Rookie Arthur Broughan wins 2026 Rodin Cars New Zealand Formula Ford Challenge

Arthur Broughan has won the 2026 Rodin Cars New Zealand Formula Ford Challenge, incorporating Legends, held as a support category for the Christchurch Supercars round over the weekend.

Three podiums and a race victory were enough to win from NZ Formula Ford Champion Marco Manson, with Seb Eskandari third ahead of Maxim Kirwan.

“Pretty awesome,” said Broughan.

“It is super fun, some of the best racing I have had in a race car so far.”  

With a background in RX7 and GR86 racing, it was Broughan’s first competitive outing in an open wheeler.

“To be honest, I came here to have a bit of fun, so it’s pretty cool to win on debut,” said Broughan!

Consistency saw Andy Neale win the Class 2 Legends Trophy from Cameron Freeman and Will Neale.

“It’s been great,” said Andy Neale.

“I had a ball, although I had to race smart as these young blokes are always keen to get through. 20 minutes is a long time for an old bloke!”

Racing got underway with the first of four 20-minute races on Friday afternoon. It was Maxim Kirwan who made the better start, beating pole sitter Manson off the line, with Broughan slotting into third ahead of Lincoln Taylor, Dylan Petch and Jake Bryant.  

Despite a brief Safety Car period early in the race, Kirwan continued to lead with Manson and Bryant swapping positions and Eskandari in fourth. On the eighth lap, Manson was to make a stunning move heading into the hairpin, having previously moved into second, taking the lead, with Brough also getting passed.

The smoking Mygale of #34 Oliver Wickham brought out the Safety Car once again through to the chequered flag with the win to Manson.

Broughan took the lead of the second race on Saturday, which saw Taylor and Manson both off at the hairpin. While both got underway again, they headed into the pits and out of the race. Kirwan was another to retire with an engine misfire, while Broughan continued to lead, battling with Eskandari and Bryant.

Broughan was first across the line, only to receive a 10-second penalty, dropping him to third and handing the win to Bryant ahead of Eskandari. Fourth was Isaac Fletcher, then the first Class 2 car of Will Neale, Dylan Petch and Andy Neale.

Unfortunately, the third 20-minute race first thing on Sunday morning was dominated by two Safety Car periods, which produced just four laps of competitive racing.  Bryant, who led from pole position, was rotated by a late braking rival, clipping Petch and dropping them both out of the race.

Once these two cars were taken away, the race got underway, only for Will Neale to break an axle, stranding him just outside the pit entrance, immediately followed by teammates Taylor and Ekandari clashing.  

This brought out the Safety Car once more, with the race finishing under caution. While several suffered misfortune, others benefitted, with Broughan taking his first race win, Kirwan finishing second, and Mason third, all after both started near the rear of the grid.

For the final Race 4, it was Kirwan once again off the line and into the lead from P2, followed by Broughan, Manson and Andy Neale. This proved to be the best race of the weekend with no Safety Car interruptions and clean classic Formula Ford racing over 13 full laps.

The second half of the race was punctuated by the top three vying for podium positions, with Manson eventually taking the lead and defending it from Kirwan and Broughan.  Eskandari, having started from ninth, worked his way through the field, joining the top three for the last three laps, even moving briefly into third.

“I just had to manage where I was and finish to win the round, so I was just letting those two in front fight and for me to hold on to the end,” said Broughan.

“I saw Seb (Eskandari) catching up, and he went round the outside of me for third, and so I went round the outside of him to get the position back.”

“A few ups and downs for the weekend,” said Eskandari.

“Started ninth in the last race and got some good laps in to catch the front group.”

In the end, it was Manson who took the win from Kirwan and Broughan, with Eskandari fourth. Will Neale was the top Class 2 car, finishing in seventh overall.

Despite the DNF in the second race, Manson had done enough to finish second overall in front of Eskandari.

“It was a pretty fun weekend racing with all the boys,” said Manson.

“Two wins, a DNF which I couldn’t control, and a third, so a solid weekend.”

Rodin Cars provided Trophies for both the Overall Challenge and Legends (Class 2) winners, plus cash prizes for first, second and third placings.

Broughan also received a $500 cash prize, Manson $300 and Eskandari $200. Andy Neale received the Legends Trophy and a cheque for $500, with son Will Neale finishing second and receiving a $300. Cameron Freeman was rewarded for third with a $200 prize.

