Liam Foster has taken pole position for the Round 5 of the 2020-21 Hi-Q Components NZ Formula First Championship at Hampton Downs. Foster topped the red-flag interrupted session which through up oddities at every moment.
Foster’s fastest time, a 1:56.861, was set on the first lap before a red flag was thrown for a stranded car. Young racer Leo Scott was second fastest with a 1:57.585 ahead of third-fastest Chris Symon.
Symon, the current championship leader, was lucky to retain his lap time after crashing his car in the pitlane during the recommencement of the session. Jamie Newton’s engine was dropping oil on the exit of the pitlane and caused multiple cars, including Symon, to lose control and make contact with the pit-lane wall.
The contact caused major damage to the front of Symon’s car, but he was able to park in a safe place and the session remained green. Brody McConkey and Amy Smith were also caught out by the oil and too made contact with the wall, ending their sessions early.
Starting alongside Symon from fourth will be Smith while Zac Blincoe was the best of the rookies after qualifying in fifth. McConkey’s banker lap was good enough for sixth on the grid ahead of rookies Louis Sharp and Hayden Bakkerus.
Jamie Newton and Dylan Grant rounded out the top ten with just a 0.1s splitting the Sabre Motorsport teammates. A trio of rookies were next in the queue with Toby McCormack in 11th, Mason Potter 12th and Jensen Foster 13th.
David Scammell, Liam Nicholson and Bob Dillow rounded out the field.