Braxton Kraavanger has taken the advantage at the opening round of the Crème Insurance North Island Formula Ford Series (NIFF) held at Hampton Downs on Sunday. The teenager received the NAPA Driver of the Day award having qualified fastest and then went on to win all three races at the Auckland Car Club Combined Race & Sprints one-day meeting.
“I’m feeling pretty good and happy to win it and really stoked to get the Driver of the Day award and hoping to carry this on,” said Kraayvanger.
In a damp qualifying session, Kraayvanger (Spectrum 015) picked up the Rodin Cars $500 cash prize for fastest Class 1 car while Oliver Sentch (Van Diemen Stealth) received $250 for the quickest Class 2 car.
“It was low grip out there with the rain just finished,” commented Kraayvanger. “I managed to make it work and ended up on pole.”
He then went on to win the 12-lap Race 1ahead of Sentch, Tony Graham (Van Diemen RF8), Olivia Lorenzen (Mygale) and Mike Davidson (Reynard 84F).
“My start in Race 1 was a bit average and I fell back to third,” said Kraayvanger. “I made my way back through (to first) and managed to pull away for the win.”
Race 2 saw the same podium with Kraayvangr first, Graham moving up to second and Sentch down to third.
The final 15-lap feature race saw Kraayvanger with a lights-to-flag victory followed by Mike Davidson, Olivia Lorenzen and Tony Graham.
The second round takes place 1 November 2026 at the Taupo Motorsport Park.
The NIFF organising committee acknowledge the support of major sponsor the Crème Insurance along with the Rodin Cars. Yokohama are continuing their backing of the series along with support from NAPA and their Driver of the Day award.
Overall Points after 1/5 Rounds (Top 3)
1/ Braxton Kraayvanger 227
2/ Oliver Sentch 194
3/ Olivia Lorenzen 187
Race Results
Race 1 12-laps
1/ Braxton Kraayvanger (Spectrum 015) Class 1
2/ Oliver Sentch (Van Diemen Stealth) Class 2
3/ Tony Graham (Van Diemen RF85) Historic
4/ Olivia Lorenzen (Mygale) Class 1
5/ Mike Davidson (Reynard 84F) Historic
DNF James Collie (Van Diemen RF91) Class 3
DNF Ian West (Van Diemen RF79), Historic.
Race 2 12 – laps
1/ Braxton Kraayvanger (Spectrum 015) Class 1
2/ Tony Graham (Van Diemen RF85) Historic
3/ Oliver Sentch (Van Diemen Stealth) Class 2
4/ Olivia Lorenzen (Mygale) Class 1
5/ Mike Davidson (Reynard 84F) Historic
DNF Ian West (Van Diemen RF79), Historic.
DNS James Collie (Van Diemen RF91) Class 3
Race 3 15-laps
1/ Braxton Kraayvanger (Spectrum 015) Class 1
2/ Mike Davidson (Reynard 84F) Historic
3/ Olivia Lorenzen (Mygale) Class 1
4/ Tony Graham (Van Diemen RF85) Historic
5/ Oliver Sentch (Van Diemen Stealth) Class 2
DNF James Collie (Van Diemen RF91) Class 3
DNF Ian West (Van Diemen RF79), Historic.
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