Will Neale has made his mark early in the 2024/25 Yokohama South Island Formula Ford Championship after setting fastest lap in qualifying and going on to win all four races at the opening round over the weekend. It wasn’t made easy for Neale with Dylan Grant (Van Diemen RF03), Jake Bryant (Van Diemen RF94), Dylan Petch (Van Diemen RF93) and Toby McCormack (Spectrum 015) all vying to stand on the podium.
“I can’t complain about that (results),” commented Neale.
“We had super close racing all weekend as everyone has been quick. I came into the weekend with low expectations, approaching it race by race. I knew everyone would be quick and we prepared well for that.”
On Saturday morning at the Timaru International Raceway, Neale won the $500 Hampton Downs NZ Driving Academy cash prize for setting fastest lap in qualifying before winning the first race in the afternoon. Jake Bryant was a standout in qualifying setting the second quickest time and would go on to twice finish on the podium.
“I got a clean start in Race 1,” said Neale. “Had a good battle with Dylan (Grant) before getting a gap that I held to the chequered flag. I love Timaru as it is an awesome track for Formula Ford racing. It’s tight, technical and a real drivers track.”
Izaack Fletcher took third behind Grant after battling with Petch and Bryant with a good battle behind them between McCormack, Jacob Begg (Mygael SJ08A), Cameron Freeman (Van Diemen RF92) and rookie Ryan Denzie (Mygale SJ08A).
Race two on Sunday morning saw Neale take the lead early and create a gap, winning by four seconds from Grant and Bryant who had to battle with Fletcher and Petch for the podium.
“The third race was super close,” said Neale. “I was desperate to win that one and crossed the line a just a few tenths ahead of Dylan (Grant).”
This time Fletcher took third ahead of Petch and Bryant.
The final race of the weekend saw Grant initially take the lead from Flecher and Bryant with Neale having started from third.
“I was able to pass Izaac (Fletcher) at the end of the first lap and got through to the lead by the fourth,” said Neale. “After that it was a race long battle with Dylan with a lot of wheel-to-wheel action. Again, I only beat him on the line by a couple of tenths.”
Bryant finished in third ahead of Fletcher, Petch and McCormack. McCormack won the NAPA Auto Parts Driver of the Day trade prize.
The second of five rounds takes place in Christchurch in three weeks’ time at the Euromarque Motorsport Park, 23-24 November 2024. The Hampton Downs NZ Driving Academy will again offer a $500 cash prize for fastest qualifier as part of the $60,000 Formula Ford prize pool from the Tony Quinn Foundation with funding for travel and testing opportunities with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing NZ. NAPA Auto Parts will again offer prizes for both Driver of the Day and Rookie of the Year and Yokohama return as the tyre of choice for Formula Ford Racing in NZ.
“It’s a long season ahead so great to get some points,” said Neale. “It’s a really competitive field and should be really close at Ruapuna in a couple of weeks.”
