The charge of Dylan Grant continues as he takes victory in Round 4 of the North Island Formula Ford in the single day event in Taupo .
Qualifying has been hotly contested this year, a $500 cash prize up for grabs courtesy of the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy making for some close sessions.
Grant finally managed to replicate his race form of late in this session, setting the fastest time to be the first driver other than Liam Sceats to start at the front.
The form continued in Race 1, a lights-to-flag victory emphasizing his increase in pace with a new setup following the first two rounds. He pulled away from the pack in his march to the flag, taking victory by over five seconds ahead of Blake Dowdall and Shane Drake respectively.
They were made to work for their podiums, a tight four car battle seeing the duo challenged by the likes of series-leader Sceats and Mason Potter. It was the later who finished fourth after Sceats was forced to withdraw late with a fuel pump issue.
The series-leader was back in Race 2, however, and returned to the top of the podium with victory over Grant. The Race 1 winner had led again in the second until a slight error at Turn 7 showed Sceats the way through, the 17-year-old obliging.
Potter improved on his first-race fourth place to earn a well-deserved third the second time around, finishing just behind Grant.
Wet weather always makes for a testing experience and really allows drivers to showcase their abilities in tricky cicumstances.
This was certainly the case come Race 3, the heavens opening prior to the start.
It was Sceats and Dowdall who pulled away from the field off the start, engaging in their own battle until Dowdall became a victim of the conditions and left the track.
Grant was the benefactor of this, after having his own issues early because of the rain, working his way through to finish second some 40 seconds behind the race winner.
Potter backed up his podium in Race 2 to take another third place in Race 3.
A win and two seconds were enough for Grant to take the round, his first of the season.
Sceats continues to lead the series over Dowdall whilst Grant still has work to do after a couple of DNFs in the first rounds. He sits fifth, some 260 points off top spot.
It’s Potter who currently sits third in the standings just ahead of Leo Scott.
Header Image: Geoff Ridder
