Competition at the third round of the 2021/22 Yokohama South Island Formula 1600 Championship was running hot on Saturday only to have significant rain on Sunday cancel racing at Teretonga Park in Invercargill. Coupled with a significant oil spill, racing was initially postponed then cancelled. Despite this, qualifying and one of three races were completed on a fine Saturday, won by Christchurch’s Louis Sharp (Spectrum 015) who continues to lead the overall championship.
“It’s a bit of a shame,” commented Sharp. “We had a good race on Saturday and really happy to get the win.
“We had a bit of battle at the start with Matt (Hamilton) and I was able to get the lead and then managed the gap to him and hold him off in the last lap. The car setup wasn’t perfect, but the team did a great job.”
Fellow Cantabrian Matthew Hamilton (Van Diemen RF88) set the early pace, winning a $500 cash prize from the Hampton Downs New Zealand Racing Academy for fastest driver in qualifying. Hamilton finished in second ahead of a charging Alex Crosbie who stood on the podium for the first time.
“That’s my best result so far,” commented Crosbie (Ray GR21). “It’s pretty disappointing that we only got one race in for the weekend but pretty pleased with that.”
Crosbie is in his second season of Formula Ford moving up to a brand-new Ray GR21 chassis, having competed last season in a Van Diemen RF92.
“The handling of the Ray is a lot better and we also have a new engine,” said Crosbie. “I’ve got more experience and its about getting more seat time and learning from those in front of me. Hopefully I can go even better.”
Organisers of the championship hope to run two extra races over the final two rounds of the championship. Sharp has a 22-point lead over Hamilton as well as leading Class 1 (>2000) from Zac Christensen (Ray GR20) and Crosbie. Cameron Freeman (Van Diemen Stealth) continues to lead Class 2 (1990-1999) from Robert Toshach (Swift FB89) while Hamilton leads Class 3 (pre 1990) from Harry McDonald (Van Diemen RF88).
The next round takes place in support of the Speed Works meeting at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch 20-23 January 2022.
Overall Points after 3/6 rounds (Top 15)
Place, Name, Car, Points
1/ Louis Sharp, Spectrum 015, 468
2/ Matthew Hamilton, Van Diemen RF88, 446
3/ Zac Christensen, Ray GR20, 424
4/ Alex Crosbie, Ray GR21, 352
5/ Simon Hunter, Mygale SJ08A, 328
6/ Daniel Brown, Ray GR21, 322
7/ Dylan Petch, Ray GR20, 286
8/ Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF93 Stealth, 255
9/ Dyson Freeman, Van Diemen RF92, 196
10/ Bo Hill, Van Diemen RF94 Stealth, 195
11/ Robert Toshach, Swift FB89, 190
12/ Harry Wilson, Mygale SJ12, 158
13/ James Dicey, Spectrum 07B, 158
14/ Ryan Low, Ray GR08, 139
15/ Jack Noble-Adams, Ray GR21, 145
Results
Race 1 – 9 laps
1/ Louis Sharp, Spectrum 015
2/ Matthew Hamilton, Van Diemen RF88
3/ Alex Crosbie, Ray GR21
4/ Zac Christensen, Ray GR20
5/ Daniel Brown, Ray GR21
6/ Marc Doran, Ray GR20
7/ Cameron Freeman, Van Diemen RF93
8/ Dylan Petch, Ray GR20
9/ Dyson Freeman, Van Diemen RF92
10/ Blake Knowles, Van Diemen RF92
11/ Robert Toshach, Swift FB89
12/ Harry Wilson, Mygale SJ12
13/ Simon Spencer-Bower, Van Diemen RF93 Stealth
14/ Nigel Arkell, Van Diemen RF90
15/ James Dicey, Spectrum 07B
16/ Harry McDonald, Van Diemen RF88
17/ Jacob Cunniffe, Swift SC96K
18/ Andy Robertson, Swift Formula Ford
19/ Will Kitching, Van Diemen Formula Ford
20/ John Stevenson, Van Diemen Stealth
21/ Ryan Low, Ray GR08 Formula Ford
DNF/ Simon Hunter, Mygale SJ08A
DNF Bo Hill, Van Diemen RF94
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