The 2025 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship comes to an exciting conclusion as Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon hosts the final fourth round over the weekend in Feilding.
Eight drivers have a mathematical chance of winning the title, although it will likely come down to the top three. With a maximum of 302 points on offer, drivers and teams will face three 12-lap races and an 18-lap Morrie Smith Memorial Trophy race to decide both the overall and Class 1 and 2 titles.
Palmerston North’s Blake Dowdall has continued to lead the series from the opening round at Timaru in January and holds a healthy 80-point margin over second-placed Will Neale from Prebbleton, Canterbury. Neale is the freshly crowned South Island Formula Ford champion and tasted victory at the second round in Cromwell.
Twenty points behind Neale sits Toby McCormack, who moved up into third after a perfect round at Hampton Downs ten days ago, winning all three races, and could prove difficult to beat for race victories.
“I’ve done a lot of laps and races on the track (Manfeild),” said McCormack.
“Last season, we went pretty well in the scholarship car, so confident that we will be quick.”
Fourth-placed Queenslander Lincoln Taylor will not be on the grid after deciding against returning to NZ and will be replaced by fellow competitor Diesel Thomas’ brother, Josh. Josh Thomas will make his Formula Ford debut with a background in the Australian TA2 category.
A third Queenslander, also with no past Formula Ford experience, has entered the event. Toby Musico is set on rallying but wants to get circuit experience. The 14-year-old joins both Thomas’ at Nigel Barclay Racing Projects.
Fifth in the series is former champion James Penrose. Although he is 129 points off the lead, as a highly experienced campaigner, he can never be discounted. On the hunt for another win is Dylan Grant. Grant won the opening race of the season, is consistently quick, and will be on a circuit he knows very well.
The mid-field pack of Jacob Begg, Izaak Fletcher, and Campbell Owens has continued to push into the top five and is becoming extremely competitive.
The round also doubles as the sixth and final round of the North Island Formula Ford Series (NIFF). McCormack’s top round at Hampton Downs saw him jump into the lead, now 35 points ahead of Dowdall, with Shane Drake in third.
Also in the mix are Kim Crocker and Nick Buxeda, as well as the return of Mason Potter. Along with several Formula Ford drivers, Potter has been competing in the Toyota TR86 Championship over the summer. The final 18-lap NIFF race will have double points on the line.
Qualifying takes place on Saturday morning. The fastest lap will win the $1,010.10 cash prize from the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy.
The winner of the 2025 national championship will be eligible for six Superlicence points toward participating in the Supercars Championship. The recently announced return of the super licence requires drivers to earn 15 points over the past five years to be eligible to race in Supercars.
The Tony Quinn Foundation has made a $51,000 travel fund available. NAPA Auto Parts will again offer prizes for Driver of the Day, and Yokohama returns to the series as the tyre of choice for Formula Ford Racing in NZ.
This summer sees a collaboration between Rodin Cars and MotorSport NZ to create a new pathway to Formula 1 with the NZFF champion and selected Formula Ford drivers invited to an all-expenses-paid, three-day testing and evaluation program with Rodin Cars in New Zealand. From there a driver who exhibits exceptional talent has the possibility to test with Rodin Motorsport in the UK with the possibility of securing a seat in one of Rodin’s F4 teams.
NZ Formula Ford Championship Overall Points 3/4 rounds:
- 1. Blake Dowdall 631
- 2. Will Neale 551
- 3. Toby McCormack 531
- 4. Lincoln Taylor 511
- 5. James Penrose 503
- 6. Dylan Grant 489
- 7. Jacob Begg 443
- 8. Izaak Fletcher 372
- 9. Campbell Owens 269
- 10. Jacob Cunniffe 261
- 11. Dylan Petch 255
- 12. Reagan Edwards 207
- 13. Diesel Thomas 201
- 14. Ryan Denize 121
NIFF Overall Points after 5/6 rounds:
- 1. Toby McCormack 1118
- 2. Blake Dowdall 1083
- 3. Shane Drake 772
- 4. Jack Groenewald 692
- 5. Reagan Edwards 554
- 6. Fletcher Sloan 498
- 7. Leo Scott 494
- 8. Marco Manson 381
- 9. Dylan Grant 317
- 10. James Collie 309
- 11. Nick Buxeda 258
- 12. Campbell Owens 243
- 13. Kim Crocker 231
- 14. Bree Morris 120
Header Image: Geoff Ridder
