Bree Morris took two wins in the 2022 Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series at Taupo Motorsport Park, while Kim Crocker took the round win.
Despite the strong performance through the event, a DNF for Morris in the opening race after she ran out of fuel, meant Crocker would secure the round win.
“That definitely was character building,” Morris said.
“The race was going very well but we run out of fuel with only a few laps to go.”
Callum Crawley set the pace in qualifying, taking the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy $500 cash prize.
Morris finished the session in second ahead of Sebastian Manson in third, and Simon Hunter in fourth. The top four were covered by little over a tenth of a second.
Crawley took the lead from the start of the race with Hunter moving into second, Morris falling back to third. Morris went on to pass both, taking the lead of the race until her car stopped on track.
A red flag was brought out during the race for contact between Sebastian Manson and Bailey Cruse, Manson was able to get back out on track for the final race, however, the damage took Cruse out for the remainder of the event. Crawley was also forced to pull out of the event after a crack was found in the chassis of her car.
Hunter took an early lead in the second race, however, he was judged to have jumped the start, receiving a 10-second penalty. Morris was able to catch and pass Hunter to take the lead of the race.
Crocker improved on his fourth-place result in the opening race, to cross the line in third.
Morris controlled the final race from the start, with Hunter stopping on track just 15 meters from the finish line.
Manson who returned for the final race recovered from early contact in the race to cross the line in second ahead of Crocker.
“I knew where my pace was, so we went out to see what we could do and give it our best shot so really happy with the result,” said Morris.
“It is really good to know where our pace stands for the NZ Formula Ford meeting here in Taupo later in March.”
Crocker took the round win ahead of Hayden Bekkerus and Judd Christiansen who took third for the round on debut in the series.
The Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series will be back on track for the third round of the championship at Pukekohe Park Raceway March 20.
Main image: Geoff Ridder
