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This past 4^th of July weekend saw the second round of the New Zealand Formula First winter series at Manfeild Park.

The qualifying session saw Kyle George in his new car dominate the session, setting a time over one and a half seconds infront of Jamie Gaskin.  Gaskin, in the radically modified and rebuilt Paul Butler machine managed his fastest lap right out of the box, while third placed Oliver Gordon (in Gaskin’s old machine) managed to set his time in the dying minutes of the session, running within 0.2 of the driver from Lower Hutt.

Fourth went to Bramwell King, returning in his trusty Daytona Indoor Raceway steed, with ‘semi-rookie’ Matthew Higham in fifth place.  2010/11 Speedsport Scholarship winner Hayden Pederson was right behind him, getting used to the new machinery in his FFirst debut. This was the same case for the 20 machine of Taylor Cockerton.

Race 1

Before the race even commenced, the 40 car of Jamie Gaskin was out for the rest of the day with clutch issues.

The race for the win was a one-sided affair, as it saw Kyle George in the ex-Ian Foster machine dominating the race, winning by just under 15 seconds. Oliver Gordon would finish just over one tenth infront of third placed Bramwell King, with Higham and Pederson finishing just behind him. The 20 sabre machine of Taylor Cockerton would unfortunately DNF the first race of the day.

Race 2

The second race would be very much the same, as George pulled out a massive lead over the six laps, and never look back with a twelve second victory.

Second this time went to Bramwell King, just making it over the line after driving a few laps with a thrown fan-belt, thus overheating the engine.

Higham would improve on his previous effort, finishing third after a spin mid-race by the quick learning Hayden Pederson caused a little mayhem out of ‘splash’. Gordon would finish in fourth with the aforementioned Pederson crossing the line in fifth.

Race 3

The last race of the afternoon for the NZ Formula First class was a somewhat small affair, as only four of the cars making it out of the dummy grid, with King’s engine gone and Taylor Cockerton’s machine out from a race 2 incident.

Before one lap was completed the 41 of Oliver Gordon had pulled off the circuit, leaving a three-way race for the win. But the win was never in contention, as Kyle George pulled fast lap after fast lap to dominate the weekend, and take second round honors. Second went to Matthew Higham, with Hayden Pederson taking out the third place position after the six lap event.

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