New Zealand driver Callum Hedge has put in a monster qualifying session to claim pole position for this afternoon’s opening Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship race.
It’s clearer now who we expect to see battling near the front as competitors come to grips with their cars, Hedge challenged greatly by the likes of David Morales, Josh Mason and Charlie Wurz who start second, third and fourth respectively.
Liam Sceats continues to show great pace and will start on the third row alongside Australian Ryder Quinn
Other Kiwis James Penrose and Breanna Morris are also continuing to build on their lap times as they become familiar with their car, and will start 11th and 13th respectively.
A red flag for a stranded Lucas Fecury meant competitors were unable to complete their final laps
Hedge says his pace was great and he’s happy with pole but he had more in the tank.
“We knew what lap time the car could do,” he said following the session, “there’s a little more left in it but I didn’t get to finish my last lap with the red flag. But really happy, a big thanks to the M2 guys.
“It’s early days, we still have to get the thing off the line, we haven’t done to many practice starts but as long as I can get it off the line I’m confident we can keep it consistent and get it across the line.”
Morales was also pleased with his front row start but also admits he had more to give on his final lap, estimating he could have improved by three tenths.
It was Wurz was quick to set a benchmark with a 1:29.341 early only to be topped by Hedge shortly thereafter, American Jacob Abel also lapping near the top.
Quinn and Morales also joined the action, the top four all in the 1.28s after 10 minutes of running.
Hedge laid down a massive 1:28.435 on his fifth lap and followed it up with a 1:28.497 the very next lap.
Morales then put in a scorcher to fall agonisingly short of provisional pole with minutes remaining to finish second.
He was followed by Mason who, after a relatively subdued session, put in 1:28.748 in the dying stages to storm up the order on to the second row next to Wurz.
Sceats also finished strongly, going under 1:29 for the first time this weekend to ensure he remains in touch with the leaders.
The opening race of the season gets underway at 3.30pm this afternoon.
Header image: Mark Petch
| Pole | Callum Hedge | 1:28.295 |
| 2nd | David Morales | 1:28.489 |
| 3rd | Josh Mason | 1:28.748 |
| 4th | Charlie Wurz | 1:28.809 |
| 5th | Ryder Quinn | 1:28.820 |
| 6th | Liam Sceats | 1:28.857 |
| 7th | Jacob Abel | 1:29.123 |
| 8th | Ryan Shehan | 1:29.293 |
| 9th | Tom McClennan | 1:29.373 |
| 10th | Chloe Chambers | 1:29.645 |
| 11th | James Penrose | 1:30.176 |
| 12th | Lucas Fecury | 1:30.709 |
| 13th | Breanna Morris | 1:30.860 |
