• Latest
  • Trending
Grant Rivers in Pope Racing Swift DB4

Formula Open New Zealand kicks off at Manfeild

November 27, 2022

Trackhouse Stand Firm: SVG’s NASCAR growth just getting started

July 8, 2025

Auckland Arena proposal scrapped, but Speedway’s future at Western Springs remains unclear

July 8, 2025

Zeltwanger shows his racing prowess at Manfeild

July 8, 2025

Zack Scoular keeps pushing forward in Eurocup-3 campaign

July 8, 2025

Callum Hedge keeps consistency rolling with another Top-6 finish

July 8, 2025

Elite MotorSport Academy underway for 2025

July 7, 2025
FIA F3 Championship

Sharp’s sensational Silverstone charge blunted by sudden downpour sending him aquaplaning off track

July 7, 2025

Dixon takes record-extending win at Mid-Ohio after rare mistake by Palou 

July 7, 2025

SVG Reigns Again: Shane van Gisbergen wins Chicago NASCAR Cup Race to complete historic weekend sweep

July 7, 2025

Norris triumphs in chaotic British Grand Prix as McLaren secures historic 1-2 finish, Lawson DNF in lap 1 incident

July 7, 2025

Motorsport mourns the loss of Tim Miles after tragic accident

July 6, 2025
Tuesday, July 8, 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

Formula Open New Zealand kicks off at Manfeild

by Velocity News
November 27, 2022
in New Zealand, News
0

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.

Formula Open New Zealand cars at MG Classic in Manfield 2022
Photo: Great South Photography

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

Tags: Bree MorrisFormula Open New ZealandJames WatsonManfieldMG Classic

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.