The 2025/26 South Island Formula Ford Championship (SIFF) gets underway this weekend at the Timaru International Raceway. While the field is smaller than expected the talent on the grid looks likely to be very competitive, including several new rookie drivers making the step up to single seaters.
Izaak Fletcher (Ray GR20) (main photo) returns for a tilt at the title after finishing third overall last season. Also returning are Jacob Begg (Ray GR21) and Jake Bryant (Van Diemen RF94) who came in fourth and fifth behind Fletcher as well as the very experienced Cameron Freeman who has proved to be very competitive in a Class 2 car.
The fight for the overall title will also include Dylan Petch (Van Diemen RF93), a seasoned campaigner with plenty of both track and Formula Ford experience.
Having competed in the North Island Series, the experienced Reagan Edwards (Spectrum 015) will compete this season in the South and will be looking for race wins.
Also heading south, Marco Manson (Spectrum 015) makes his first appearance in the South Island after competing in two North Island Formula Ford Series (NIFF) rounds last season. Manson proved that he will be quick after standing on the podium in all six NIFF races.
Zach Tucker (Van Diemen RF05) steps up to Formula Ford after karting from the age of six-years-old. There is much to learn for the 14-year-old with just one Club meeting in his Van Diemen.
Tucker has international experience in kartsport including finishing third on the podium in the Rok Trophy in Italy in 2023. Between the first and second SIFF rounds he will head to Kular Lumpa to represent NZ in the world FIA Kartsport Finals.
Jackson Culver is another 14-year-old stepping up to single seaters and comes to the grid with experience in Formula First and becoming the youngest ever motor race winner at the age of 12.
Maxim Kirwan (Mygale SJ08A) also makes the step up from kartsport having raced all over NZ and Australia. The 14-year-old has ambitions to take his career through the various Formula categories and will be keen to race at the pointy end.
The two-day event features qualifying and four races and is the first of five rounds across the 2025/26 season.
The South Island Formula Ford Club acknowledges the support from Team Hutchinson Ford. Available across the Formula Ford season is funding and support from both the Tony Quinn Foundation and the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy, while Yokohama return as the tyre of choice for Formula Ford Racing in NZ.
Header Image: Euan Cameron
