The 55th season of Formula Ford racing in New Zealand was successfully launched at Rodin Cars in North Canterbury ahead of the opening round at Invercargill, with young drivers from New Zealand and Australia joining together for a first-ever pre-season event.
With most eyeing up the opportunity to test for Rodin’s pathway to Formula 1 incentive, the 2026 class of thirteen enjoyed the chance to drive their cars around one of the test tracks, receive a guided tour through the impressive engineering and manufacturing facilities, and meet category sponsors, invited guests, and former Formula Ford champions.
New Zealand Formula Ford and North Island series joint coordinator Ian Barlow described the day as one of the most awesome experiences he’s ever had in motorsport.
“To see the facilities and the backing we’re getting from all of our sponsors, including Rodin, is just a wonderful experience. For the drivers, it’s been a great opportunity to get together away from competition, especially for all the rookie drivers, of which there are eight this season,” said Barlow.
The winner of the NAPA New Zealand Formula Ford Championship, along with a potential wild-card, will be invited back for a private test at the end of the season. That evaluation could lead to a further test with Rodin Motorsport in the UK as part of the pathway to the Formula 1 programme instigated by MotorSport New Zealand and Rodin Cars.
For Rodin Cars founder and Rodin Motorsport owner David Dicker, supporting the category is essential to helping develop young drivers for international competition.
“Formula Ford is the base of open-wheel racing, and it’s been like that for 50 years or more, and our focus is open-wheel racing up to Formula 1. We want to be involved in the base because it’s important,” said Dicker, “and it’s the right thing to do.”
“We’re always looking for that outstanding driver, and you don’t want to fall into the trap of thinking every year that’s going to happen because it won’t. You look in F1, and there’s only a handful of guys that can win a world championship, that’s just the nature of it, so you have to be patient and put in the groundwork, and that’s why we’re involved in it and will stay involved in it, because it takes time.”
That patient attitude led to supporting current Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson through the F3 and F2 feeder categories and backing for Louis Sharp, who races in Formula 3 again this year after winning two championships for Rodin Motorsport in the UK.
“Everyone starts out with a lot of enthusiasm, and you need talent to succeed in motor racing. It’s expensive – always has and always will be expensive – but the drivers who have got the focus and the most passion to basically get the most out of themselves will get the results. But if you can’t get to the front, you won’t be able to continue,” he added.
“It’s tremendously difficult to get to Formula 1. Australia’s only had a few guys in F1, and New Zealand’s only had a few because it’s hard. If you’re going to succeed and get to F1, you’ve gotta go to Europe and the UK, and that’s expensive, and it’s difficult.
“The UK teams tend to focus on the UK guys, or Europeans, because they know them and have seen them come up from karting and the other categories. It’s exceptionally difficult for anyone down here, so if we can provide a pathway to guys that we think have got genuine talent, then we’re going to be happy to do it.”
But Dicker is adamant that there’s one basic criterion above all else.
“They need to be fast, that’s all that really matters. Honestly, they could be arseholes, but if they’re quick, they’ll be okay. Obviously, there’s a limit, but if you’re fast, all the cracks will be papered over; that’s just the way motor racing is. James Hunt once said, ‘You don’t get any faster, you get experience, and you get racecraft, but you don’t get more speed.’ And speed is a talent you’re mostly born with. You can nurture it with mileage, and that helps a lot, but if you haven’t got that basic talent, you’re not going to get there.”
Thirteen hopeful drivers – all but three under the age of 16 – will tackle the championship over two rounds in each of the North and South Islands to decide the 55th NZ Formula Ford champion.
Following the opening three races at Invercargill’s Teretonga Raceway this weekend, there will be a quick turnaround to be at Timaru’s Levels Raceway the following weekend. The North Island rounds will be held at Hampton Downs and Taupo Motorsport Park in March.
Header Image: MoMac