Race Results – (Pos, #, Driver, Chassis, Class)

Race 1 (20 minutes)

1. 1 (R), Marco Manson, Spectrum 015, 1
2. 2, Arthur Brougham, Mygale SJ08A, 1
3. 68 (R), Maxim Kirwan, Spectrum 015, 1
4. 77, Jake Bryant, Van Dieman RF94, 1
5. 44 (R), Sebastian Eskandari, Mygale SJ08A, 1
6. 35, Izaak Fletcher, Ray GR20, 1
7. 92, Will Neale, Van Diemen RF92, 2
8. 47, Andy Neale, Van Diemen RF92, 2
9. 19, Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF92, 2
10. 78, Lincoln Taylor, Mygale SJ13A, 1
11. 56, Andy Downs, Lola 642E, 3
12. 59, Ayven Dunn, Van Diemen RF88, 3
13. 39, Dylan Petch, Van Dieman Stealth RF93, 1
14. 20 (R), Olivia Lorenzen, Mygale SJ07A, 1
15. 64, Matthew Christian, Swift FB91, 2
16. DNF 83, Thomas Flynn, Swift SC92, 2
17. DNF 34(R), Oliver Wickham, Mygale SJ12A, 1
18. DNF 23, Jordan Michels, Van Diemen RF87, 3
19. DNF 38, Ryan Low, Van Diemen RF98, 2

Race 2 (20 minutes)

1. 77, Jake Bryant, Van Dieman RF94, 1
2. 44 (R), Sebastian Eskandar1, Mygale SJ08A, 1
3. 2, Arthur Brougham, Mygale SJ08A, 1
4. 35, Izaak Fletcher, Ray GR20, 1
5. 92, Will Neale, Van Diemen RF92, 2
6. 39, Dylan Petch, Van Dieman Stealth RF93, 1
7. 47, Andy Neale, Van Diemen RF92, 2
8. 19, Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF92, 2
9. 38, Ryan Low, Van Diemen RF98, 2
10. 83, Thomas Flynn, Swift SC92, 2
11. 59, Ayven Dunn, Van Diemen RF88, 3
12. 20 (R), Olivia Lorenzen, Mygale SJ07A, 1
13. 26, Dyson Freeman, Van Diemen RF01, 1
14. 55, Hamish Carpenter, Van Diemen RF86, 3
15. 56, Andy Downs, Lola 642E, 3
16. DNF 78, Lincoln Taylor, Mygale SJ13A, 1
17. DNF 1 (R), Marco Manson, Spectrum 015, 1
18. DNF 68 (R), Maxim Kirwan, Spectrum 015, 1
19. DNF 64, Matthew Christian, Swift FB91, 2
20. DNF 34(R), Oliver Wickham, Mygale SJ12A, 1

Race 3 (20 minutes)

1. 2, Arthur Brougham, Mygale SJ08A, 1
2. 68 (R), Maxim Kirwan, Spectrum 015, 1
3. 1 (R), Marco Manson, Spectrum 015, 1
4. 47, Andy Neale, Van Diemen RF92, 2
5. 38, Ryan Low, Van Diemen RF98, 2
6. 19, Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF92, 2
7. 83, Thomas Flynn, Swift SC92, 2
8. 55, Hamish Carpenter, Van Diemen RF86, 3
9. 26, Dyson Freeman, Van Diemen RF01, 1
10. 59, Ayven Dunn, Van Diemen RF88, 3
11. 20 (R), Olivia Lorenzen, Mygale SJ07A, 1
12. 56, Andy Downs, Lola 642E, 3
13. 44 (R), Sebastian Eskandar1, Mygale SJ08A, 1
14. 35, Izaak Fletcher, Ray GR20, 1
15. DNF 78, Lincoln Taylor, Mygale SJ13A, 1
16. DNF 34(R), Oliver Wickham, Mygale SJ12A, 1
17. DNF 92, Will Neale, Van Diemen RF92, 2
18. DNF 39, Dylan Petch, Van Dieman Stealth RF93, 1
19. DNF 77, Jake Bryant, Van Dieman RF94, 1
20. DNF 64, Matthew Christian, Swift FB91, 2

Race 4 (20 minutes)

1. 1 (R), Marco Manson, Spectrum 015, 1
2. 68 (R), Maxim Kirwan, Spectrum 015, 1
3. 2, Arthur Brougham, Mygale SJ08A, 1
4. 44 (R), Sebastian Eskandari, Mygale SJ08A, 1
5. 77, Jake Bryant, Van Dieman RF94, 1
6. 78, Lincoln Taylor, Mygale SJ13A, 1
7. 92, Will Neale, Van Diemen RF92, 2
8. 34(R), Oliver Wickham, Mygale SJ12A, 1
9. 35, Izaak Fletcher, Ray GR20, 1
10. 55, Hamish Carpenter, Van Diemen RF86, 3
11. 47, Andy Neale, Van Diemen RF92, 2
12. 83, Thomas Flynn, Swift SC92, 2
13. 20 (R), Olivia Lorenzen, Mygale SJ07A, 1
14. 59, Ayven Dunn, Van Diemen RF88, 3
15. 56, Andy Downs, Lola 642E, 3
16. 26, Dyson Freeman, Van Diemen RF01, 1
17. 19, Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF92, 2
18. DNF 38, Ryan Low, Van Diemen RF98, 2
19. DNF 64, Matthew Christian, Swift FB91, 2
20. DNF 39, Dylan Petch, Van Dieman Stealth RF93, 1

Header Image: Geoff Ridder