Things are looking up for Formula Open New Zealand (FONZ) going into the 2022/23 season with an additional ten cars and drivers who have purchased entries to the series for the coming season.
For 2022/23, FONZ has restructured the series in to two separate groups racing together on track.
The idea is to give young drivers coming out of Formula First and Formula Ford a chance to race in a competitive wings and slicks class giving them experience before they move on to TRS and other overseas series.
There are some exciting young guns joining us this season with no less than five Formula Ford, First and Go Kart racers. Names will be confirmed in the near future.
Because of this initiative we have attracted the support of some famous past champions to put their names on the cups these two groups will be racing for.
Firstly, multiple Tasman Cup winner Jim Palmer who will present the cup in his name to the season winner of Group 1 which will be contested by ex TRS FT40’s, Formula Renaults, Pre1989, Formula Atlantics, Formula Suzuki.
Secondly, multiple Malaysian and Singapore Grand Prix Winner, Formula 5000 winner Graeme Lawrence will present a cup in his name to the winner of Group 2 for ex TRS FT50, post 1989 Formula Atlantics and post 1978 Supervee and pre 2010 Formula 3.
Both groups have an even amount of cars entered and will be on track together racing with an identical points scale.
At the end of the season the driver/car with the highest total amount of points will be the recipient of the Howden Ganley Cup.
Howden of course was a works BRM driver in Formula 1 and was partners with his great mate Tim Schenken in manufacturing TIGA (pronounced Tiger) cars.
Three new commercial partners have come on board to finance the filming and promotion of the series including Promains Pipeline Professionals, Black Fox Electrical, and The Fitness Portal.
Formula Open NZ will feature at six rounds of Classic and Historic race meetings around New Zealand in the coming season with one qualifying session and two, eight lap races and one ten lap race at each round.
Formula Open New Zealand 2022/23 Season Schedule:
| Event | Track | Date |
| MG Classic | Manfield Circuit Chris Amon | November 12 to 13, 2022 |
| Historic GP | Taupo International Motorsport Park | January 21 to 22, 2023 |
| Skope Classic | Ruapuna Raceway | February 4 to 5, 2023 |
| Tasman Revival | Pukekohe Park Raceway | February 25 to 26, 2023 |
| Legends of Speed | Hampton Downs | March 18 to 19, 2023 |
| Great Lake Taupo | Taupo International Motorsport Park | April 15, 2023 |
