Alex Crosbie proved to be unbeatable all weekend and has the now extended his lead in the 2023 NAPA Auto Parts NZ Formula Ford Championship after the second round at the Taupo International Motorsport Park, Taupo. Five wins from five races sees the Southlander with a 99-point lead to Dylan Grant with Sebastian Manson third overall just eight points further back. The meeting also doubled as the sixth and penultimate round of the 2022/23 Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series with valuable points up for grabs.
While Manson set the fastest lap in qualifying, winning the $1,010.10 Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy cash prize and initially took the lead in each race, Crosbie was eventually able to take the lead and create a gap from the pursuing pack, until the checkered flag.
“Definitely I am very excited to get all five wins and good to get the points,” commented Crosbie. “I had a bit of pace in the middle of each race which helped create a gap and get me ahead of all the battling behind me.”
While Crosbie got away from the field in each race, several battles went on behind him for podium as well as top-ten placings. Manson was able to maximise his starting position and finished with three second and two third placings.
“I was able to get good starts but I just didn’t quite have the pace to stay with Alex (Crosbie),” said Manson. “We have points in the bank so happy with that.”
The NAPA Auto Parts ‘Driver of the Round’ $230 trade voucher went to Blake Knowles who finished with three podiums. Dylan Grant paced in the top five in all races, finishing third overall for the round while Daniel Brown also stood on the podium.
Rookies drivers Caleb Byers and Will Neale proved to be quick and threatening to break into the top five in each race. They both enjoyed battling with Blake Dowdall, Mason Potter, Hayden Bakkerus, Jack Noble-Adams, Zach Blinco and Dylan Petch in a display of typical tradition toe-to-toe Formula Ford racing, all fighting for top-ten positions and valuable points.
Dylan Grant has taken the lead of the 2022/23 Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series 35-points ahead of Blake Dowdall with Mason Potter slotting into third ahead of Alex Crosbie with the finale to take place 14-16 April at Manfeild Park Chris Amon in Feilding.
The NZ Formula Ford Championship takes a break break before heading to the South Island for the final two rounds over consecutive weekends. Teretonga Park in Invercargill hosts the penultimate round 18-19 March before the finale in Christchurch 25/26 March 2023
The Napa Auto Parts NZ Formula Ford Championship and the Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series are also supported by Yokohama, the Tony Quinn Foundation and NAPA Auto Parts.
Overall Points – 2023 NAPA Auto Parts NZ Formula Ford Championship – after 2/4 rounds
1/ Alex Crosbie 550
2/ Dylan Grant 451
3/ Sebastian Manson 443
4/ Daniel Brown 420
5/ Blake Dowdall 345
6/ Mason Potter 331
7/ Caleb Byers 317
8/ Blake Knowles 307
9/ Jack Noble-Adams 307
10/ William Neale 283
11/ Dylan Petch 229
12/ Hayden Bakkerus 184
13/ Keith Miller 200
14/ Leo Scott 45
Overall Points (Top 10)- 2022/23 Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series – 6/7 rounds
1/ Dylan Grant 1013
2/ Blake Dowdall 980
3/ Mason Potter 978
5/ Alex Crosbie 942
4/ Liam Sceats 785
