SWEET SUCCESS FOR EVENNETT AT SANDOWN - ROUND 4 SUMMARY
Australian Formula Ford, Brett Francis Racing driver LACHLAN EVENNETT has taken out round honours, at an incident packed ROUND 4 of the 2025 Australian Formula Ford Championship, at Sandown Motor Raceway in Melbourne.
In the end, it was EVENNETT who held on to claim top points for the round, over KOBI WILLIAMS and JAMIE ROWE.
Brett Francis Racing driver LACHLAN EVENNETT is seen at Sandown. PIC BY: Deanos Race Pics
QUALIFYING:
Pole position winner LACHLAN EVENNETT
On Saturday morning, it was the Number 88 of EVENNETT who took pole by one of the smallest margins of the season - nudging JAMIE ROWE by an incredible one one hundredth of a second.
JOE FAWCETT took third - again only 5 one hundredths back - with championship leader KOBI WILLIAMS also just one tenth of a second behind the top three - an amazingly tight front 2 rows.
Unbelievably, the fight in the Kent Class was just as close with RICHARD DAVISON pipping ANDREW TORTI for pole, again, by just one tenth of a second.
RACE 1
In sunny and dry conditions, initially it was WILLIAMS who got the best start, taking the lead until Lap 5 over EVENNETT and ROWE.
Close behind however the battle was on and the biggest moment in the race saw Seth Burchartz (VIC) Tickford Autosport Mygale, Jack Pennacchia (VIC) Mygale SJ09 and Jack Johnson come together on the fast main straight.
The subsequent crash saw all three out of the race but thankfully all drivers managed to escape unharmed.
Burchartz would later receive a severe penalty by stewards as he was deemed to cause the collision.
The race would finish under Safety Car with EVENETT taking the victory, over WILLIAMS and ROWE.
Queenslander ANDREW TORTI continued his great season long form taking victory in the Kent Class over multiple race winner RICHARD DAVISON with PETER FITZGERALD home in third.
Australian Formula Ford driver LACHLAN EVENNETT is seen at Sandown. PIC BY: Formula Ford Australia
RACE 2
On Sunday morning, again with the sun shining, the field were settled after the large crash yesterday.
It was WILLIAMS who led the charge into Turn 1 but this time, he had EVENETT, ROWE and JOE FAWCETT in close proximity.
A small slide in a precarious spot for TABITHA AMBROSE on cold tyres saw an early safety car - however with no injuries at all, she was able to shuffle out of the sand and resume.
Seth Burchartz (VIC) Tickford Autosport Mygale however again found trouble and a wild spin saw him find the fence, off at the fast Turn 9, the edriver was thankfully unhurt but his day was done.
Under double waved yellow flags, the race kept going and in the end, it was WILLIAMS who held it all togetehr to take a solid victory.
Again, the fast Queenslander ANDREW TORTI came home with a solid workmanlike win in the Kent race over arch rival RICHARD DAVISON.
KOBI WILLIAMS leads the field into Turn 2 at Sandown PIC BY: Deanos Race Pics
RACE 3:
On Sunday afternoon, this time EVENNETT stormed to the lead on lap 1 but had close company with FAWCETT and WILLIAMS both charging hard.
Early on however, the number 15 of LACHIE MINEEF became yet another casualty of the infamous Turn 9 wall - a hard hit and a subsequent off at the same corner for GIUSEPPE IMBROGNO - meant another safety car was immediately called.
Again, thankfully both drivers were unharmed.
A long safety car period followed as both cars had severe damage but eventually with the Safety car in, it was a one lap dash to the line and the front runners were not holding back.
WILLIAMS led but EVENNETT managed to take advantage of the famous Sandown slipstream, snatching the lead after an incredibly courageous move at the end of the back straight.
The subsequent narrow race win meant round honours for the likeable EVENNETT after a tough and challenging round at the home of horsepower Sandown.
Richard Davison is seen at Sandown - PIC : Deanos Race Pics
Australian Formula Ford championship ROUND 4 Podium - (L-R) JAMIE ROWE, LACHLAN EVENNETT and KOBI WILLIAMS
FOCUS DRIVER PERFORMANCE HARD CHARGER AWARD
The FOCUS DRIVER PERFORMANCE HARD CHARGER AWARD was taken out by JOE FAWCETT.
In awarding the prize, Formula Ford National Category Manager Jack Atley said:
‘there were a number of outstanding performances across the weekend, as there always is in Formula Ford.
At the technically challenging and fast circuit of Sandown, the drivers showed courage and skill right throughout, so there are many that were deserving of the award, but overall, we found that the driver of No. 23 - JOE FAWCETT - showed true hard charging abilities all weekend.
He was either on the podium or narrowly missing it, in each race and qualy and importantly, he kept his nose clean all weekend too.
He is a much deserving winner of the award”.
FAWCETT receives a training and performance session from FFA category partner, Focus Driver Performance for the award.
The next Round of the Australian Formula Ford Championship - ROUND 5 - will take place at the stunning Bend Circuit in Sth Australia on 19 - 21 September.