Formula First Round 2 Report - Taupo Motorsport Park

The HiQ Formula First Championship reached new heights for round 2 of its 2015/2016 Championship, that height being the 1000ft elevation of Taupo Motorsport Park.

The event dubbed "HalloweenFest" by the Taupo Car Club played host to six classes across a test day and two race days, although it was again the HiQ Formula First series that put on the best show.

Whilst only a few teams elected to test on Friday, it was a great opportunity for those who did with seven test sessions taking place. Whilst it was a trouble free run for most, Amy Smith's #71 machine encounter some more engine issues, this time proving fatal after it seized during one of the test sessions.

The comparatively low number of classes competing over the weekend gave teams a rare opportunity to test below Saturday Qualifying. The three test sessions provided extra tuning time for teams which resulted in some incredibly close times.

The line up remained similar with the exception of Amy Smith due to her engine issues and the addition of Ian Foster after missing round 1. Also missing from Saturday competition was Bramwell King and Liam Foster.

The Qualifying session was held in hot and slightly breezy conditions, but before anyone could get a flying lap in, Dave Scammell went off at A1 corner and got beached causing a red flag. Matt Podjursky, Brody McConkey and Liam Lawson set the early pace, although it wasn't long until Michael Shepherd would emerge on top ahead of Chris Symon and Brody McConkey after the session was over. Arran Crighton and Matt Podjursky showed great speed finishing in fourth and fifth respectively followed by Brook Reeve, Nik Pervan, Liam Lawson, Cameron Dance and Bob Dillow in tenth. Craig Greenwood just missed out on a top ten, Ian Foster returned to the series 12th fastest ahead of Dave Scammell in 13th and Alex Hawley in 14th position.

Race 1 started in typical Formula First style with the grid heading into turn one multiple cars wide, and the crowd waiting to see who would emerge in front. The battles continued through the infield section but before disappearing onto the back section of the track it was Michael Shepherd leading Chris Symon. However once popping out of the back straight into sight of everyone it was still Shepherd and Symon leading the way, but with a much larger margin. Brody McConkey emerged in third, Reeve fourth and Lawson fifth.

Whilst Shepherd and Symon had pulled a gap on the cars behind, the battle was on between McConkey, Reeve, Lawson and Greenwood for the final podium spot. The positions chopped and changed amongst them through-out the race, often coming into the chase three or four cars wide.

Lap 4 and the full field action kicked off. Dave Scammell got past Matt Podjursky for ninth, while Alex Hawley got by Nik Pervan for 13th. Heading into turn one, McConkey, Lawson and Reeve were still battling for that podium spot, but a slight bit on contact between Lawson and McConkey was enough to dislodge the nose cone of Lawson. Soon enough the final lap approached us, the battle for the podium was still on, while McConkey held on for the podium position, it was a sneaky move by Craig Greenwood that put him ahead of the Sabre team mates of Brook Reeve and Liam Lawson.

Race 2 was a familiar sight with the starting grid unchanged, however there was the return of Bramwell King and Liam Foster. Craig Greenwood was the first to make a mistake, spinning on the infield section on lap 2, dropping to 15th. Also on lap 2 was some minor contact between the nose of Reeve's car and the rear tyre of Shepherd's at the chase, however it was enough to unclip one side of Reeve's nose cone and leave it teetering on the car.

Reeve's performance was unaffected as he, Shepherd and McConkey continued to battle for the lead heading out of the main straight and into the chase three wide! Shepherd ultimately winning that battle over Reeve and McConkey. The following lap saw Lawson get past McConkey for second position.

Reeve, now in second, lost his nose cone at turn 1 on lap 5, however the officials had already decided to impose a mechanical black flag on him when he next crossed the line.

Shepherd took the race, ahead of the two most recent SpeedSport Scholarship winners, Brook Reeve and Liam Lawson. Brody McConkey came home fourth then, King, Symon, Crighton, Dance, Podjursky and Greenwood in 10th. Nik Pervan failed to finish.

Brook Reeve was later excluded from the race for "failing to report to the pits for the following lap the black and orange flag was shown.

Race 3 was again headed by Shepherd and Symon, but with King moving to the third spot on the grid. Symon took the early lead, followed by Shepherd. Reeve got past McConkey, whilst Greenwood dropped to eighth. Reeve moved his way up to third on the second lap before running into the back of a rapidly slowing Chris Symon on the following lap, again losing his nose cone for the second consecutive race. Reeve and Symon then went side by side into turn 2 before Symon ran off the road before the switch to turn 3.

Symon and Reeve had dropped to fifth and six, with Lawson now second to Shepherd and gaining, the question that became immanent was; can he catch the current Champion? That question would soon be answered as Lawson passed Shepherd on lap 5 into the chase. The final lap had begun and the young teen had dropped in behind Shepherd before going out of sight in the back section of the track. The wait was then on to see who would pop out in front at the end of the straight. Then the wait was over, Lawson appeared in front and then the repetitive "Go Liam" chants erupted from friends, team and family as the Rookie came onto the back straight to take his maiden Formula First Championship race win. King finished behind Lawson and Reeve made his way by Symon then Shepherd to finished third. McConkey crossed the line in sixth then Crighton, Dance and Podjursky in 10th.