The GVI.Kiwi Formula Open New Zealand 2023/24 season reached its final round at Taupo International MotorSport Park last weekend (27-28 April) at the Single Seater Festival in Taupo.
So ended the fifth season of Formula Open New Zealand and a very deserving Toby Mc Cormack who took out not only the Jim Palmer Cup for TRS FT40 cars but also the overall trophy, the prestigious Howden Ganley Cup named after New Zealand’s works BRM F1 driver. In so doing became the youngest ever winner of the series. For the fourth consecutive year an FT40 has won the FONZ series outright proving what a fabulous car these are and such an economical way to get into wings and slicks race cars.
Other winners for were Zac Christensen taking the Graeme Lawrence Cup by a very slender 10-points from Geoff Harriman. Gary Rush took out the David Oxton Cup for Formula Atlantics and the Chris Watson cup for over 45 drivers.
In private testing on Friday morning everybody was keeping an eye on the weather as it was raining in the morning. However, by lunchtime the sun was shining, and it stayed that way for the remainder of the weekend.
With a very strong field of cars that included six FT50 TRS cars that included a returning Hayden Bakkerus after a few stints in Toyota 86’s and also joining FONZ for a first time was young hot shoe Sebastian Manson who was the quickest of the FT50’s all weekend.
Another driver making a comeback to the series was Brody Mc Conkey this time stepping across for the Jim Palmer Cup for FT40’s to the Graeme Lawrence Cup for FT50’s. Brody was driving the Richard Crabb owned number 98.
Also returning to the series after his Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Cup campaign was Kaleb Ngatoa driving the ex 1989 and 91 winning NZIGP Swift DB4 Formula Atlantic. He instantly showed not only how good an Atlantic is but Kaleb himself is a super talent by smashing the FONZ Lap record by just over a full second with an amazing 1:23.41 to set pole position for race one in front of a very healthy field of five more Atlantics. Of course, being set in qualifying the lap doesn’t count as an official time.
Champion elect Toby Mc Cormack headed a good field for of FT40’s that included three-time Formula First Champion, Newbury School Principal Chris Symon who was also campaigning in his Formula First for the weekend trying to emulate his dad Ross, by winning four straight Championships in a row which he achieved on day one of the weekend.
Young Mc Cormack demonstrated his talent by putting his Simple Green, Salee sponsored FT40 on the pole for the Jim Palmer Cup Series and fourth overall 0.5 of a second behind Hayden Bakkerus in an FT50.
Race one saw Ngatoa loose the rolling start to Manson, due to the unique rolling start sequence at Taupo that sees the pole on the outside leading into Turn One.
This is a throwback to the A1GP days and has never been changed. It didn’t take long for Kaleb to displace Sebastian with the Atlantics superior handling and braking. Meanwhile all hell broke loose further down the field as Adrian Rivers Swift DB4 spun on cold tyres right in front of Rhys Humphries 93H Reynard. Close behind was Blake Dowdall stepping up from Formula Ford for the weekend into an FT40. Unfortunately for Blake and Rhys they came together eliminating them both for the remainder of the weekend.
Final results for Race one was Ngatoa first across the line and first in the David Oxton cup for Atlantics, Second across the line was Sebastian Manson and first in the Graeme Lawrence Cup for the FT50’s while Toby took out the race for the Jim Palmer cup and came across the line in fourth overall.
The start of race two was a carbon copy of race one with Seb Manson getting the better entry to turn one displacing pole sitter Kaleb Ngatoa but once again the Atlantic was back in front before the end of lap one. This time there were no issues behind as everybody got away cleanly and there ensued a great battle between the Formula Atlantics of Gary Rush, Bryan Hartley and Adrian Rivers.
Whilst they were scrapping Brody Mc Conkey had got his FT50 past the FT40 of Toby Mc Cormack and was followed through by Zac Christensen but still Toby monstered Zac for the remainder of the race. Manson was only able to keep Ngatoa just within site but could do little to stop another win on the road from the flying Marton driver.
The results for Race two were the same as race one with Ngatoa first across the line and first in the David Oxton cup for Atlantics, Second across the line was Sebastian Manson and first in the Graeme Lawrence Cup for the FT50’s while Toby took out the race for the Jim Palmer cup but this time fifth across the line overall just behind Brody Mc Conkey in third and Zac Christensen who were third and fourth respectively on the road.
The final Feature race saw Kaleb Ngatoa get the jump on Sebastian Manson to lead out of turn one with a gaggle of FT50’s and 40’s all squabbling over the minor money. During this shemozzle Bryan Hartley got a blinder and popped out in fourth position. Then it nearly went pear shaped when the 4AGE Toyota in the back of Kalebs Swift DB4 coughed and spluttered going through turn four. Sebastian did not need a second invitation and he had the no: 22 FT50 through in a flash.
The line up behind all thought it was Christmas and scrambled through the ever-decreasing gap leaving Kaleb no choice but to stand on the brakes and let them all through before they took each other out. Also getting caught out was Bryan Hartley who had to avoid the melee developing in front of him losing several places in the process.
The remainder of the race was a split between Kaleb trying to get back to the front but being foiled by a misbehaving engine, a great little battle was going on further down the field between Paul Couper (FT40) and Fraser Windleburn in the Red Roofs Inns sponsored Swift DB4.
Final results Sensation Manson First across the line and first in the Graeme Lawrence Cup, Hayden Bakkerus second across the line and second in the Graeme Lawrence Cup with Kaleb Ngatoa third across the line and first in the David Oxton Cup. Toby Mc Cormack was sixth across the line but first in the Jim Palmer Cup.
Formula Open New Zealand would like to thank all our followers for their support throughout the year, also to our competitors for being involved and most of all to our Sponsors Genuine Vehicle Imports (GVI.Kiwi & GVI. Electric).
Comments