Symon dominates opening round

Chris Symon has dominated the opening round of the 2022-23 Hi-Q Components NZ Formula First Championship, winning all three races and building an already strong 31-point lead in the standings.

Held in front of a stellar Manfeild crowd, the opening race was comfortably controlled by Chris Symon. Hard charger Brody McConkey did all he could to put the fight to Symon, but ultimately fell short finihing in second place. On his much anticipated return to Formula First, Liam Foster managed a podium finish with third place in the opening race.

Following his Winter Series success, Young-gun Toby McCormack mixed it up the front, finishing in fourth place ahead of his father, Paul, in fifth.

The second race was a similar affair up front, with Symon having it his way through to the chequered flag. This time though it was McCormack Jr. coming home in second, narrowly beating McConkey to second-place. With McConkey third, McCormack Sr. finished fourth ahead of rookie Harry Scott.

With Symon the clear victor again in race three, it was McConkey who slotted back into the runner-up spot. Liam Nicholson would take his third podium in the final race, beating home the McCormack duo who finished fourth and fifth, this time father beating son at the line.

In the battle of the rookies, it was Harry Scott who had the advantage in each race, finishing ninth, fifth and eighth respectively. For the new Masters Championship, Bob Dillow took the round after beating Darren Henderson in the opening two races with 11th and 10th placings. Although Henderson got the last laugh finishing 11th to Dillow’s 12th.

Round two of the 2022-23 NZ Formula First Championship takes place at Pukekohe Park on November 12-13.