Southland’s Jordan Michels intends to increase his lead in the 2017/18 South Island Formula 1600 Championship this weekend as the third of six rounds gets underway in Invercargill. Michels (Mygale) has a nice 27 point buffer to second placed Cantabrian Bailey Paterson (Van Diemen Stealth) with fellow Southlander Ethan Anderson (Van Diemen Stealth) third, another 13 points behind.
“It’s pretty exciting to be running at home,” commented Michels. “I’ve never been leading a championship before. We just keep chipping away and this weekend it will be great to be at home. In saying that it still will be tough as the others are very quick and they will be up to speed very quickly.”
Michels has led the series from the first round in Christchurch at the end of October but it hasn’t been plain sailing with a number of new rookie drivers hunting for race wins.
Paterson won the opening race of the series and has been on the podium four times from six races proving to be very quick. Also showing form in his rookie year is Josh Bethune (Mygale). Although he has finished on the podium three times, he is yet to win a race and sits fifth on the points table after failing to finishing the opening race of the series.
Ahead of him in fourth overall and leading the Class 2 category is Robert Toshach (Spectrum). Toschach has finished consistently all season and leads the class from Southland’s Noel Atley (Swift) and mid-Canterbury’s Derek Wilson (Swift).
Leading the Historic Class 3 is Joseph Oliver (Crossle) also competing at his home track this weekend. With just a 15-point lead over second placed Matt Butchart (Van Diemen RF88), Oliver may lose his championship lead with Butchart having been the fastest Class 3 car in five races so far. Like Bethune, he too has failed to complete one race in a series that rewards consistency with a need to finish every race and bank vital points for the overall championship.
Over twenty drivers are expected to take to the grid at Teretonga Park in what is considered a critical round. Missing from the entries is Auckland rookie Callum Hedge who has elected to compete only in the national rounds. Invercargill will again host the South Island Champs in January that will also double as the third round of the national championship. Good results and car setup will be vital for many who will be also hunting for a national title.
Michels also leads the NZ F1600 Championship after the first round in Timaru earlier in the month. The Southlander recently completed a Civil Engineering Diploma in Dunedin and over the winter months travelled home to Invercargill each weekend to work on the car in preparation for the summer season.
Racing takes place over both Saturday and Sunday at Teretonga Park with the weather forecast looking to be dry and very hot.
2017/18 South Island Formula 1600 Championships
Overall Championship Points after 2/6 rounds
PLACE, DRIVER, CAR, POINTS
1 Jordan Michels Mygale 219
2 Bailey Paterson Stealth 191
3 Ethan Anderson Stealth 178
4 Robert Toshach Spectrum 146
5 Josh Bethune Mygale 140
6 Kurt Peterson Stealth 135
7 Steve Edwards Mygale 130
8 Steve Heffernan Stealth 104
9 Simon Spencer-Bower Stealth 103
10 Matt Butchart VD RF88 94
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