Hedge takes championship lead with Formula Regional victory

Callum Hedge will enter the final day of the Formula Regional Oceania Championship at the top of the standings after taking a hard-fought victory in Taupo today.

Although a lights-to-flag victory, Hedge was made to work for his spoils, Englishman Louis Foster remaining in touching distance the entire 20 laps and looking extremely fast behind.

New Zealand Grand Prix winner Laurens van Hoepen was left to round out the podium, unable to match the pace of the two ahead and some two seconds off the pace.

Liam Sceats continues to go from strength-to-strength, a solid fourth place showing just how fast he has become this series with previous championship leader Charlie Wurz left to settle for fifth.

Kaleb Ngatoa was the third best Kiwi in the field, finishing sixth whilst Breanna Morris and James Penrose were unfortunate victims of a Lap 1 incident where a spun and stranded mid-corner Jacob Abel left them no where to go, all three failing to finish.

Wurz will be in for a big Race 2 tomorrow and will be a hard pass, the reverse top eight grid of benefit to the Austrian who will start on the second row with Hedge forced to start eighth.

Hedge himself also commented on the effects of dirty air when following in the FT60 and the difficulties that can present when attempting a pass.

This means tomorrow afternoon’s final race of the season is likely to decide the championship making for an important qualifying session at 10.08am.

With only three points the difference between Hedge and Wurz, Sunday is poised nicely to conclude what has been a spectacular championship thus far.

Race Report

Hedge and Foster both got great launches off the front row, the Kiwi leading into Turn 1. Sceats followed behind, pipping a slow launching van Hoepen off the line whilst Ngatoa also got the better of Wurz to take fifth.

There was drama in the pack at Turn 1, Jacob Abel’s championship chances dealt a massive blow after being spun from behind and stranding on track.

Penrose and Morris had nowhere to go at the rear of the field, both collecting Abel with damage evident on each car.

A red flag was called for to remove vehicles from the track, Wurz lucky to get a move done to reclaim fifth before the intervention was called for.

A Safety Car restart was a blessing for Hedge, the championship contender not forced to battle with the fast Englishman off a potential second grid start.

The Kiwi nailed the restart, leading Foster and van Hoepen respectively, the Dutchman quick to join the tail of the battle pack for the lead as they pulled away from Sceats in fourth.

Wurz remained content in fifth with the quick Kiwi Ngatoa keeping him company just behind.

As the race entered its mid-stages Hedge did well to maintain his lead, the pressure applied by Foster behind intense and non-relenting.

Van Hoepen was running a second behind the pair by this point with Sceats doing well to keep up with the New Zealand Grand Prix winner in fourth, a second a half clear of Wurz.

Lap 14 saw Hedge finally able to relent, small lockups for Foster showing signs of his desire to get the move done.

Ngatoa had also closed Wurz down, teasing at a battle over the final five laps ahead with the rest of the field over 3 seconds behind.

The pressure got to Foster on the penultimate lap, running wide at the hairpin as he prepared for a final lap charge, giving the Kiwi breathing space at the start of the lap.

That didn’t last long, the Brit making up ground quickly and looking as if he could pull alongside.

It wasn’t to be, Hedge holding on for a nerve-wrecking win, leaving Foster in second and van Hoepen to round out the podium.

Sceats earned a well-deserved fourth ahead of Wurz who held off a quick Ngatoa in the dying stages.

Formula Regional returns tomorrow for a qualifying session at 10.08am and races at 1.03pm and 4.04pm.

For all you need to know about Round 5 of the Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship click here.