Thirty-nine Formula Fords lined up the for 2002 Talley’s Formula Ford P & O Nedlloyd New Zealand Grand Prix which was held at Teretonga Park, Invercargill. Current Australian Supercars driver Fabian Coulthard stood on top of the podium in what was a convincing victory for the Kiwi driver.
Coulthard (Van Diemen Stealth RF94) had already set the benchmark for the rest of the field, qualifying fastest and winning a shootout to determine the top ten on the grid. It was his season, going on to win the 2001/02 NZ Formula Ford Championship title. Heading into the round, Coulthard had an unbeaten record having won all seven races already held in the seven round championship.
Two US drivers Bryan Sellers (19) and AJ Allmendinger (20) had flown into New Zealand on Boxing Day as part of the Team US Scholarship program. This had been organised by Jeremy Shaw in the USA, with both drivers being run by John Crawford in Christchurch. Both driving Van Diemen Stealth RF84s, finished second and third in the GP.
The NZGP hadn’t been run in 2001. Previous to this it had been competed for by Formula Brabham (1994 and 1995) and then with Formula Holden (1998-2000). It was also not held in 1996 and 1997.
Hence, the 2002 NZGP had a required minimum distance. The consequence of this being that the Formula Ford fuel tank could not hold the required distance without being refuelled. Thus the race was held in two parts with a compulsory fuel stop after 18 laps. Nothing else was allowed to happen with the cars in pit lane, other than more fuel being added. The second part of the Grand Prix was then restarted under safety car.
Behind Coulthard there was plenty of action in the first 10-lap section of the race. Ken Smith, Simon Richards, Sellers, Allmendinger, Nicolas Ross, Simon Gamble and Brady Kennett were involved in some close racing.
Heading into the compulsory fuel/pit stop it was Coulthard from Sellers, Allmendinger, Ross, Gamble, Richards and Ken Smith.
In the second part of the race Allmendinger, Ross and Gamble were involved in an incident in the loop resulting in Gamble retiring and Ross fighting back to seventh place.
Nelson Hartley (16 years old at the time) drove from 29th to finish sixth.
1995 NZGP winner Brady Kennett struggled with oil pressure and finished down in 11th.
Coulthard won with ease ahead of Sellers and Allmindinger with Smith home in fourth.
2002 Talley’s Formula Ford P & O Nedlloyd New Zealand Grand Prix result (Top 10)
1/ Fabian Coulthard 59:07.569
2/ Bryan Sellers 59:11.283
3/ A Allmendinger 59:16.403
4/ Ken Smith 59:18.821
5/ Simon Richards 59:24.203
6/ Nelson Hartley 59:24.897
7/ Nicholas Ross 59:27.031
8/ Todd Stewart 59:28.907
9/ Daniel Gaunt 59:29.688
10/ Chris Pither 59:29.800
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