Manson keeps winning while Kirwan remains a threat in South Island Formula Ford Championship

Marco Manson has again dominated the latest 2025/26 South Island Formula Ford Championship (SIFF) round last weekend at the Thunder Down Under meeting held at the Timaru International Raceway.  

Three race wins, a podium, qualifying fastest and picking up the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy cash prize have put the Auckland teenager in a commanding position to take the 2025/26 title with one round remaining.

The meeting also doubled as the second round of the NZ Formula Ford Championship, attracting more competition from the North Island series.

However, Manson has not had it all his way with Maxim Kirwan also having a stellar round, winning Race 3 and placing second in the other three races.

He now moves into second overall, while consistent scoring from Jake Bryant sees him move up into third, just one point ahead of Dylan Petch. Fifth is Izaak Fletcher, who picked up the NAPA Driver of the Day award as well as a podium in the third race.

“It’s been ok, it’s been solid,” said Kirwan.

“Pretty happy overall, better than last weekend. The team has been putting in a good effort. I’ve been putting in a good effort, and we have worked quite well to get some good results this weekend.”

Petch has been consistently quick and finished on the podium in the opening race. A mechanical DNF in Race 3 unfortunately dropped him to fourth, but he was still within striking distance of a top-three finish.

Also in the mix was Christchurch resident Seb Eskandari, who joined the grid for the fourth round. The 12-year-old is also competing in the national series and picked up two race wins at the opening round a week ago at Teretonga Park.  

The final round of the championship takes place in Christchurch at the Super Weekend run by the Canterbury Car Club, with four races over the two-day meeting.

The South Island Formula Ford Club acknowledges the support from Team Hutchinson Ford. Available throughout the Formula Ford season are funding and support from both the Tony Quinn Foundation and the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy, while Yokohama returns as the tyre of choice for Formula Ford Racing in NZ and as the NAPA Driver of the Day Award.

Overall Points after 4/5 rounds

1. Marco Manson 1171
2. Maxim Kirwan 877
3. Jake Bryant 784
4. Dylan Petch 783
5. Izaak Fletcher 700
6. Zach Tucker 619
7. Reagan Edwards 486
8. Cameron Freeman 456
9. Jacob Begg 384
10. Toby Musico 358
11. Jackson Culver 323
12. Seb Eskandari 202
13. Mathew Basso 166
14. Archie Dampier-Crossley 141
15. Dyson Freeman 108

Race Results – Race 1 (10 laps)

1. Marco Manson, Spectrum 015,
2. Maxim Kirwan, Spectrum 015,
3. Seb Eskandari-Marandi, Mygale SJ08A,
4. Dylan Petch, Van Diemen RF93,
5. Jake Bryant, Van Diemen RF94
6. Campbell Owens, Spectrum 015,
7. Toby McCormack, Spectrum 010,
8. Jacob Begg, Ray GR21,
9. Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF92
10. William Beck, Spectrum 010b,
11. Mathew Basso, Mygale SJ08A,
12. Dyson Freeman
13. Olivia Lorenzen, Van Diemen RF01,
14. Izaak Fletcher, Ray GR20,
15. DNF Toby Musico, Mygale SJ08A, Gold Coast

Race 2 (10 laps)

1. Marco Manson, Spectrum 015,
2. Maxim Kirwan, Spectrum 015,
3. Jake Bryant, Van Diemen RF94
4. Seb Eskandari-Marandi, Mygale SJ08A,
5. Izaak Fletcher, Ray GR20,
6. Toby Musico, Mygale SJ08A, Gold Coast,
7. Mathew Basso, Mygale SJ08A,
8. Dylan Petch, Van Diemen RF93,
9. Campbell Owens, Spectrum 015,
10. Toby McCormack, Spectrum 010,
11. Jacob Begg, Ray GR21,
12. Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF92
13. William Beck, Spectrum 010b,
14. Olivia Lorenzen, Van Diemen RF01,
15. DNS Dyson Freeman

Race 3 (12 laps)

1. Maxim Kirwan, Spectrum 015,
2. Marco Manson, Spectrum 015,
3. Mathew Basso, Mygale SJ08A,
4. Campbell Owens, Spectrum 015,
5. Izaak Fletcher, Ray GR20,
6. Jake Bryant, Van Diemen RF94
7. Toby Musico, Mygale SJ08A, Gold Coast,
8. Seb Eskandari-Marandi, Mygale SJ08A,
9. Jacob Begg, Ray GR21,
10. William Beck, Spectrum 010b,
11. Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF92
12. Toby McCormack, Spectrum 010,
13. Dyson Freeman
14. DNF Dylan Petch, Van Diemen RF93,
15. DNF Olivia Lorenzen, Van Diemen RF01,

Race 4 (12 laps)

1. Marco Manson, Spectrum 015,
2. Maxim Kirwan, Spectrum 015,
3. Toby Musico, Mygale SJ08A, Gold Coast,
4. Seb Eskandari-Marandi, Mygale SJ08A,
5. Mathew Basso, Mygale SJ08A,
6. Dylan Petch, Van Diemen RF93,
7. Campbell Owens, Spectrum 015,
8. Toby McCormack, Spectrum 010,
9. Jacob Begg, Ray GR21,
10. Izaak Fletcher, Ray GR20,
11. Jake Bryant, Van Diemen RF94
12. Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF92
13. William Beck, Spectrum 010b,
14. DNF Dyson Freeman
15. DNS Olivia Lorenzen, Van Diemen RF01,

Header Image: Euan Cameron