Callum Hedge achieved what was required at the third round of the New Zealand Formula 1600 Championship, increasing his points lead over the chasing pack. Two wins and a second place at Teretonga Park, Invercargill, has given the 14-year-old Aucklander a 38 point advantage over Southland’s Ethan Anderson (Stealth) with fellow Aucklander Josh Bethune another eight points further back in third.
Closest rival on the track was Bethune (Mygale) who took pole position and then twice finished runner up to Hedge before winning the final 12-lap feature race. Both Hedge (Mygale) and Bethune were given time penalty’s after crossing the line first and second in the opening race, due to starting infringements. This dropped them down to 11 and 13 respectively.
“I’ve learnt from it and it won’t happen again,” commented Bethune. “We struggled for pace in the next two races but with better tyres in race four, had much faster pace.”
Christchurch’s Kurt Peterson (Stealth) took the win, his first for the season having returned to the track after a ten-year absence. He also finished the round in third behind Hedge and Bethune.
“It was a bit of luck from my end but it’s been a good weekend with a few battles,” commented Peterson. “It’s great to get amongst the leading pack of drivers and get a few passes. That was the goal for the weekend.”
The round also doubled as the fifth and penultimate round of the South Island Formula 1600 Championship that Christchurch’s Bailey Paterson continues to lead. A retirement in the first race was not on the horizon but Paterson backed this up with three third placings in the remaining races. Anderson is just 34 points behind with Peterson in third and Josh Bethune in fourth.
Southlander Jordan Michels (Mygale) weekend came to an abrupt halt in the opening race. Having at one stage led both the South Island and NZ champs, he pulled onto the grass after breaking a crown wheel and pinion. Without replacement parts he was not able to start in the remaining three races.
With three classes competing within the field, in the NZ champs Hedge leads Class 1 from Anderson and Bethune while in the South Island champs Paterson leads Class 1 from Anderson and Bethune.
In both the NZ and SI champs, Robert Toshach (Spectrum) continues to lead Class 2 from Noel Atley (Swift) while in the Historic Class 3 Matt Butchart (VD RF88) has increased his lead over Joseph Oliver (Crossle).
The penultimate round of the NZ champs takes place in support of the Toyota Racing Series round at Taupo 2-4 February while the final round of the South Island series will be at Timaru 24 March.
2017/18 New Zealand Formula 1600 Championship
Overall Championship Points (Provisional) after 2/5 rounds (Top 10)
Place, name, points
1 Callum Hedge 329
2 Ethan Anderson 291
3 Josh Bethune 283
4 Bailey Paterson 271
5 Kurt Peterson 248
6 Robert Toshach 206
7 Matt Butchart 170
8 Jordan Michels 156
9 Steve Edwards 146
10 Steve Heffernan 143
2017/18 South Island Formula 1600 Championship (Top 10)
Overall Championship Points after 5/6 rounds – provisional
PLACE, DRIVER, CAR, POINTS
1 Bailey Paterson, Stealth 487
2 Ethan Anderson , Stealth 453
3 Kurt Peterson, Stealth 412
4 Josh Bethune, Mygale 408
5 Robert Toshach, Spectrum 358
6 Jordan Michels, Mygale 341
7 Callum Hedge, Mygale 329
8 Steve Heffernan, Stealth 270
9 Matt Butchart, VD RF88 266
10 Steve Edwards, Mygale 258
Race results
Race 1 – 10 Laps
1 Kurt Peterson
2 Ethan Anderson
3 Tommy Smith
4 Robert Toshach
5 Steve Heffernan
6 Jack Noble-Adams
7 Steve Edwards
8 Cameron Freeman
9 Matt Butchart
10 Joseph Oliver
11 Callum Hedge
12 Simon Spencer-Bower
13 Josh Bethune
14 Andy Downs
15 Dave McKenzie
16 Robin Williams
DNF Jordan Michels
DNF Bailey Paterson
Race 2 10 laps
1 Callum Hedge
2 Josh Bethune
3 Bailey Paterson
4 Ethan Anderson
5 Kurt Peterson
6 Jack Noble-Adams
7 Robert Toshach
8 Cameron Freeman
9 Matt Butchart
10 Steve Edwards
11 Joseph Oliver
12 Andy Downs
13 Dave McKenzie
DNF Steve Heffernan
DNF Tommy Smith
DNF Robin Williams
DNF Simon Spencer-Bower
DNS Jordan Michels
Race 3 – 10 laps
1 Callum Hedge
2 Josh Bethune
3 Bailey Paterson
4 Ethan Anderson
5 Kurt Peterson
6 Jack Noble-Adams
7 Robert Toshach
8 Steve Edwards
9 Matt Butchart
10 Tommy Smith
11 Steve Heffernan
12 Cameron Freeman
13 Joseph Oliver
14 Simon Spencer-Bower
15 Robin Williams
16 Andy Downs
17 Dave McKenzie
DNS Jordan Michels
Race 4 – 12 laps
1 Josh Bethune
2 Callum Hedge
3 Bailey Paterson
4 Kurt Peterson
5 Ethan Anderson
6 Jack Noble-Adams
7 Steve Edwards
8 Matt Butchart
9 Robert Toshach
10 Tommy Smith
11 Cameron Freeman
12 Steve Heffernan
13 Simon Spencer-Bower
14 Joseph Oliver
15 Robin Williams
16 Andy Downs
17 Dave McKenzie
DNS Jordan Michels
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