6/ Sebastian Manson 782
7/ Judd Christiansen 661
8/ Leo Scott 584
9/ Shane Drake 383
10/ Zach Blincoe 379
Race 1 (10 laps) (Position, Car #, Driver, Car)
1/ 1, Alex Crosbie, Ray GR21
2/ 69, Sebastian Manson, Spectrum 015
3/ 50, Blake Knowles, Van Diemen RF05
4/ 15, Dylan Grant, Van Diemen RF03
5/ 6, Blake Dowdall, Spectrum 015
6/ 25, Daniel Brown, Ray GR21
7/ 73, Caleb Byers, Ray GR21
8/ 93, Mason Potter, Spectrum 015
9/ 28, Will Neale, Van Diemen Stealth
10/ 20, Hayden Bakkerus, Mygale SJ11
11/ 75, Jack Noble-Adams, Ray GR21
12/ 125, Judd Christensen, Van Diemen Stealth
13/ 42, Keith Miller, Van Diemen RF01
DNS 17, Dylan Petch, Ray GR20
DNS 7, Tony Graham 1985 Reynard
DNS 90, Zach Blincoe, Mygale SJ07
DNS 5, Kim Crocker, Ray GR14
DNS 99, Leo Scott, Spectrum 010
Race 2 (10 laps) (Position, Car #, Driver, Car)
1/ 1, Alex Crosbie, Ray GR21
2/ 69, Sebastian Manson, Spectrum 015
3/ 25, Daniel Brown, Ray GR21
4/ 15, Dylan Grant, Van Diemen RF03
5/ 6, Blake Dowdall, Spectrum 015
6/ 28, Will Neale, Van Diemen Stealth
7/ 20, Hayden Bakkerus, Mygale SJ11
8/ 93, Mason Potter, Spectrum 015
9/ 73, Caleb Byers, Ray GR21
10/ 17, Dylan Petch, Ray GR20
11/ 75, Jack Noble-Adams, Ray GR21
12/ 125, Judd Christensen, Van Diemen Stealth
13/ 7, Tony Graham 1985 Reynard
14/ 42, Keith Miller, Van Diemen RF01
DNS 5, Kim Crocker, Ray GR14
DNF 50, Blake Knowles, Van Diemen RF05
DNF 99, Leo Scott, Spectrum 010
DNS 90, Zach Blincoe, Mygale SJ07
Race 3 (10-laps) (Position, Car #, Driver, Car)
1/ 1, Alex Crosbie, Ray GR21
2/ 69, Sebastian Manson, Spectrum 015
3/ 15, Dylan Grant, Van Diemen RF03
4/ 90, Zach Blincoe, Mygale SJ07
5/ 25, Daniel Brown, Ray GR21
6/ 28, Will Neale, Van Diemen Stealth
7/ 6, Blake Dowdall, Spectrum 015
8/ 17, Dylan Petch, Ray GR20
9/ 93, Mason Potter, Spectrum 015
10/ 73, Caleb Byers, Ray GR21
11/ 50, Blake Knowles, Van Diemen RF05
12/ 5, Kim Crocker, Ray GR14
13/ 125, Judd Christensen, Van Diemen Stealth
14/ 7, Tony Graham 1985 Reynard
15/ 75, Jack Noble-Adams, Ray GR21
16/ 42, Keith Miller, Van Diemen RF01
17/ 20, Hayden Bakkerus, Mygale SJ11
DNS 99, Leo Scott, Spectrum 010
Race 4 (10-laps)
1/ 1, Alex Crosbie, Ray GR21
2/ 50, Blake Knowles, Van Diemen RF05
3/ 15, Dylan Grant, Van Diemen RF03
4/ 69, Sebastian Manson, Spectrum 015
5/ 73, Caleb Byers, Ray GR21
6/ 90, Zach Blincoe, Mygale SJ07
7/ 28, Will Neale, Van Diemen Stealth
8/ 75, Jack Noble-Adams, Ray GR21
9/ 25, Daniel Brown, Ray GR21
10/ 93, Mason Potter, Spectrum 015
11/ 17, Dylan Petch, Ray GR20
12/ 5, Kim Crocker, Ray GR14
13/ 125, Judd Christensen, Van Diemen Stealth
14/ 42, Keith Miller, Van Diemen RF01
15 20, Hayden Bakkerus, Mygale SJ11
DNF 6, Blake Dowdall, Spectrum 015
DNF 7, Tony Graham 1985 Reynard
Race 5 (12 -laps)
1/ 1, Alex Crosbie, Ray GR21
2/ 6, Blake Dowdall, Spectrum 015
3/ 69, Sebastian Manson, Spectrum 015
4/ 25, Daniel Brown, Ray GR21
5/ 15, Dylan Grant, Van Diemen RF03
6/ 50, Blake Knowles, Van Diemen RF05
7/ 28, Will Neale, Van Diemen Stealth
8/ 73, Caleb Byers, Ray GR21
9/ 75, Jack Noble-Adams, Ray GR21
10/ 17, Dylan Petch, Ray GR20
11/ 93, Mason Potter, Spectrum 015
12/ 7, Tony Graham 1985 Reynard
13/ 42, Keith Miller, Van Diemen RF01
DNF 20, Hayden Bakkerus, Mygale SJ11
DNF 90, Zach Blincoe, Mygale SJ07
DNF 125, Judd Christensen, Van Diemen Stealth
DNS 5, Kim Crocker, Ray GR14
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