Wurz pips Sceats for Taupo Formula Regional feature pole

Charlie Wurz has struck back against new championship leader Callum Hedge in style, taking pole position in this morning’s qualifying session.

Starting from the front puts the Austrian in prime position for the championship-deciding feature this afternoon with Hedge missing out and starting on the third row.

Liam Sceats, however, continues to show progress in his campaign falling just .02 seconds off Wurz to earn a well deserved front row start.

Sceats has been one of the revelations of the Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship and looks set to take a chunk of Super License points following today’s races.

The second row will definitely ensure the duo ahead have to work for their spoils as New Zealand Grand Prix winner Lauren van Hoepens took third, eclipsing Louis Foster on his final run.

That leaves Hedge fifth with American David Morales alongside.

Other Kiwis on the grid include Kaleb Ngatoa who will start seventh, James Penrose who starts 13th and Breanna Morris who starts 17th.

It was a slow start to the session, competitors taking five minutes to bring their tyres up to temperature.

It was then back to business for van Hoepen and Foster, the duo exchanging top spot early before Wurz went fastest, quickly bettered by Hedge.

Foster then responded to move to the top leaving the two championship contenders second and third with only .05 seconds separating them with five minutes remaining.

Wurz responded again to move to the top as did van Hoepen shortly after, edge and Foster also with quick laps to see the top four separated by .05 of a second.

The Austrian then responded with a blistering 1:24.054 which put him two tenths clear of the field with two minutes to go.

Sceats then reminded the field he shouldn’t be ignored moving up to second by .02 of a second.

That was how things finished, only van Hoepen able to improve on his final lap to take third off Foster leaving Hedge fifth to start on the third row.

There will be two Formula Regional races todays, the first at 1.03pm and the championship-decider at 4.04pm.

The first will be a reverse top eight grid from yesterday’s result, Hedge starting eighth with Wurz starting fourth. American Chloe Chambers will start on pole becoming the first female to do so in Toyota Racing Series/ Toyota Formula Regional Oceania history.

Both races are live on Sky Sport and free-to-air on TV3.

Header Image: Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ (Bruce Jenkins)