FOSTER FAST AT GP MEETING

Ian Foster proved to be the man to beat in the Formula First championship round at the NZ Grand Prix meeting at Manfeild, but as usual the battle to win each race was furiously fought, particularly by Foster, Cliff Field and rookie Richie Stanaway. Manfeild – almost the spiritual home of this class (formerly known as Formula Vee) – always provides very close First racing with drafting and track positioning critical, especially on the last lap. This meeting was very much a case of the old wise experienced heads of Foster and Field, against the young(16) upstart, Speedsport scholarship winner Stanaway, who took on these two masters of this track and Formula, was taught a few lessons, but by the third race was giving as good as he got. An excellent turn-out of 27 cars included a driver from Australia – 22 year old Tim Hamilton who came over for a holiday and managed to get a drive in a Team Sabre car. Hamilton races Formula Vees in Australia, but they have a more powerful engine and other modifications. Field qualified on pole just ahead of Foster, then Matthew Stubbs, Simon Hardy, Matt Gibson, Mitchell Evans (13) back from racing karts overseas, and Stanaway – disappointed to be in seventh place after completing only a couple of laps in qualifying before tangling with another car. However, come the first race and the racing among the first group of cars was furious, Foster getting the best start but soon overtaken by Field. With five or six cars all close together, the jockeying for position saw several changes behind Field, with Stanaway quickly moving up behind Foster along with Stubbs and Evans until Evans’ throttle jammed open, sending him off the circuit and into retirement. The racing at the front was still furious with Stubbs able to take the lead as Field, Foster and Stanaway out-fumbled each other. However, into the last lap and the long back straight and it looked like Stanaway might get his first win, but the wily Field tucked in behind him down the back straight, pulled out of the slipstream to shoot past around the sweeper and take the win. Third was Foster followed closely by Stubbs then Michael Neville and Michael Shepherd, then Matt Gibson, Bradley McDonald, Simon Hardy and Ryan Hellier. Neville set a new track record at 1.23.515. Another good start by Foster in race two saw him take the lead and gradually move away from the furious battle behind him, Foster determined not to get involved this time! Behind him, the race was on again between Field and Stanaway as they moved clear to contest second. Stanaway held out Field for most of the race, but Field managed to get his nose in front at the hairpin, then Stanaway was back in front after the tight Toyota bend at the end of the front straight leading into the last lap. However, Field did his usual trick and passed Stanaway down the back straight to take the very close second place at the flag, with Stubbs again right behind them just ahead of Bryan McConkey, then Evans, Gibson and Shepherd, and Aussie Hamilton. Foster adopted much the same tactics in race three, making an excellent start to take the lead and steadily open a gap to pull away from the slipstream fight behind him. Field initially held second, but Stanaway pushed him harder than in the previous races, ducking inside him at the hairpin and in the corner before the long back straight to hold second place as they went into the last lap. This time, Stanaway was a little wiser and left no gaps. Field lunged alongside him down the back straight but couldn’t quite get past Stanaway, as they rounded the final bend almost alongside each other, with Stanaway holding out Field by no more than a nose cone at the flag. In fourth place after another close race was Evans who drove well to recover from a poor start, just ahead of Neville, Gibson, and McConkey and then back to Stubbs, Shepherd and Hardy. Great Formula First racing once again, right to the flag. Foster won the round from Field and Stanaway. Points: Field 828, Foster 735, Stanaway 647, Stubbs 607, Gibson 503, Hardy 486, Shepherd 477, McConkey 454, McDonald 353, Hellier 324. Next round : Feb 3 Pukekohe.