Header Image: Chris Symon in action earlier in the campaign. Credit: Shots by TayB (Tayler Burke)
Another race weekend brings another Chris Symon sweep in the Hi-Q Components NZ Formula First Championship, this time at Hampton Downs.
That makes it nine-from-nine for the season for the two-time defending champion following clean-sweeps in the opening round at Manfeild and then again in Round 2 at Pukekohe.
While it may be the case that the results indicate complete domination, that’s not necessarily the case. Symon has been made to work for each and every one of his wins, the talent in the field continuing to pressure him.
That was certainly the case at Hampton Downs over the weekend, Jensen Bate, Liam Nicholson, Zach Blincoe, Jensen Foster and his brother Liam Foster among those to keep the pressure on the series leader.
Qualifying for the weekend was perhaps as one sided as it got, Symon laying down a massive 1min 19.414sec to take pole over Bate by a commanding .93 of a second.
The qualifying podium was replicated in Race 1, Symon first across the line with Bate 2.5 seconds back. Blincoe rounded out the podium after a tight battle with Bate, finishing just short of the second step.
Bob Dillow’s good run of form in the Masters Championship also continued as he finished 12th overall to be the first master home.
Race 2 brought about more of the same, however Symon was challenged by a fast pack to win in a photo finish over Bate, just .08 of a second the difference. Nicholson was also in contention right to the line, finishing third and only .114 off top spot.
Dillow was again the best Master in 12th overall.
It was a Symon-sweep once again in Race 3, the defending champion doing it more comfortable this time around with the margin just over 4 seconds.
A tight battle pack behind saw the remainder of the podium places closely fought for, Nicholson getting the better of Liam Foster by .2 of a second for second place. Jensen Foster missed the podium by just .05 of a second, pipped by his older brother on the line.
There was also a clean-sweep for Dillow in the Masters after he drove to an impressive seventh overall.
Symon now heads into the summer break with a commanding 226 points clear in the championship battle meaning he is more than one round ahead.
Formula First returns to Hampton Downs next round in support of the New Zealand Grand Prix over the weekend of February 3-5.
