The 2022 Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series is back in action this weekend with overall points leader Liam Sceats looking to consolidate his lead. The Taupo International Motorsport Park in Taupo hosts the one-day meeting on Sunday as part of the Auckland Car Club Summer Series. Sceats (Van Diemen Stealth) has a 135-point lead over second placed Blake Dowdall (Spectrum 015) with Leo Scott (Spectrum 05) another 55-points further back as the series reaches the halfway point, the fourth round out of seven.

Both Dowdall and Scott have each stood on the podium four times this season and will be keen as ever to move up to the top step. Scott heads to Australia next week to compete at Phillip Island in a Victorian State Formula Ford Championship round and will want to finish this weekend’s racing on a positive note.

At the last round at Pukekohe Park Raceway in early October, Sceats didn’t have it all his own way with Dylan Grant (Van Diemen RF05) winning two of the three races.  Although he sits seventh overall, Grant has form and could be the driver to watch over the remaining four rounds. He currently sits seventh overall, more due to not finishing three of the nine races held so far this season.

Back into the mix on Sunday is Hayden Bakkerus (Mygale) who missed the third round and has only finished two races. Bakkerus cannot be discounted lightly as he led the series last season right up until the very last race.

Manson Potter (Van Diemen Stealth) sits fifth overall after consistently finishing all nine races but won’t be on the grid on Sunday. He’s ahead of Sebastian Manson (Spectrum 015) who recently competed in the annual Vortex Rok Cup Super final in Italy, missing out on making the Junior Super final and finishing third in the Levanto Trophy race (B final).

The three rounds held this season has produced extremely close Formula Ford racing across a group of seven or eight cars. Taupo has the potential to produce more close racing with a long back-straight and a tight technical in-field. Drivers will have qualifying and three races across the day on Sunday.

On the line is a $500 cash prize for fastest qualifier provided by the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy. The award is part of the increased $66,000 prize pool from the Tony Quinn Foundation with funding for travel and testing opportunities with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing NZ.    

The Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series is also supported by Yokohama, the Tony Quinn Foundation and NAPA Auto Parts who sponsor the round winner with a $200+gst trade voucher.  

‍Caption: #20 Hayden Bakkerus (Mygale)

Photo Credit: Geoff Ridder