In 55 years of New Zealand Formula First racing, Pukekohe has become something of an iconic circuit for the series. It’s only fitting, then, that their final round of racing at the track, ever, produced something special.
Step up Chris Symon, the Hi-Q Components NZ Formula First Championship veteran taking three victories from three races in a fighting display of dominance. He was, however, made to work for his success at times, charging drives from a number of competitors never guaranteeing anything.
The benchmark was immediately set by the Symon on Friday’s qualifying, an incredible 1min 21.639sec enough to top nearest rival Toby McCormack by nearly a second.
Harry Scott was the fastest rookie of the session, his third spot some 1.442sec off Symon.
In the new Masters Championship, it was Bob Dillow who once again appeared to be the man to beat, qualifying top of the class in 14th overall ahead of David Scammell and Ron Carter respectively.
It was a poor start from the defending champion in Race 1, a number of drivers able to get through. Symon quickly went about regaining places and took the lead again shortly thereafter.
Any attempts to build on this were quickly thwarted, a stranded Hayden Lines triggering a brief Safety Car.
Symons held the lead off the restart but was put under immense pressure from Zach Blincoe, who set the fastest lap in pursuit of the 2021/22 champion.
Symons was able to hold off the challenge to take the victory with Blincoe having to settle for second. Scott was the fastest rookie of the race, also scoring his first podium with third, making him one to watch this season.
Carter was the first Master home, topping Dillow and Scammell in an impressive drive.
Victory for Symon came more comfortably in Race 2, a gap of 6.4-seconds back to second-placed Liam Foster. The battles for the final podium places were tight throughout the race, finishing with a three-wide finish for positions two through to four.
Foster was the better placed of the trio to take second, just .2 of a second ahead of the third-placed Jenson Bate. Bate’s podium was his first in the category, the skill and prowess shown hinting at many more to come following his Rookie of the Year title last season.
Dillow was back on top in the Masters class, 13th overall enough to top Scammell and Race 1 winner Carter respectively.
The final ever Formula First race at Pukekohe, Race 3, saw much of the same from Symon. The school principal by trade finished just over 2 seconds clear of Foster.
Foster’s younger brother, Jensen Foster, also had a race to remember. A tight battle with his brother over the dying stages determined who finished higher on the podium saw the elder just take the spot, .167sec the difference between the pair.
Dillow once again prevailed in the Masters with 14th place overall.
Liam Nicholson finished fourth in Race 3 and shouldn’t be overlooked despite not scoring a podium at the event. The youngster qualified fifth for the weekend before a slight off at Turn 4 in Race 1 dropped him to 10th.
He quickly recovered, however, to come home fifth after a post-race penalty was applied to McCormack in Race 2. He then went on to back this up with fourth in Race 3, proving he is another name to watch moving forward.
With three more victories to his name, Symon makes it six-from-six for the 2022/23 season. He now leads the championship by a massive 158 points after just two rounds thus far.
The battle for the minor places, however, is intensely close, only 35 points separating second through sixth. It’s Toby McCormack who currently holds second by 19 points over Nicholson, with Scott only 2 points further back in fourth.
Blincoe then sits fifth ahead of Paul McCormack, whilst the Foster brothers are on a charge in seventh and eighth.
The Hi-Q Components NZ Formula First Championship next returns to action in two weeks at Hampton Downs, the three-race weekend taking place over the weekend of November 26-27.
Images: Shots by TayB (Tayler Burke) (Facebook)
