th on the grid. He was followed by Bradley McDonald, Jamie McNee, David Ruthven, Phil Abel, Dave Scammell, and Zayne Martin.

Ben Poulsen rounded out the 18-strong field.

Race 1 At the lights, Foster got the jump on Allison and led down into the Jennian Homes sweeper for the first time. Allison responded almost immediately to retake the lead with a slipstreaming pass down the back straight.

The tone was now set for a fantastic battle of wits and strategy.

Ian Foster leading a pack out of the hairpin during race 3. 'The Fossil' pressed Allison hard all day, but despite some great driving, couldn't quite best his championship arch-rival. Michael Shepherd's nosecone is beginning to fall off after minor contact with Foster's car. Click for larger view. The pace at the front was furious, but Allison and Foster were not alone at the head of the field. In fact, the leading pack consisted of between seven to ten cars at any given time. Both Foster and Allison had turns at the front, as did a resurgent McConkey, who was driving one of his best races of the season.

The hairpin at Pukekohe is where most of the positional changes take place - and this race was no exception with the top 7 positions in a constant state of flux every time the field crested the hill on the run down to the circuit’s slowest corner.

On the final lap, Allison held the advantage out of the hairpin as the group jostled behind. Foster was in the prime position to attack as they ran to the line, but as bunch snaked down the hill towards the chequered flag, Allison held on to take the win by the tiniest of margins.

The chasing pack was right with the leaders at the line - and it was Matthew Stubbs, who had put in an amazing drive to come from eighth on the grid, who secured the final podium spot. Having scored his first podium at Taupo only the round before, Stubbs’ performance was a more than satisfactory continuation of form.

Alastair Wootten was next in the group, followed by Shepherd. The margin between 1st to 5th was a miniscule .99 seconds.

A second further back came Simon Hardy and Robin Bennett, followed by Young, Ace, Ruthven, Webling, McNee, Scammell and Abel. Bryan McConkey was classified 15th, but had had his race ruined with a lap to run when he and Wootten collided on the run towards the pit corner. McConkey ended up on the grass, and although he continued, lost a large amount of time. Last home was Poulsen, whose day would take a turn for the worse in race 2.

Bradley McDonald was the only DNF of the race. The Wanganui youngster had been making a run towards the front pack when he was given the mechanical black flag for what appeared to be oil smoke. The problem was traced to a ruptured rear axle boot.

Race 2 As if race 1 wasn’t hectic enough, the Formula First contingent put on an equally enthralling battle for race 2.

Matthew Stubbs put in three superb performances to take three third placings. His efforts were all the more remarkable given that he'd started from 8th, 8th and 12th for the three events. Click for larger view. This time off the line Foster appeared to miss second gear and fell back a few places. Simon Hardy and Alastair Wootten got past as the field entered the sweeper and for a brief moment it looked like Allison might be able to make a break-away. Allison’s breathing space was short-lived however as he was soon swallowed up by the chasing pack.

Bradley McDonald was one of those in the front pack, but was once again shown the mechanical black flag – forcing the TradeZone sponsored driver to pit once more.

Back on track the action was as hot as ever. Foster was trying a different approach this time and led coming out of the hairpin on the last lap. As the pack crested the hill it looked as if Foster had done enough, but once again Allison inched ahead at the line to take the win by less than two feet. Another fantastic Pukekohe finish.

Stubbs proved that his podium earlier in the day was no fluke, once again piloting his Remax sponsored Sabre to third – and again from eighth on the grid.

A pattern seemed to be forming, with Wootten, Shepherd and Hardy once again finishing 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.

Bryan McConkey had a better run this time to finish in 7th. He was followed home by Bennett, Young, Webling, McNee, Ruthven, Abel and Scammell.

Apart from McDonald, there were two other DNFs. Ben Poulsen had had a moment entering the back straight and had careened into the barriers. The resulting impact lightly injured the Feilding youngster’s left ankle and also broke the right front steering linkage on his car. After a brief visit to the ambulance for a bandage and an ice pack, Poulsen was able to walk back to his pit to recuperate. He would take no further part in the meeting.

Chad Ace was the final DNF for the race, an engine issue stopping him after only three laps.

Race 3 The crowd in attendance was in for more entertainment as the field lined up for race 3. Allison led away at the start and once again Foster pushed his Scorpion Racecars prepared Challenge in to second. The battle for the lead seemed to be more intense in this race with Allison and Foster exchanging positions almost every lap. Both drivers appeared to be sizing one another up in order to obtain an advantage.

Bradley McDonald was unlucky to have his first two races ruined by mechanical issues. He more than made up for it in race three where he ran as high as third before making a minor mistake at the hairpin. A sixth place finish was just reward after a difficult weekend that involved engine changes during Saturday's practice sessions. The final run over the hill this time saw Allison’s Century Batteries sponsored machine in the lead, but once again Foster pulled out of the slipstream on the approach to the line in an attempt to squeeze past. Unfortunately for Foster, his Kaeser Compressors sponsored Challenge came up short once again – Allison taking his third win of the day by less than half a car length.

Stubbs put in yet another fantastic drive, this time from an even lower grid position of 12th, to finish on the podium once more ahead of the now familiar runners of Wootten and Shepherd.

The pattern was broken this time by Bradley McDonald, who had completed the race without mechanical flags hindering his performance. McDonald had actually run as high up as third but had made a minor mistake at the hairpin which had cost him some time – eventually resulting in a sixth place finish. Hardy came home in seventh, followed by Bennett, Webling, Young, McNee, Abel, Ace, Ruthven and Scammell.

Bryan McConkey was the only DNF of the race when he pulled into the pits after feeling one of his rear wheels work loose. He completed five of eight laps.

With one round to go, Allison now leads the points table on 1449 points, from Foster on 1380. Shepherd sits in third on 1145. The final round of the championship takes place on the 31st March/1st April at Manfeild.

Report/Photos: Cliff Field