The five-round 2026/27 South Island Formula Ford Championship (SIFF) kicks off this weekend in Timaru with the first three races. The field is competitive, with a mix of experienced drivers and rookies new to the category.
The experienced Dylan Petch (Mygale SJ15A) finished second overall last season, but he’ll face Seb Eskandari (Mygale SJ13A), who finished runner-up in the national championship.
“Really looking forward to it,” commented Petch.
“There will be a lot of fast cars at the front. In fact, the whole grid will be quick like we saw at the end of the national’s last season.”
Petch has switched from a Van Diemen Stealth to a Mygale SJ15A bought from Australia.
“The car won the Australia 2022 Formula Ford Championship with Valentino Astuti. We felt that the Mygale chassis has been performing well with the new Yokohama tyre. The car has had a large rebuild over the winter.”
Both Cantabrians will face a confident Braxton Kraayvanger (Spectrum 015), who comes off a three-race winning streak at the opening round of the North Island Formula Ford Series at Hampton Downs earlier this month.
Christchurch’s Archie Dampier-Crossley (Ray GR17) will be on the grid for his second SIFF season. Joining him are several rookies making their debut in single-seater racing.
Alex Sprague (Van Dieman RF94) from Timaru brings experience in both SS Cup and 2KCup, while Nelson’s Conley Webley (Van Dieman RD93) comes off the back of the recently finished One-Hour South Island Endurance Series (Class 4).
Southland’s Nixon Cripps (Spectrum 15) steps up from kartsport with the help of the experienced squad at Evolution Motorsport.
Lily Flashman (Mygale SJ12) heads south from New Plymouth to compete in her first SIFF season, while Olivia Lorenzen (Mygale) gets set for her second Formula Ford season, after competing in both the North Island and national series last season. It will be her second time competing at the Levels circuit.
Veteran’s Gary Love (Van Dieman RF98) from Christchurch and Arrowtown’s (Van Dieman RF98) will also be on the grid and will not make it easy for other competitors.
The SIFF organising committee acknowledges Rodin Cars’ support. Yokohama continues to back the series, along with support from NAPA and its Driver of the Day award, plus the Team Hutchison Ford prize for each round winner.
Header Photo: Euan Cameron
