• Latest
  • Trending

Maiden race and round win for McCormack in North Island Formula Ford Series

November 19, 2024

Jones and Thomson back in action at Rally Hokkaido, finish fourth after hard-fought weekend

September 9, 2025

Ignite Motorsport Club set to fuel young kiwis’ passion for motorsport

September 9, 2025
Louis Sharp, Rodin Motorsport. FIA Formula 3 Championship - Round 10 - Monza, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy.

Louis Sharp’s debut F3 Season ends with retirement in Monza

September 9, 2025

Evans/Schutte seal podium, Wood/Brooks P4 as Ojeda/Lucchitti triumph in Race 2 at The Bend in GT World Challenge Australia Series

September 9, 2025

Kiwi drivers Brendon Leitch and Chris Van Der Drift shine in Sepang’s Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Series Round 5

September 9, 2025

Josh Cooper wins Eastern Southland Car Club Championship

September 9, 2025

McLean, Mitchell and Leonard shine in dramatic SS Cup season opener at Ruapuna

September 9, 2025

Spa-Francorchamps delivers drama and mechanical woes as Scoular fights to top 20 finish

September 8, 2025

Heartbreak for Cormac Buchanan after crash in Catalunya

September 8, 2025

Hamlin wins from pole at Gateway as Van Gisbergen’s playoff battle takes another hit

September 8, 2025

Verstappen triumphs at Monza as Lawson endures gruelling Italian Grand Prix

September 8, 2025
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
VelocityNews
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time updates on Kiwi drivers, events and much more!
Subscribe to New Alerts
  • 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

Maiden race and round win for McCormack in North Island Formula Ford Series

by Velocity News
November 19, 2024
in Formula Ford
0

Auckland’s Toby McCormack has claimed his first Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford race victory and round win at the Taupo Motorsport Park on Sunday.

After finishing runner up in the opening race, McCormack (Spectrum 015) went on to win the remaining two races and has now moved into second overall in the six-round series.  Blake Dowdall (Spectrum 015) continues to lead the points table after winning the opening race and then finishing second and third.

“I’m very happy with how we went this weekend,” commented McCormack.  “We spent a lot of the off-season thoroughly rebuilding the car.  In the opening round we had a few problems which we have sorted, and everything went right this weekend with no problems. Practice day really helped with how it went and the preparation leading into Sunday’s racing.”

Third overall for the round was Leo Scott with three podiums who was also awarded the NAPA Auto Parts Driver of the Day award for his outstanding return to the category after 18-months off.

(left to right) Blake Dowdall Toby McCormack (round winner) and Leo Scott. Image: Geoff Ridder

Scott (Spectrum 010) proved quickest in qualifying taking home a $500 cash prize supplied by the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy with McCormack less than a tenth behind and Dowdall third ahead of Shane Drake (Van Diemen RF92).

“I didn’t quite have the pace of Blake (Dowdall) in the opening race,” said McCormack.  “We were using older tyres from the first round and lost the tow which is really important at Taupo.

“We ran new tyres for the second race.  I didn’t get the best of starts dropping to fourth so pushed hard as we knew we had a tyre advantage getting passed Blake then Leo.  Once I got rid of the draft, I was able to create a gap until the end.

“It was a lot closer in the final race.  Leo was really quick and once I got passed, again I was able to create a gap to the end.”

#6 Blake Dowdall ahead of #86 Toby McCormack. Image: Geoff Ridder

While the top three battled for podium placings, behind them was a fight between Reagan Edwards (Spectrum 015), Jack Groenewald (Mygale SJ07A) and Shane Drake (Van Diemen RF92) for a top five result.

Dowdall has a 32-point lead over McCormack with Scott a further 45-points back in third followed by Edwards, Groenewald and Drake.

“The round went really well for us,” commented Dowdall.  “We are playing the long game with tyres, so we used the same set for all three races as we know the Taupo circuit is hard on rubber.  I’m very happy with our speed and know there is more to come.”

The third round takes place 7-8 December 2024 at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding with four races over the two-day event.

“We have a lot of confidence for the rest of the season,” said McCormack.  “Our main focus is the nationals so pleased with the Taupo round.”  

The Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy award offered at each round is part of a $60,000 Formula Ford prize pool from the Tony Quinn Foundation with funding for travel and testing opportunities with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing NZ.  NAPA Auto Parts has prizes for both Driver of the Day and Rookie of the Year and Yokohama continues as the tyre of choice for Formula Ford Racing in NZ.

This summer sees a collaboration between Rodin Cars and MotorSport NZ to create a new pathway to Formula 1 with the NZFF champion and selected Formula Ford drivers invited to an all-expenses-paid, three-day testing and evaluation program with Rodin Cars in New Zealand.  From there a driver who exhibits exceptional talent has the possibility to test with Rodin Motorsport in the UK with the possibility of securing a seat in one of Rodin’s F4 teams.

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.

error:
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.