Round 4 Report: Formula First action returns in the Waikato!

FORMULA FIRST ACTION BACK ON TRACK IN THE WAIKATO PROVIDING EXCITING RACING AT HAMPTON DOWNS

After a break over the Christmas & New Year holidays the Vortex Racewear NZ Formula First Championships returned to the track in the Waikato at Hampton Downs for the first of the 2015 rounds of the Championship season on the weekend of the 31st January/1st February.

In front of a good crowd and running as support class for the TRS cars and the V8 Supertourers at the NZ Motor Cup meeting the class again promised to be the one to watch for close racing action. A field of 19 cars packed in on Friday for a limited two session test day, Chris Symon the only absentee of the regular season drivers. Brody McConkey was leading the Championship into this round and hoping to extend his advantage.

Qualifying on Saturday morning would produce mixed results with a few of the usual front runners struggling to find a clean lap and a couple of popular racers having their best qualifying results. The front rows would take on a familiar look but this time Bramwell King would put his car resplendent in a striking new colour scheme on pole. Second went to Brody McConkey carrying on his recent pace from Pukekohe, third would go to a charging Arran Crighton followed by an ever improving Bob Dillow having his best ever qualifying session putting his car on the second row for the first time delighting himself and his supporters alike.

Fifth went to Brook Reeve followed by Michael Shepherd and Ryan Hellier both down the grid slightly from their usual starting places, Ian Foster followed in 8th ahead of Ron Carter having his best qualifying for some time, then a couple of drivers more recently seen in the top six with Elliot Andrew and Jacob Smith both having trouble finding the laps they needed to be further forward in 10 & 11th respectively, Craig Greenwood in 12th followed by Liam Foster having his best qualifying for a while too in 13th a new motor seeming to be producing better pace, next came Dave Scammell followed by Nik Pervan, Robert Steven, Matt Podjursky, Amy Smith & Alex Hawley.

Unfortunately Paul Butler suffered engine failure during Fridays testing and would take no further part in the weekends racing; hopefully we will see him back soon.

Race 1

With dark clouds looming and light drops of rain the cars lined up on the dummy grid for race 1. Teams looked to the skies pondering whether to make last minute setup changes and tire pressure adjustments however the rain never amounted to much more than an annoying light shower, Matt Podjursky suffered a mechanical problem and climbed out of the car before they left the pits a hard start to the weekend for young Matt.

The cars moved out and lined up to face the starter, revs climbed as the start lights lit one by one to be followed by the familiar crescendo of 19 Formula First cars screaming down into turn one and out of sight.

At the end of lap one Brody McConkey led King, then Shepherd who had made a great start followed by Arran Crighton, Brook Reeve, Ian Foster, Ryan Hellier, Bob Dillow, Elliot Andrew, Ron Carter, Jacob Smith, Robert Steven, Craig Greenwood, Nik Pervan, Amy Smith & Alex Hawley.

McConkey led until lap 4 when Michael Shepherd made a pass for the lead, the group in third to sixth would swap places each lap as the slip streaming battle began but they couldn’t catch Shepherd.

Mid race retirements by both Ian Foster & Arran Crighton would see the pack split and oil down in turn 1 and an unfortunate Jacob Smith would be the first to find it and then the grass followed by another four cars behind in a ballet of spinning cars luckily due to great car control by all everyone missed each other and the wall to carry on to the finish.

At the fall of the chequered flag though it was Michael Shepherd controlling the race to finish ahead of Brooke Reeve, Brody McConkey, Bramwell King, Ryan Hellier, Elliot Andrew, Bob Dillow, Ron Carter a recovering Jacob Smith then Robert Steven, Dave Scammell, Liam Foster, Nik Pervan, Craig Greenwood, Amy Smith and Alex Hawley.

Matt Podjursky a DNS and DNF’s for both Ian Foster and Arran Crighton the latter with what appeared to be a meeting ending engine failure.

Fastest lap went to Ian Foster with a 1:20:271

Race 2

Sunday morning dawned with gloomy skies and heavy showers but as race two formed up the track was all but dry although rain drops again began to fall as the cars filed out onto the track. Arran Crighton missing due to his engine failure on Saturday.

