Title winning Formula Fords are still out there competing

| Photographer Credit: Terry Marshall/Euan Cameron Photography

Where are those championship winning cars today? That’s always a great question to ask and often the answer is found in historic racing categories. Not so with Formula Ford. As we have said in the past, the beauty of this category is that the age of the chassis is no barrier to running at the front of the grid. Even spectators can find it hard to tell the difference between the chassis and their age as it is all about the closeness of the racing.

So where are those championship winning Formula Fords today. In this article we take a look at some of the history of the chassis that have won the New Zealand Formula Ford (NZFF) title over the last eleven seasons, from 2008/09 through to 2018/19.

Let’s start with the current NZ Formula Ford title holder Jordan Michels from Invercargill and work back to 2008. His 2013 Mygale SJ13 was first driven by McCauley Jones in Australia before Christchurch’s Caleb Cross competed with it in the 2014/15 season. With Michels now moving up to compete in the new TCR tin-top category, this car is currently being raced by Thomas Boniface in the current national series.

Jordan Michels championship winning Mygale SJ013
The ex McCauley Jones (Australia) Mygale SJ13 driven here by Christchurch’s Caleb Cross in the 2014/15 season

That ‘Magic’ Mygale

One car that has stood out from the grid and has a stella history of winning the NZFF title has been referred to as the ‘Magic’ Mygale. First driven by current Supercars driver Richie Stanaway (main picture) in his title winning 2008/09 season, this Mygale SJ08A has won the title no less than seven times. It’s currently being driven by Zac Stichbury in the 2019/20 season. This is his second season in the car, having finished fourth overall in his rookie debut.

#17 Zac Stichbury competing at Ruapuna last season

Previous to Stichbury, Callum Hedge drove the car taking the 2017/18 national title. Current FIA Formula 3 driver Liam Lawson had it before Hedge, winning the 2016/17 title in this car.

#30 Liam Lawson (Mygale MJ08) at Ruapuna circuit in Christchurch had a great title battle with Michael Collins (in the background)

His team bought it off the 2015/16 title winner Michael Scott who in turn bought it from the Taylor Cockerton team. Cockerton, pictured below, won the 2014/15 title.

#111 Taylor Cockerton (2014/15 title winner) in front of #66 Caleb Cross’s Mygale which Jordan Michels campaigned over four seasons eventually winning the 2018/19 title

Previous to Cockerton the car was campaigned by title winners Jamie Conroy (2013/14) and James Munro (2012/13).

Invercargill’s Jamie Conroy won the 2013/14 NZFF title in the ‘Magic’ Mygale MJ08
#4 Richie Stanaway Mygale SJ08A in which he won the 2008–‘09 NZ Formula Ford Championship with 14 race wins. This chassis is now referred to as the ‘Magic Mygale’ having won seven national titles.

Current Supercars driver Andre Heimgartner won the NZFF title twice in consecutive seasons. First in 2010/11 in a Mygale SJ07. Previous to this, the chassis was successfully campaigned by Martin Short winning the 2009/10 title.

Andre Heimgartner won the 2010/11 NZFF title in a Mygale SJ07 previously driven by Martin Short who won the 2009/10 title

After Heimgartner, the car was subsequently owned and raced by Michael Scott, Aaron Marr and Josh Bethune. While still owned by Richard Bethune, it was successfully campaigned last season by US driver Spike Kohlbecker. The car is currently for sale.

US driver Spike Kohlbecker, Mygale SJ07, at Teretonga during the 2018/19 season. This chassis was driven by Andre Heimgartner in his 2010-11 title winning season and previously by Martin short winning the title in 2009/10. Later driven by Michael Scott, Aaron Marr and Josh Bethune.

Heimgartner then competed in the 2011/12 season in a newer Mygale SJ10 (below) which was subsequently bought and still raced by Christchurch’s Steve Edwards.

Andre Heimgartner Mygale SJ10, now owned and raced for many years by Steve Edwards in the South Island Formula 1600 Championship

All these title winners are still competing today and are testament to the fact that it is a category where age of the chassis is no barrier to being at the front of the grid.

New Zealand Formula Ford Championship winners 2008-2019

2008/09 Richie Stanaway Mygale SJ08A
2009/10 Martin Short Mygale SJ07A
2010/11 Andre Heimgartner Mygale SJ07
2011/12 Andre Heimgartner Mygale SJ10
2012/13 James Munro Mygale SJ08A
2013/14 Jamie Conroy Mygale SJ08A
2014/15 Taylor Cockerton Mygale SJ08A
2015/16 Michael Scott Mygale SJ08A
2016/17 Liam Lawson Mygale SJ08A
2017/18 New Zealand Callum Hedge Mygale SJ08A
2018/19 Jordan Michels Mygale SJ13

Benjamin Carrell is a freelance motorsport writer and currently edits talkmotorsport.co.nz. He writes for a number of Kiwi drivers and motorsport clubs. That's when he's not working in his horticultural day-job or training for the next road or mtb cycle race!

https://talkmotorsport.co.nz

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