Canterbury’s James Penrose has won the prestigious Wigram Cup for the second consecutive time as the 2020/21 South Island Formula 1600 Championship got underway at the Wigram Revival meeting in Christchurch. It was the perfect way for Penrose (Van Diemen RF93) to start his summer campaign winning all three races after setting fastest time in qualifying at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park.
“Really happy with that,” commented Penrose. It means a lot, so absolutely thrilled. It is quite special to win it (Wigram Cup) twice. A big thanks to my Dad for his work on the car”
In all three races Penrose was able to get away right from the opening lap and create a gap back to the chasing pack. Even when each race had a safety car period he was still able to make a break.
“Getting a clean start was important. Then getting as much of a gap back to second and then putting in fast qualifying laps after that,” said Penrose.
Second home in all three races was current South Island F1600 title holder Jack Noble Adams (Van Diemen Stealth). The university student is currently in the middle of exams so missed Friday practice.
“It was a good round for us,” commented Noble-Adams. “Last year we had a rough round at Ruapuna so I’m pretty happy with the car. We couldn’t have gone to much better given the limited track time.”
Third overall for the weekend was 1995 NZ Formula Ford title holder Shane Drake (Van Diemen RF92). The Auckland driver hasn’t turned a competitive wheel in a Formula 1600 (Ford) since 1995 but proved he still has what it takes with two thirds and a fourth placings.
“Pretty chuffed actually,” said Drake. “I didn’t think I would be up there so very happy to be third. I’m thrilled with the car but there is certainly a fair bit to go to catch the two in front. It is a matter of understanding the car, what it needs and what to give it. I’m probably a bit conservative in my driving until I know my limitations.”
The round was the first of six to be competed over the summer. Over thirty entries made it to the grid with a number of rookie drivers’ also making their debut into single seater racing. A handful of drivers have returned to the category as well as a number of freshly imported new and second-hand chassis.
Top rookie was Bo Hill driving a Van Diemen RF92, a South Island Formula Ford Club Scholarship car. Making the move up from kartsport, Hill finished 9th, 11th and 12th across the three races.
Within the overall title competition there are three Class titles in contention. Zac Christensen was the first home in Class 1 (post 2000). Christensen was debuting a brand new Ray GR20 chassis along with Steve Donaldson (Ray GR20) who finished second in the Class.
Penrose also won Class 2 (1990-1999) as well as the Driver of the Day award, while Noel Atley (Crossle 55F) won the Historic Class 3 (pre 1990) from Marc Doran (Ray 86F) and Dave Arrowsmith (Van Diemen RF88).
Drivers and teams head to Timaru International Raceway for the second round this coming Saturday. The one-day event will see qualifying and three races with a full grid of 30 cars expected.
