EVENNETT TAKES TOP HONOURS AT THE BEND - CHAMPIONSHIP DOWN TO THE WIRE AT PHILLIP ISLAND
BFR CAMM Quarries driver LACHLAN EVENNETT has come out on top of Round 5 of the Australian Formula Ford Championship, at The Bend Shell V Power Motorsport Park in Sth Australia.
Queenslander Evennett remained strong all weekend to produce 2 second places and a victory in Race 2 to claim top points for the round.
Victorians, ICCONS/Build Fourth/Konstrukt driver JOE FAWCETT, who headed off strong opposition to claim second for the weekend and to remain second in the overall National championship, and current championship leader, Spectrum driver KOBI WILLIAMS, hung on for third, despite a mechanical failure in race 2, which saw him with a DNF and have the championship close up to within 2 points.
BF Racing CAMM Quarries driver LACHLAN EVENNETT is seen at The Bend Shell V Power Motorsport Park - PIC BY: Deanos Race Pics
QUALIFYING:
Pole position winner KOBI WILLIAMS
On Saturday morning, it was the Number 94 of KOBI WILLIAMS who took pole by 3 tenths of second over Lachlan Evennett and Joe Fawcett.
RACE 1
DOMINANT WILLIAMS WINS RACE 1 - Spectrum driver #94 KOBI WILLIAMS came out fighting, taking a dominant 12 second victory, in Race 1 - of Round 5 - of the Australian Formula Ford Championship, at The Bend Shell V Power Motorsport Park in Sth Australia.
Pole man Williams led from start to finish and was never headed but the fight for the remaining spots was far more tense.
A race long - inches apart - battle between BFR CAMM Quarries driver LACHLAN EVENNETT, Fabcon driver JAMIE ROWE and current championship second place runner ICCONS/Build Fourth/Konstrukt driver JOE FAWCETT, saw the three change positions multiple times - often on each lap.
In the end it was the hardworking Evennett who claimed the runners up position, Rowe and Fawcett following - all within a second of each other.
A great run by BJ Workwear/Hard Yakka driver Isaac Demellweek (NSW) saw him come home - again by under a second - over the only Sth Australian runner in the field, Giuseppe Imbrogno - with NSW driver Kaleb Balek charging hard for 7th.
Pirtek driver Tabitha Ambrose fought her way through a race long misfire issue for a courageous 8th, as Queenslander Andrew Torti followed, on the fast, flowing and spectacular Bend Circuit. Torti later saying it was ‘the best track I have ever driven’.
Unfortunately, a late stewards breach for a technical infringement saw Ashton Gealy deemed as non-classified however the QLD driver will be one to watch as the field continues in Race 2 on Sunday at 9.30am
KOBI WILLIAMS is seen at The Bend - Shell V Power Motorsport Park - PIC: Jack Atley
RACE 2
BF Racing driver LACHLAN EVENNETT powered his way to take a close and hard fought victory, in Race 2 - of Round 5 - of the Australian Formula Ford Championship, at The Bend Shell V Power Motorsport Park in Sth Australia.
Evennett saw pressure all race from JAMIE ROWE who came home in second, narrowly ahead of JOE FAWCETT.
However, ROWE was later handed a 15 second penalty by stewards for a turn 1 tap to Fawcett, meaning Isaac Demellweek (NSW) was promoted to his first podium result.
Initially, it was WILLIAMS who led the field but in a dramatic turn of events, the championship leader suffered a mechanical issue half way through the race, his car grinding to a halt out on track on lap 4, meaning a DNF result - which closed the championship up to within 2 points - and a rear of grid start for Race 3.
The only Sth Australian runner in the field, Giuseppe Imbrogno also fought hard, charging to 5th - with NSW driver Kaleb Balek also showing contiued good form just behind.
Pirtek driver Tabitha Ambrose again with displayed courage and a never say die attitude, flowing her No 45 to a well deserved 7th, home by 4 tenths of a second over Queenslanders Ashton Gealy and Andrew Torti, who now showed he had came to grips with his new machine.
The Australian Formula Ford field is seen at Shell V Power Motorsport Park PIC BY: Peter Knights
RACE 3:
LAST TO FIRST - WILLIAMS BOUNCES BACK WITH RACE 3 WIN
Spectrum driver #94 KOBI WILLIAMS has produced a stunning drive, coming from the rear of the field, to take a second victory for the weekend, in Race 3 - of Round 5 - of the Australian Formula Ford Championship, at The Bend Shell V Power Motorsport Park in Sth Australia.
In a 'warrior like' performance, the Victorian Williams had begun from the back of the grid after a mechanical issue led him to retire in Race 2.
With heavy rain falling moments before the race, the track proved tricky for the right side of the grid and by the end of lap 1 Williams had already fought his way past Race 2 winner LACHLAN EVENNETT who was caught in the wet conditions.
From there he was never headed.
BFR CAMM Quarries driver Evennett, current championship second place runner ICCONS/Build Fourth/Konstrukt driver JOE FAWCETT and the hard charging BJ Workwear/Hard Yakka driver ISAAC DEMELLWEEK engaged in a race long battle for the final podium spots, with Evennett and Fawcett prevailing.
Sth Australian runner, Giuseppe Imbrogno survived a wild slide in the rain too and somehow managed to get back on track - then managing to get home in 7th.
Ahead of Imbrogno, Pirtek driver Tabitha Ambrose rounded out her strong weeknd with a fantastic 6th place - the Victorian finally reaping the rewards and points despite niggling equipment issues all weekend.
And again, it was Queenslander Andrew Torti who brought his Spectrum 011 home in the points, a solid and consistant 9th leaving him with a bank of knowlegde for his new car and for the remaining round of the season.
All drivers showed great skill and courage on the fast and flowing track and in very challenging conditions, with Ashton Gealy unfortunately deemed as the only non finisher due to a mechanical issue.
Formula Ford driver Kobi Williams is seen at The Bend Shell V Power Motorsport Park - PIC : Deanos Race Pics
LACHLAN EVENNETT is seen at The Bend Shell V Power Motorsport Park - PIC: Deanos Race Pics
LACHLAN EVENNETT is seen at The Bend Shell V Power Motorsport Park - PIC: Peter Knights
Australian Formula Ford championship ROUND 5 Podium - (L-R) KOBI WILLIAMS (3rd) LACHLAN EVENNETT (1st) and JOE FAWCETT (2nd)
The next Round of the Australian Formula Ford Championship - ROUND 6 - will take place at the world famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit - on 3 - 5 October - where the 2025 Champion will be crowned.