On the back of a very successful Historic GP for Formula Atlantics at Taupo, six of the Australian Formula Atlantics will be attending the Legends of Speed Meeting Celebrating David Oxton at Hampton Downs this weekend (25 – 26 January). They will join the CRC, Mountshop, GVI supported Formula Open New Zealand (FONZ) grid to resume the battle they had with the FONZ Formula Atlantics a fortnight ago. Throw into the mix the FONZ ex-TRS FT40’s and 50’s and you are looking at a solid grid of 18 cars.
This is shaping up to be a Formula Atlantic version of the All Blacks playing the Wallabies or more correctly a revival of the old Tasman Series from days gone by. What is special is the howl of the engines in the back of these cars. Most of the Kiwi Atlantics are running the Toyota 4AGE engine whereas all the Australian cars are using the fabulous sounding Cosworth Ford BDA engine.
Of the Australians, the two fast guys are youngster William Lowing in the ex-John Bowe Lucky Nuts Ralt RT4 and his team mate Peter Lucas in the ex- Ralt Australia Ralt RT4. Both were very quick at the Historic GP and were mixing it up with some of the Swift DB4’s. Another Australian to watch will be Tom Hamlett in the very pretty looking March 80A.
The Australian cars are all pre-1988 cars as after that date Australia adopted the Formula Holden category where as New Zealand stuck with the Formula Atlantics until 1992 so the New Zealand cars have better ground effects. However nobody seems to have explained that to the Aussies as they were hugely competitive at Taupo and they should be the same this weekend.
However whilst the Atlantics are superb in braking and extremely fast through corners due to their ground effects, at Hampton Downs they are under threat from the Ex TRS Tatuus Ft40’s and FT50’s. The FT40 has the higher top speed of three types of car but loses out in the corners due to its lack of aero and ground effects.
The FT40’s younger sibling the FT50 has a slight edge on the Atlantics although still not as good under brakes or cornering. The improved aero over the FT40 and the longer wheel base brings it much closer to the Atlantics and gives it a marginally faster lap time.
Young gun and find of the series is eighteen year old Oliver Sentch and will be one of the men to watch over this event. Ollie has been racing in Ford Escorts in classic racing for several years, starting off in 1600cc pushrod model before moving up to a fully worked BDA version and has shown great promise.
Recently Ollie and his dad purchased the ex-Grant Rivers Swift DB4. After only one day of testing Ollie started the Historic GP midfield on the 25 car grid to end the weekend in the final race of the weekend fourth overall taking the spot off none other than Greg Murphy on the line.
Kenny Smith will be in his restored Swift DB4 Cosworth BDA powered Formula Atlantic. This is only its third outing since being fully restored after twenty-five year hibernation. However this time Ken has competitor and friend James Watson on the spanners and is setting the car up with the spec off of his own car as a starting point. Expect to see Kenny Smith at the pointy end.
In addition to the Formula Open New Zealand Grid, the David Oxton celebration meeting will be one of the best classic & Historic meetings of the year with huge fields including Formula 5000, Touring Car Masters, Historic Formula Fords 7 Formula Juniors, Hi Q Formula First, Heritage Touring Cars, HVRA Classic Saloons, Historic Muscle Cars, BMW Enduro, Pre 65 & Super Mini challenge.
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