Blake Dowdall has extended his lead in the 2025 Napa Auto Parts New Zealand Formula Ford Championship after the first two of four races at the final round in Feilding on Saturday. Now with a 98-point lead and two remaining races on Sunday, Dowdall has one hand on the title trophy, ahead of Toby McCormack, who has moved up from third place.
During a hectic and stop-start qualifying on a damp Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, Toby McCormack (1:15.470) went quickest, winning the $1,010.10 cash cheque supplied by the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy. He was followed by Dowdall (1:15.503), Dylan Grant (1:15.503), Will Neale (1:16.016), Izaac Fletcher (1:16.174) and James Penrose (1:16.178).
The opening race saw Dowdall initially lead from McCormack, with the two dicing for the win over the proceeding 12 laps. Behind them, it was a race for the remaining podium position between Neale and Penrose, while Jacob Begg, Izaak Fletcher, Dylan Petch, Jack Groenewald, Shane Drake, Dylan Grant, Campbell Owens, and Mason Potter battled over the remaining top ten positions.
“Really good to have someone you’ve raced for a very long time and you trust,” commented Dowdall.
“We weren’t leaving anything in it. It’s a home track, so I know my way around this really well. Some parts of the track were wet, and some dry. There’s definitely some strategy to know where to place your car in the right place before a corner in order to force the other driver on a worse line.”
It was McCormack that got the advantage in the second 12-lap race. Although Dowdall lead for three-quarters of the race, McCormack got the chance and took his opportunity to hit-back and get ahead for the win.
“He was really good at covering both the inside and outside,” said McCormack.
“He knew where he was strong, so he put his car there. I managed to squeeze him quite hard, kept it between the lines, and got past.”
Third was Penrose, followed by Neale, Grant, Begg, Petch, Groenewald, Drake, Fletcher, and Owens.
Sunday holds two races, including the season’s 18-lap Morrie Smith Memorial Trophy final race.
Header Image: Buzzy Media
