Auckland’s Seb Manson will be hard to beat at the third round of the 2023/24 Yokohama South Island Formula Ford Championship this weekend in Invercargill.
Manson has won six of the seven races so far this season but will come under fire from second-placed Dylan Petch (Ray GR20) and Caleb Byers (Ray GR21) with three races over two days at Teretonga Park.
“Both Dylan (Petch) and Caleb (Byers) will be the ones I need to keep an eye on this weekend,” said Manson. “It’s been a great series so far and really competitive. I’m looking forward to Teretonga. I really like it. It is a cool track.”
The advantage that Manson (Spectrum 015) will have is that two other rivals, Will Neale and Blake Knowles, have elected to compete in the North Island series this weekend in Feilding in order to gain more experience on circuits that will be used in the upcoming national series.
Petch has consistently scored points this season, standing on the podium four times and is looking for his first win of the season.
As well as overall honours, there are two classes within the single-seater category, and a battle is looming within Class 2 (1990-1999). Jacob Cunniffe (Swift SC96) has a commanding 186-point lead over rookie Jacob Begg (Van Diemen RF92), with Ryan Low (Van Diemen RF98) in third.
While Low won the opening round, his missing the second round in Timaru has dropped him down the points table. With his entry in the third event, Low will be hard to beat and a change in the points table is expected.
Also expected to shine and who may take his first podium is rookie driver Izaak Fletcher (Ray GR20). The kartsport graduate won the NAPA Auto Parts prize for ‘Driver of the Day’ at the last round, which is awarded at each event over the season.
The $500 Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy cash prize will be awarded to the fastest qualifier on Saturday before the first 10-lap race at 4:00 pm on Saturday. Two races will take place on Sunday, including a 12-lap finale.
The Team Hutchinson Ford Prize will also offer a package 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 has put up an FT50 test for the winner of Class 2 to encourage these entry-level drivers and cars back into Formula Ford.
Words & Images: Supplied
