The 2022/23 Formula Open New Zealand got off to a hot start at the MG Classic at Manfield on the weekend of 11-13 November 2022. Once again, the circuit proved to be a leveller between the modern Tatuus FT50 ex TRS cars and the Swift DB4 Formula Atlantics with Liam Sceats (FT50) and reigning series champion James Watson (Swift DB4) setting near identical times with Sceats the quicker of the two being just 100th of a second off Watsons existing lap record.
Four Formula Ford drivers from last season stepped up to the FONZ wings and slicks class albeit in three different types of cars. Liam Skeats and Joshua Andrews in FT50’s, Zac Christensen in an FT40 and Bree Morris driving the 1989/91 NZIGP winning Swift DB4 Atlantic.
There were in fact five of these fabulous sounding ground effect Formula Atlantics racing over the weekend and it was really interesting to watch the battles between the ex TRS cars and the Atlantic’s right throughout the field.
Unfortunately, last season’s Jim Palmer Cup Winner, Ethan Sillay’s, exciting newly imported Reynard RF93 Formula Atlantic refused to play ball so was side lined all weekend
Regrettably tyre supply issues kept series Patron Kenny Smith and his teammate Tom Alexander at home so the Manfield crowd were robbed of what would have been an epic battle at the front of the field with young Sceats not having to fend of the absent three-time NZGP winner Smith and former Toyota 86 and Aussie Super Ute champion Alexander.
However, he did not have it all his own way as 2009 Toyota Racing Series New Zealand runner up Sam Mac Neill fought him hard until his older tyres went off (another suffering from supply problems).
Two drivers of note over the weekend was young Zac Christensen, brand new to racing an FT40. In fact, so new to it that he had not even driven it until the day before on the Toyota test track behind Manfield. But clearly the lad is talented as he ended up the weekend leading the Jim Palmer Cup and second overall in the Howden Ganley Cup.
The other driver to impress was Grant Rivers driving the Ex-Pope Racing Swift DB4 not only was his car the best presented he is becoming more and more comfortable with the car and ended the weekend having a great battle with the FT50 of Geoff Harriman in the final race of the weekend.
Next round is the Historic Grand Prix meeting at Taupo on January 21st &22nd 2023. The exciting thing is we will have Harry Mac Donald joining us in another FT40. Harry of course is driving for Toyota Gazzoo Racing in the Scandinavian GT4 Series. We also look forward to having Paul Couper back with his FT40 and another ex-Formula Ford racer Hayden Bakkerus in yet another of the fabulous FT40’s.
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