Round 3 of the Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford saw the field return to Pukekohe on Saturday for a one day event which featured a qualifying session and three races. It was Dylan Grant who took two wins, in the second and third races, whilst Liam Sceats took the round with victory in Race 1 and two second-place finishes.
As has been the trend this season, all races were an extremely close contest, wheel-to-wheel action seeing multiple lead changes throughout the day.
Liam Sceats continued where he left off at Pukekohe last time out, qualifying on pole with a 1:02.999, whilst Blake Dowdall, in his recently rebuilt car after involvement in a major incident last round, qualified second. His 1:03.463 was an impressive time given he had not been involved in the earlier practice or warmup session.
Grant could only manage the fifth fastest time.
Sceats received a $500 bonus for his third pole of the season, the award of the fastest qualifier provided by the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy. This was made possible by the Tony Quinn Foundation, part of an increased $66,000 prize pool helping young New Zealand racers establish themselves.
Race 1 began with tight battles up front, the lead changing hand multiple times due to the generous slip-streaming Pukekohe provides.
Dowdall and Sceats locked in a fierce battle through the early stages, Leo Scott hanging in behind. When the leaders hit lapped traffic, Scott pounced, an overtake on Dowdall enough to see him finish second, only behind Sceats. Grant held on to take fourth place in the opener
Races 2 and 3 brought about more close battling up front, this time between Sceats and Grant, the latter managing to hold off the series-leader to take victory in both. Sceats finished second in both of those.
Scott got on the podium for the second time of the day in Race 2, with third, whilst Dowdall finished third in Race 3.
A win and two second places was enough for Sceats to take the round. Fourth in Race 1 meant the two wins were not enough for Grant to take the round, finishing second overall. Dowdall rounded out the top three for the event.
Alex Crosbie, who had been second in the series before the round, did not take part due to recent commitments with the Ferrari Driver Academy.
The North Island Formula Ford return on the 20th of November, this time for another one day event in Taupo.
