Chris Symon has etched his name further into New Zealand Motorsport history by claiming his fifth consecutive NZ Formula First Championship.
The final round at Taupo provided a fitting end to a thrilling season. Mixed conditions and close racing kept spectators on the edge of their seats. Symon dominated the Taupo round, winning all four races despite the challenging weather.
“To win all four races at Taupo, in mixed conditions, tops off another great season,” Symon said.
“To be racing at the front consistently and competitively for so many years, with the support of my family, is truly amazing. Dad has been the driving force behind this year’s championship, and I can’t thank him enough for supporting me to break his record, which has stood for over 30 years.”
The season saw five different race winners, highlighting the competitive nature of the series.
“That’s why Formula First is so much fun: competitively close, hard racing, always!” Symon remarked.
Liam Foster finished second in the championship, acknowledging the season’s competitiveness.
“It’s always the goal to win, but we didn’t quite have the horsepower to challenge for number 1,” Foster stated.
He also praised his team’s consistency and reliability, expressing strong motivation for next season.
“I think one big positive was our consistency, with both reliability and getting the most that we could from the car, which is a huge testament to all the work that Dad and John put into the car.
“Next year will be my last season racing in Formula First for the foreseeable future, and I have never been more motivated to win the championship and look forward to achieving this next season.”
On the final day of the championship, Harry Scott made a significant jump, moving from fifth to third in the standings after a strong performance. Scott battled hard all weekend, demonstrating consistent pace with four podium finishes across the Taupo races.
“After a strong weekend at Taupo Motorsport Park with all the hard work from the team, we managed to collect valuable points for the championship,” said Scott.
“It was a weekend of pure NZ Formula First racing. We managed to gather enough points to claim third place in the championship.
“Dad (Blair Scott) and I were very stoked to get this championship position after not having a great start to the season. I am highly thankful to my brother, Leo Scott (former competitor), and Dad for all the work they have put in behind the scenes to make these opportunities possible for me.”
Edward Meyer was another stand-out performer, taking his first national podium over the weekend. He put pressure on the front drivers all weekend and has made great progress throughout the season.
Yoshi Comeskey was crowned Sabre Motorsport’s 20th Rookie of the Year Champion, joining an impressive lineup of drivers who have previously won the title.
Comeskey said of his victory, “I had a mega weekend up in Taupo for the championship’s final round. We continued our season-long finishing streak and finished all four races with no contact. We wrapped up the rookie title by the penultimate race, which really took the pressure off and resulted in a great battle with Ben Williams in the final race.
“Huge thanks to Dennis and Jono from Sabre Motorsport for the reliable and quick car all season long. I’m really happy to take the rookie title; it means a lot to have my name on the same trophy as all the past rookie champions and some of the drivers I look up to.”
The Formula Vee Association of NZ has its annual One-Hour Enduro on Saturday, May 3rd. This will be followed by the AGM and Prize Giving in the Manawatū, a chance for the class to celebrate a fantastic motorsport season.
Header Image: PitstopSam Media
