North Island Formula Ford champion Bree Morris and S5000 race winner Kaleb Ngatoa recently had the opportunity put an early 1990s Swift DB4 Formula Atlantic car through its paces at Hampton Downs, setting some impressive lap times in the process.
The two were both excited to get behind the wheel and were quickly impressed with the single seater’s performance.
Ngatoa said the experience was by far the most fun he’s had in a single seater car.
“I wished I was racing when these things were new, that is the best fun I’ve ever had in a race car at Hampton Downs,” said Ngatoa speaking to Formula Open NZ.
Morris has been testing a Toyota FT-50 car recently, comparing the two on her outing in the Formula Atlantic.
“It’s definitely much more of a confidence booster out here today in the Formula Atlantic,” she said.
Referring to Ngatoa’s advice, Morris said “just floor it and see how it goes,” in reference to the Formula Atlantic’s ground effect downforce design.
The key difference between the cars the two are normally used to and the Swift DB4 is that the faster it goes, the more it essentially sucks itself to the surface below.
As the day went on and confidence grew, the pair’s lap times began to fall.
Ngatoa managed a 1:01.277 while Morris was just a few seconds off his pace but went around the Hampton Downs National Circuit two seconds faster than she did in the FT-50, and in less laps.
Formula Open NZ says it hopes to be lucky enough for one of these drivers if not both to join the series in the future.
A video of the interview can be viewed here.
Main image: Formula Open NZ field at Hampton Downs
