MATT HIGHAM – 2011/12 WELDWELL FORMULA FIRST CHAMPION

In a year that has seen the meteoric rise of a rookie star and the continuation of high flying motorsport youth, it was North Shore’s Matt Higham who would overcome all to take his inaugural Weldwell New Zealand Formula First title.

A sun laden Taupo Motorsport Park set the scene for the grand finale in which the 23 Juiced Magazine machine would enter with a somewhat comfortable margin, but it was clear to see no one was thinking it was all over.

With a starting grid that had all three championship contenders within the top five, race one would only increase the pressure on the championship leader. After the six lap event, Rowan Shepherd would claw away into the buffer by taking the victory. Ryan Hellier would also do what he needed by crucially staying infront of Higham - who would cross the line fourth and have the night to plan out what to do over the next two races.

The penultimate race of the 2011/12 Formula First championship would put the final nail in the coffin for 2011/12’s rookie of the year’s title chase. A tie rod failure on the fourth lap whilst fighting for the lead would send Rowan Shepherd into the sand trap, handing the reins to Ryan Hellier to put the pressure on Higham for the title, by taking the victory under yellow.

But the attempts proved fruitless, as the final race of the championship would only require Higham to practically DNF on the proviso that now second placed Ryan Hellier took the victory. But it wasn’t to be for Hellier, as the improved skills of Michael Scott put him across the line first, with Shepherd just behind.

This meant the 2011/12 Weldwell New Zealand Formula First title would be in the hands of ScorpionRacecars driver, Matt Higham. After dominating the season early, fighting a determined flu/illness early in the year, then running consistent to the end – Higham proved he is more than championship material.

Formula First once again congratulates Matt Higham, your 2011/12 champion.