Triple the Celebrations for Williams to Wrap up AFFS Round 3 in Sydney

Kobi Williams has claimed Round 3 of the 2024 Australian Formula Ford Series honours the same weekend the #94 Borland Racing Spectrum driver also claimed his first pole position and first race win.

Joining him in taking home round honours were Eddie Beswick in the #30 Synergy Motorsport Spectrum in second and Jack Bussey in the #74 Ag Equip Spectrum in third. Sunday’s racing continued from a cracking day on Saturday, giving race fans and competitors alike a fantastic weekend of Formula Ford action. 

A combined grid of national and NSW State Championship Formula Fords took to the track for two 17-minute races across the day. 

A foggy morning gave way to beautiful blue skies in time for a wild Race 2 at Sydney Motorsport Park on Sunday, where Williams immediately set to work in an attempt to repeat his Race 1 performance. However, it wasn’t to be for Williams, who tried everything he could to go two-from-two, with Beswick claiming the race win – his second of the season. 

Williams would go on to finish in second place, ahead of Cody Maynes-Rutty in the #69 Synergy Motorsport/CMR Motorsport Spectrum, delivering a fantastic comeback drive after a lacklustre Race 1. There was nothing between the top three, with just eight-tenths of a second covering the podium finishers. There was only a 10-second spread as the top 14 cars crossed the finish line, further highlighting the competitiveness of the field this weekend.  

Williams got a flying start off the line, but it wasn’t long before the #94 was under pressure from Beswick, who captured the lead on lap four and didn’t hand it back for the remainder of the race. 

With six minutes to go, Williams, privateer Zak Lobko (#7 Lobko Motorsport Mygale), and Beswick were battling for control of the race, with a number of changes for second, third, and fourth places between Williams, Maynes-Rutty, Lobko, and Liam Loiacono (#3 Heli Material Handling/BF Racing Mygale) in the final minutes of the race.

L-R: Beswick, Williams, Bussey

Lap after lap, Williams attempted to regain control of the race, diving on Beswick coming into Turn 1, but the Tyres & More Pole Award recipient couldn’t make it stick. Lobko was also very much in the mix, crossing the line in fourth.

Turn one proved to be a tricky spot, with Bussey (#74 Aq Equip Spectrum), Loiacono, and Daniel Frougas (#27 CHE Racing Team Mygale) spearing off the track at different times during the race. Bussey and Loiacono did well to hang on when they came unstuck at the same spot at separate times, both collecting foam brake markers in the process and going on to finish fifth and sixth, respectively. 

It wasn’t only the front of the field enjoying fierce battles with the mid-pack also giving it their all. 

Lachlan Strickland (#47 CHE Racing Team Mygale) was next across in seventh, and Harrison Sellars (#13 Altatek Racing Spectrum) did well to make up a number of places, finishing in eighth from his starting position in 10th. It was another strong finish for Lachlan Evennett this weekend, who is making up for a less-than-ideal Round 2 at Winton Motor Raceway due to electrical gremlins plaguing his #88 BF Racing Mygale, coming home in ninth, ahead of the #53 Listec Race Cars Mygale of William Lowing in 10th.

Full Race 2 results

In Race 3, Williams raced his way to the top step of the podium for the second time this weekend. The race also saw the first Safety Car period of the round. 

There were less than 10 minutes to go when the #5 MMS Mygale of Lachie Mineeff found itself beached in a sand trap after contact with another racer, requiring recovery. Lobko also found himself in strife after contact with Bussey sent him spinning off the track in a separate incident. Both Lobko and Mineeff were unable to finish the race. The field would go on to finish the race under Safety Car, with seven laps completed.

Earlier in the race, Williams got his third flying start of the weekend, running side-by-side with Race 2 winner Beswick into Turn 1, echoing similar dives in Race 2. This time, however, the Turn 1 move would stick, giving Williams control of the race. Maynes-Rutty also took the opportunity to make a move, relegating Beswick back to third and finding himself in the lead for a brief period. 

Bussey’s fourth-place finish was enough to secure him third overall for the round, while Evennett continued to improve, crossing the line in fifth, ahead of Sellars (6th), Strickland (7th), and Lowing (8th).

Daniel Frougas went on to finish Race 3 in ninth. Frougas and the CHE Racing Team completely rebuilt the #27 Mygale after the NSW-based driver clipped the wall coming out of Turn 12 at Winton Motor Raceway in Race 3 of Round 2, which saw his car effectively ripped in two at the bellhousing. Formula Ford newcomer Jamie Rowe rounded out the top 10 in the #48 Fabcon Spectrum.

Full Race 3 results

A full championship points update will be available on the website soon. The 2024 Australian Formula Ford Series next heads north to Morgan Park Raceway from 14 to 16 June for Round 4, alongside the QLD Formula Ford Championship.

2024 Australian Formula Ford Series Round 3 Quoteboard

Round winner: Kobi Williams #94 Borland Racing Spectrum

“A big thanks to Dad and Adam for all their hard work on the car this weekend. Also, thank you to Mike Borland and everyone from Borland Racing for all their help this weekend. Thanks to everyone for the great racing and Formula Ford and Sydney Motorsport Park for putting on a great event. I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Round second place-getter: Edison Beswick #30 Synergy Motorsport Spectrum

“I’d like to thank my family and grandpa for making this happen. Justin, Andrew, and Sean put a lot of work in; they put the spare motor in on Friday night. Thank you, everyone.”

Round third place-getter: Jack Bussey #74 Ag Equip Spectrum

“I’d like to say a big thanks to everyone at Borland Racing, John Martin for driver coaching and engineering, and John Connelly on the spanners – I wouldn't be able to do it without them, and of course, Mike Borland. Also, a big thank you to my sponsors; I wouldn’t be here without them. And to everyone who helps make this happen, thank you.”