Formula Open underway this weekend – new drivers, more sponsors, more prizes

The sixth Formula Open New Zealand season gets underway this coming weekend 21-22 September 2024 at the NZIGP Ice Breaker meeting at Hampton Downs.

The FONZ are pleased to announce MOUNTSHOP UNDER CAR SPECIALISTS are joining FONZ this season by sponsoring the Jim Palmer Cup FT40’s, the Graeme Lawrence Cup FT50’s and the David Oxton Cup Formula Atlantics. Additionally Genuine Vehicle Imports (GVI.Kiwi) are continuing their valued support of the series and are the naming rights sponsor for The Ice Breaker round.

Kaleb Ngatoa FONZ 2023

Another exciting development is Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ are providing end of season prizes in the shape of a full day’s testing, training and data logging in their Tatuus FT60 for the winners of the FT50 and FT40 groups. Formula Open New Zealand would like to extend out sincerest thanks to these three companies and ask our supporters to support them.

The Icebreaker meeting at Hampton Downs will have four new drivers entering the series including three-time NZIGP winner Kenny Smith in the Swift DB4 Atlantic in which he won the 1990 NZ Grand Prix. Young hot shoe Regan Edwards from Formula Ford is campaigning a Tatuus FT40 and will be joined by another driver new to the series, James Corban, also FT40 mounted. Ollie Sentch will be racing the ex-Grant Rivers POPE Racing Swift DB4 Atlantic that is currently being set up by the Angus Fogg.

Toby McCormack FONZ Taupo 2024

Toby Mc Cormack, last season’s Jim Palmer Cup and Howden Ganley cup winner, has moved into the Stuart Lush owned Tatuus FT50 in the Graeme Lawrence Cup. Toby’s Dad, Paul, is likely to campaign the Simple Green Tatuus FT40 until another young driver can be found to lease the car.

The FT40 group is where the young drivers moving from Formula Ford need to focus as the cars are extremely affordable and very economical to run. In addition the Stuart Lush owned FT40 is also for sale or lease. This car has won the FONZ series outright twice and has had a full engine and gearbox rebuild over the winter break. We have a couple of other car lease/buy options and anybody interested in joining the series should contact Series Director [email protected].

Further exciting news is that the January Legends of Speed meeting celebrating David Oxton will be a true international event with up to twelve formula Atlantic cars from Australia and the USA will be joining the existing FONZ field.

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