• Latest
  • Trending

Fierce racing in South Island Formula Ford season-opener

October 30, 2023

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

“We Were Informed in Advance”: What Verstappen’s manager had to say on Horner’s dismissal

July 10, 2025

Martin Brundle breaks silence after speaking with Horner: “No Reason Was Given”

July 10, 2025
BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 26: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, and Jos Verstappen talk in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 26, 2025 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202502260251 // Usage for editorial use only //

Red Bull in Turmoil: Horner fired, senior staff axed, Verstappen rift deepens after arguement at British GP

July 10, 2025

Christian Horner fired from Red Bull Racing after two decades at the helm

July 9, 2025

Van Gisbergen claims best finish yet in US Legends Series at Charlotte

July 9, 2025

Kiwis Born to Fly 3 – Production in New Zealand and Indianapolis nears completion

July 9, 2025
2025, QUEENSLAND, NEW ZEALAND, , 
WORLD COPYRIGHT: TAYLER BURKE
_SAT8100.CR3

Paddon powers to victory in Rally Queensland thriller, extends ARC lead

July 9, 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

Fierce racing in South Island Formula Ford season-opener

by Velocity News
October 30, 2023
in Formula Ford
0

Seb Manson has claimed all four race wins at the opening round of the 2023/24 Yokohama South Island Formula Ford Championship presented by Team Hutchinson Ford.  Euromarque Motorsport Park in Christchurch hosted the round as part of the Wigram Revival meeting, which also saw Manson lift the Wigram Cup, a prize for the last 12-lap race.  The round win catapults Manson (Spectrum 015) into a commanding lead of the 18-race, five-round series, 54 points ahead of Dylan Petch (Ray GR20), who finished runner-up.

“A very good weekend,” commented Manson.  “The car was good, just working on the driving in each race, so it’s been a good start to the season.”

Setting the quickest time in qualifying won him a $500 Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy cash prize and first on the grid for the opening 10-lap race on Saturday.

Seb Manson was the fastest qualifier – photo Euan Cameron

“Qualified fastest which was good and got off the line well for the first race and led to the finish,” said Manson.  “Will (Neale) definitely gave me a good challenge both in the race and all weekend.  Was able to get to the front in Race 2 having started from P2 and Race 3 was similar.”

Behind Manson was a fight over podium places between Dylan Petch, Will Neale (Van Diemen Stealth), last season’s champion Blake Knowles (Van Diemen RF05) and Caleb Byers (Ray GR21).  All four capable of standing on the podium with Petch the most consistent over the weekend with two second and one third places.

“Really happy leaving the weekend in that position,” said Petch.  “It all went pretty well and really happy to be battling with the top four.  This round was the one I was least confident about, so thrilled to get a good result.”

In the final 12-lap Wigram Cup race, Manson led off the line initially with Neale, Knowles and Petch in the hunt.  A safety car intervention after rookie Izaak Fletcher (Ray GR20) went off the track saw the field bunch up for a one-lap dash to the chequered flag.  While Manson got a jump on the field at the restart and held on for the win, Petch slipped past Neale for second with Knowles in fourth, followed by Byers.

#28 Will Neale leads #69 Seb Manson – Photo Euan Cameron

Despite his off-track excursion in the last race, Fletcher made an impressive debut, twice finishing in the top-five.

Manson was awarded the NAPA Auto Parts prize for ‘Driver of the Day’ as well as winning Class 1 (post-1999 including Stealth) while Ryan Low (Van Diemen RF90) was first in Class 2 (1989 to 2000).

Ryan Low was fastest Class 2 car for the round – photo Terry Marshall

At the end of the season, a Team Hutchinson Ford Prize package will be awarded for the overall Class 1 and Class 2 winners.  This year sees an exciting prize for the NZ Formula Ford Championship Class 2 winner after moving the Stealth cars into the Class 1 category. Toyota Gazoo Racing have put up an FT50 test for the winner of Class 2 to encourage these entry-level drivers and cars back into Formula Ford.

The series heads to Timaru for the second round this coming weekend, with Manson taking nothing for granted.

“It is going to be tough this coming season with the number of good rivals,” said Manson.

Header Image: Dylan Petch finished an impressive second – photo Euan Cameron

Words & Images: Supplied

Tags: Dylan PetchSebastian MansonSouth Island Formula Ford

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.