Auckland’s Marco Manson is set to become the 2025/26 South Island Formula Ford Championship (SIFF) title winner at this weekend’s final round in Christchurch.
Manson heads into the four-race Super Weekend of Racing held at the Euromarque Motorsport Park in Ruapuna with a 294-point lead over Maxim Kirwan, with Jake Bryant and Dylan Petch fighting for third with one point between them.
However, with Kirwan not having entered the event, it effectively hands the title to Manson, while Bryant and Petch will be fighting for second and third positions, with Izaak Fletcher also in the hunt.
Also, the final 12-lap race of the season will offer double points (150 for first). Hence, a maximum of 377 points is on offer, including two for the fastest qualifier, who will also receive a cash prize from the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy.
With the third round of the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship to be held the following weekend in the North Island, several competitors have elected to focus on this. Petch, currently fourth overall (SIFF), has sent his Van Diemen race car north and will compete this weekend in Christchurch in a leased Spectrum 015 from Reagan Edwards.
Meanwhile, Manson is not taking any chances and has been the form driver all season, winning 13 of 16 races and qualifying fastest in all four rounds held so far this summer.
Bryant has been consistent all season, collecting points. Having stood on the podium five times, he will be looking for his first race win. Petch already has two race wins under his belt, and while he may struggle in a different car, he will be competitive.
Should either of these two falter, then Fletcher will be a threat for a top-three finish. Like Bryant, he has also been consistent across the season with his best podium finish at the fourth round in Timaru.
Qualifying takes place on Saturday morning with two 10-lap races in the afternoon. Sunday sees the final two 12-lap races of the season.
The South Island Formula Ford Club acknowledges the support from Team Hutchinson Ford. Available throughout the Formula Ford season are funding and support from both the Tony Quinn Foundation and the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy, while Yokohama returns as the tyre of choice for Formula Ford Racing in NZ, and the NAPA Driver of the Day Award.
Overall Points after Round 4/5:
- Marco Manson 1171
- Maxim Kirwan 877
- Jake Bryant 784
- Dylan Petch 783
- Izaak Fletcher 700
- Zach Tucker 619
- Reagan Edwards 486
- Cameron Freeman 456
- Jacob Begg 384
- Toby Musico 358
- Jackson Culver 323
- Seb Eskandari 202
- Matthew Basso 166
- Archie Dampier-Crossley 141
- Dyson Freeman 108
Header Image: Euan Cameron
