Keep an eye on this car, the #98 Van Diemen Stealth driven by Rangiora’s James Penrose competing in the 2019/20 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship. It was originally a 1993 Van Diemen converted to a Stealth in approximately 2003. It’s proof that age is no barrier. It’s proof of the beauty of Formula Ford, a category of many car makes and ages, that provide racecraft experience to their pilots. Those that get it right will be on the podium, no matter the age of their car.
Penrose was second quickest in qualifying (on Friday) in an older Class 2 car for this weekend’s opening round of the national championship at the ITM SuperSprint Supercars meeting at Pukekohe raceway. He may have one of the oldest car’s in the field, but he is no slug.
This is Penrose’s second season in both the national and South Island championships. Right from the start of his rookie season he was quick, finishing second in four of the first five races and winning the other. He finished fifth overall in the national series and third in the South Island. His undoing was failing to score points in three of the 16 races in a championship where you must finish every race.
This season there is a crop of new rookies and four new Spectrum chassis cars.
Which brings us to the question: Why is a commercially sponsored prize included in the Articles Governing the 2019-20 MotorSport New Zealand Formula Ford Championship.
Article 8.2 (2) The highest placed Spectrum Car driver will receive a Borland Racing Developments prize to attend the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in October 2020
The prize is a fantastic contribution towards the NZ Formula Ford category and is to be welcomed. What a tremendous opportunity for a up and coming driver.
Has such prominence previously been given in a national championship articles to a commercial prize? Given the ill-fated proposal to run a ‘Spectrum’ controlled Formula Ford category, one would think that this was a delicate matter.
New chassis, factory support and car development is welcome and let’s remember the beauty of the Formula Ford category that age is no barrier when it comes to having the fastest car. Watch James Penrose this weekend and over the summer series.
Comments