• Latest
  • Trending

Crosbie retains NZ Formula Ford Championship, Knowles wins South Island title

March 26, 2023

Kostecki claims commanding Townsville win as Kiwi Payne just misses podium in Supercars Sprint opener

July 11, 2025

Kostecki claims pole as Kiwi contenders battle through tight Townsville qualifying

July 11, 2025
2023 VAILO Adelaide 500, Event 12 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Adelaide Street Circuit, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 24 Nov, 2023.

Celebration of life planned for Tim Miles as Supercars paddock pays tribute

July 11, 2025

Randle tops Practice 2 as Matt Payne leads Kiwi charge in Townsville

July 11, 2025

Ryan Wood tops Practice 1 as Brown crashes late in Townsville

July 11, 2025

Bewley to make street circuit debut in Townsville Porsche Sprint Challenge Round

July 11, 2025

Rally Debut: Liam Lawson gets a taste of WRC in 2025 Ford Puma Rally1 car at Goodwood

July 11, 2025

Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

July 11, 2025

LIVE: Goodwood Festival of Speed – Watch Liam Lawson, Greg Murphy, Mad Mike & more

July 10, 2025

Top US team HMD Motorsports confirmed for Toyota FR Oceania Trophy

July 10, 2025

Jacob Douglas scores podium, Sebastian Manson battles back in USF Pro Championship at Mid-Ohio

July 10, 2025
Friday, July 11, 2025
VelocityNews
Subscribe
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Crosbie retains NZ Formula Ford Championship, Knowles wins South Island title

by Matthew Sampson
March 26, 2023
in Formula Ford
0

Southland’s Alex Crosbie has retained his national Formula Ford champion status after winning the 2023 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship (NZFF) title in Christchurch over the weekend.  

The final of four rounds saw some intense competition and rivalry between the top-contenders with Crosbie finishing all four races, including winning the final 12-lap feature, to make certain his second title.  Second overall was Blake Knowles followed by Daniel Brown and Sebastian Manson with William Neale in fifth.

2x NZ Formula Ford champion Alex Crosbie – photo by Euan Cameron

“It’s definitely great to top the weekend off with a win and the NZ championship as well,” commented Crosbie.  “Being consistent was the key for the weekend and not have any poor finishes.  It was really close and clean racing all weekend which I really enjoyed.  It was about making sure I finished in front of my rivals, which we did.”

Also decided at the meeting held at the Euromarque Motorsport Park was the 2022/23 South Island Formula 1600 Championship (SIFF) title which went to Cantabrian Blake Knowles with Crosbie finishing runner up after six rounds of racing over the summer season.

“Absolutely stoked,” said Knowles.  “It was about being consistent and finishing in the top bunch.  I couldn’t afford not to finish a race.”

While Crosbie was the one to beat in both title races, the key to Knowles’ championship had been success at the penultimate round at Teretonga Park, Invercargill.

“We went into last weekend’s round (at Teretonga) about 60-points behind him (Alex Crosbie).  He had a DNF (did not finish) in the first race so we had to maximise our weekend which we did that in turn helped us coming into this round.  It’s been really close racing between me, Alex and Will (Neale) all weekend.”

Winner of the NZFF round was rookie William Neale who won the first two races on Saturday and finished third in both of Sunday’s races.  He claimed both national and South Island Class 2 titles as well as the South Island Rookie of the Year.

#28 Will Neale stood on the podium in all four races including two race wins – photo by Euan Cameron

“It has been more than I had ever hoped for at the beginning of the season,” said Neale.  “I’ve been racing both Alex and Blake throughout our years of karting so it’s great to continue this in Formula Ford.

“We’re learnt heaps over the season and will go away and do a lot of work over the winter and get ready for next season.”

Crosbie was immediately quick setting fastest lap in qualifying and winning the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy $1,010.10 cash prize.

Rain was to have an impact on the first two races on Saturday.  The opening race started in the rain with a number of drivers electing to run with a wet setup.  With a drying track, those who stayed with a dry setup prevailed with Neale winning from Crosbie, Knowles, Brown and Dylan Petch.

It was the opposite for Race 2 with rain falling late in the race making the track ‘greasy’ in places which saw title contenders Crosbie and Brown heading off track late in the race and finishing down the order while Neale took the checkered flag from Blake Dowdall, Knowles, Manson and Mason Potter.

Knowles won the third race, this time in dry mild conditions from Crosbie, Neale, Dowdall and Manson while Crosbie sealed his title, winning Race 4 from Knowles, Neale, Manson, Brown and Potter.

#50 Blake Knowles won the South Island F1600 Championship title – Photo Terry Marshall

Crosbie becomes only the third driver to twice win the national title in consecutive years. Ashley Stichbury won in 1992/93 and 1993/94 and Andre Heimgartner in 2010/11 and 2011/12.

Both Dave McMillan (1972/73 and 1975/76) and Grant Campbell (1977/78 and 1988/89) are the only other two-time winners.

As part of the overall prize package supported by the Tony Quinn Foundation, Crosbie gets the opportunity to test a Toyota Formula Regional Oceania FT60 while Knowles will test a FT50.  

The $230 NAPA Auto Parts ‘Driver of the Day prize was awarded to Knowles who also won the Stephen Gillard trophy for the national Rookie of the year.

The Napa Auto Parts NZ Formula Ford Championship and the Yokohama South Island Formula 1600 Championship are also supported by Yokohama, the Tony Quinn Foundation and NAPA Auto Parts.

Tags: Alex CrosbieBlake KnowlesNew Zealand Formula Ford ChampionshipSouth Island F1600William Neale

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.