Race 1 (10 laps)
1/ James Penrose, Van Diemen RF93
2/ Jack Noble-Adams, Van Diemen RF92 Stealth
3/ Shane Drake, Van Diemen RF92
4/ Zac Christensen, Ray GR20
5/ Ryan Low, Ray GR08 Formula Ford
6/ Ethan Anderson, Van Diemen RF93
7/ Steve Donaldson, Ray GR20
8/ Simon Spencer-Bower, Van Diemen RF93
9/ Bo Hill, Van Diemen RF92
10/ Marc Doran, Ray 86F
11/ Dominic Robertson, Swift SC94 Formula Ford
12/ Alex Crosbie, Van Diemen RF92
13/ Daniel Brown, Swift SC96K
14/ Noel Atley, Crossle 55F
15/ David Arrowsmith, Van Diemen RF 88
16/ James Dicey, Spectrum 07 B
17/ Robert Toshach, Swift FB89
18/ John Stevenson, Van Diemen RF93
19/ Thomas Flynn, Swift SC92
20/ Harry Wilson, Van Diemen RF88
21/ Nigel Barclay, Van Diemen RF81
22/ Greg Inwood, Van Diemen RF90/91
23/ Hayden Cox, Elden Mk8 Formula Ford
24/ Roger McKenzie, Begg FM3
25/ Keith Cowan, Johnston Formula Ford
26/ Gary Love, Van Dieman RF 002
27/ David McKenzie, Begg FM3
DNF Andy Downs, Van Diemen RF94 Stealth
DNF Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF92
DNF Kim Crocker, Ray GR14
DNF Tony Graham, Van Diemen RF94 Stealth
DNF Henry Thomas-Kircher, Ray F87
Race 2 (10 laps)
1/ James Penrose, Van Diemen RF93
2/ Jack Noble-Adams, Van Diemen RF92 Stealth
3/ Ethan Anderson, Van Diemen RF93
4/ Shane Drake, Van Diemen RF92
5/ Zac Christensen, Ray GR20
6/ Steve Donaldson, Ray GR20
7/ Tony Graham, Van Diemen RF94 Stealth
8/ Kim Crocker, Ray GR14
9/ Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF92
10/ Simon Spencer-Bower, Van Diemen RF93
11/ Bo Hill, Van Diemen RF92
12/ Robert Toshach, Swift FB89
13/ Ryan Low, Ray GR08 Formula Ford
14/ Noel Atley, Crossle 55F
15/ Harry Wilson, Van Diemen RF88
16/ Alex Crosbie, Van Diemen RF92
17/ Thomas Flynn, Swift SC92
18/ David Arrowsmith, Van Diemen RF 88
19/ James Dicey, Spectrum 07 B
20/ Hayden Cox, Elden Mk8 Formula Ford
21/ Keith Cowan, Johnston Formula Ford
22/ Nigel Barclay, Van Diemen RF81
23/ Gary Love, Van Dieman RF 002
24/ Greg Inwood, Van Diemen RF90/91
25/ Dominic, Robertson Swift SC94 Formula Ford
26/ Marc Doran, Ray 86F
DNF Daniel Brown, Swift SC96K
DNF John Stevenson, Van Diemen RF93
DNF David McKenzie, Begg FM3
DNF Andy Downs, Van Diemen RF94 Stealth
DNF Henry Thomas-Kircher, Ray F87
DNS Roger McKenzie, Begg FM3
Race 3 – Wigram Cup (12 laps)
Race 3 – Wigram Cup – (12 laps)
1/ James Penrose Van Diemen RF93
2/ Jack Noble-Adams Van Diemen RF92 Stealth
3/ Shane Drake Van Diemen RF92
4/ Ethan Anderson Van Diemen RF93
5/ Steve Donaldson Ray GR20
6/ Kim Crocker Ray GR14
7/ Cameron Freeman Van Diemen RF92
8/ Dominic Robertson Swift SC94 Formula Ford
9/ Zac Christensen Ray GR20
10/ Marc Doran Ray 86F
11/ Robert Toshach Swift FB89
12/ Bo Hill Van Diemen RF92
13/ Simon Spencer-Bower Van Diemen RF93
14/ Royce Bayer Van Diemen RF90
15/ Daniel Brown Swift SC96K
16/ Alex Crosbie Van Diemen RF92
17/ Thomas Flynn Swift SC92
18/ Noel Atley Crossle 55F
19/ David Arrowsmith Van Diemen RF 88
20/ Harry Wilson Van Diemen RF88
21/ James Dicey Spectrum 07 B
22/ Hayden Cox Elden Mk8 Formula Ford
23/ Greg Inwood Van Diemen RF90/91
24/ Keith Cowan Johnston Formula Ford
25/ Gary Love Van Dieman RF 002
26/ David McKenzie Begg FM3
DNF Tony Graham Van Diemen RF94 Stealth
DNF Ryan Low Ray GR08 Formula Ford
DNF Nigel Barclay Van Diemen RF81
DNF John Stevenson Van Diemen RF93
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