The 2022/23 Formula Open New Zealand season got off to a hot start at the MG Classic at Manfeild earlier this month.
Once again the circuit proved to be a leveller between the modern Tatuus FT50 ex-TRS cars and the Swift DB4 Formula Atlantics with Liam Sceats (FT50) and reigning series champion James Watson (Swift DB4) setting near identical times with Sceats the quicker of the two being just a one hundredth of a second off Watsons existing lap record.
Four Formula Ford drivers from last season stepped up to the FONZ wings and slicks class albeit in three different type of cars, Sceats and Joshua Andrews in FT50’s, and Zac Christensen in an FT40 with Bree Morris driving the 1989/91 NZIGP winning Swift DB4 Atlantic.
There were in fact five of these fabulous sounding ground effect Formula Atlantics racing this weekend and it was really interesting to watch the battles between the ex-TRS cars and the Atlantics right throughout the field.
Unfortuneatley last season’s Jim Palmer Cup Winner Ethan Sillay’s exciting newly imported Reynard RF93 Formula Atlantic refused to play ball so was side lined all weekend.
Former Teretonga commentator Donald McDonald (aka The Voice of Teretonga) walked into the garage and said ”it’s just like the 80’s” when he saw Ron McMillan and Mark Sheehan (aka Jandals) tinkering with Morris’ car.
Regrettably tyre supply issues kept series Patron and three-time NZGP winner Kenny Smith and his great mate Tom Alexander at home. That meant the Manfeild crowd were robbed of what would have been an epic battle at the front of the field with young Sceats not having to fend off the two.
However, Sceats didn’t have it all his own way as 2009 Toyota Racing Series New Zealand runner up Sam Mac Neill fought him hard until his older tyres went off – another suffering from supply problems.
Two drivers of note over the weekend was young Zac Christensen who is brand new to racing an FT40. In fact, he is so new to it that he had not even driven it until the day before on the Toyota test track behind Manfeild. But clearly the lad is talented as he ended up the weekend leading the Jim Palmer Cup and second overall in the Howden Ganley Cup.
The other driver to impress was Grant Rivers driving the Ex Pope Racing Swift DB4. Not only was his car the best presented, he is also becoming more and more comfortable with his machinery and ended the weekend having a great battle with the FT50 of Geoff Harriman in the final race of the weekend.
The next round is the Historic Grand Prix meeting at Taupo International Motorsport Park on January 21 and 22, 2023.
Harry McDonald will be joining the event in another FT40 after driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing in the Scandinavian GT4 Series.
Paul Couper will also return alongside ex-Formula Ford racer Hayden Bakkerus, both in FT40s.
Main image: Great South Photography | Words: John Tomlin