Ian Foster would start on pole by virtue of his quick time in race one. The lights went out and again the field left the grid in a mass of darting machines and revving engines, the cars disappearing over the crest and down into turn one. The field formed a single file as they headed around the circuit but as they entered the sweeper to end lap one but Bob Dillow caught a damp patch and spun mid corner causing the following cars to take avoiding action, thankfully all made it through unscathed but the field was split, Michael Shepherd led over the line from Ian Foster then a slight gap to Bramwell King, Ryan Hellier, Brooke Reeve, Brody McConkey, Elliot Andrew another gap back to Jacob Smith, Craig Greenwood, Liam Foster , Nik Pervan, Matt Podjursky, Amy Smith, a recovering Bob Dillow, Dave Scammell and Robert Steven who both spun avoiding Dillow and Alex Hawley rounding out the field.

Shepherd and Foster would battle for a few laps until both McConkey and King found a way past Foster and joined Shepherd at the front. The front three would extend a small gap to the next group, the racing was close with three and four car wide runs across the finish line and down into turn one getting the crowd on its feet each lap!

Michael Shepherd would hold on again though for another well-judged victory by just 0.2 of a second after leading each lap from King, McConkey, Hellier, Foster, Andrew, and Brooke Reeve, followed next by a closing Jacob Smith, Craig Greenwood, Liam Foster recording his first top ten result, Bob Dillow, Dave Scammell, Nik Pervan, Amy Smith, Matt Podjursky, Robert Steven and Alex Hawley.

Fastest lap went to Brody McConkey with a 1:20.321

Race 3 was again held in changeable conditions with the track being dry as the cars headed out on their parade lap then a shower of rain just after the start and one again crossing the track in the closing laps which mixed with oil made grip levels very changeable.

The early lead was held by Bramwell King closely followed by Shepherd who made a great start from 5th, then Ian Foster, Brody McConkey, Ryan Hellier, Elliott Andrew, Brook Reeve and Jacob Smith then a slight gap back to Bob Dillow, Craig Greenwood, Ron Carter, Dave Scammell, Robert Steven, Liam Foster, Nik Pervan, Amy Smith, Matt Podjursky and Alex Hawley.

Shepherd led on lap three and McConkey took the lead on lap four the back and forth battle for the lead between the top three exciting the spectators.

Behind them the battle for fourth was equally exciting with wheel to wheel racing between Elliott Andrew, Ryan Hellier, Brooke Reeve, Ian Foster and Jacob Smith with each driver holding that position at some point.

As the cars entered the last lap McConkey led King and Shepherd and at the line it was McConkey with his first win of the weekend by 0.5 of a second from Shepherd the win for McConkey tying up the Championship lead with Michael Shepherd. Bramwell King was third only 0.125 second behind. Fourth place just over three seconds back eventually went to Elliot Andrew from Hellier, Reeve, Ian Foster and Jacob Smith all lunging at the finish line spread across the track. A slight gap then of around 10 seconds back to the chasing pack that was led home by Craig Greenwood and Bob Dillow both having great weekends and setting very competitive times in ninth & tenth respectively followed next by Ron Carter, Dave Scammell, Liam Foster, Nik Pervan, Robert Steven, Amy Smith, Matt Podjursky and young Alex Hawley at his first race meeting at this track.

Fastest lap went to Jacob Smith with a 1:20.535.

The Top Ten for the weekend were.

1: Shepherd 217,

2: McConkey 195,

3: King 181,

4: Reeve (rookie) 154,

5: Hellier 152,

6: Andrew (rookie) 144

7: Jacob Smith 114

8: Dillow 103

9: Carter 99

10: Greenwood 96

The Championship is now tied between McConkey and Shepherd from Bramwell King some 50 points back; these three have over a 100 points on fourth placed Ryan Hellier then only 100 points covers fourth to seventh with Brooke Reeve in fifth who leads the Rookie standings narrowly still from Elliott Andrew in sixth, Jacob Smith follows closely in seventh. Arran Crighton is next in eighth then Ron Carter ninth and Ian Foster who rounds out the top ten.

At the half way point it’s looking like a three way battle for the Championship but with 900 points still on offer and with several drivers still in touch mathematically anything can still happen making this one of the more exciting and closely fought Championships in years. The Drivers all meet again at Manfeild in a fortnight for Round five at the NZGP meeting on the 14/15th February.

This is always a great meeting in front of big crowds so be sure to get along and watch these talented drivers entertain the crowds again.