All on the line for NZ Formula Ford Championship title this weekend in Taupo

It’s all on the line this weekend in Taupo with four remaining races to determine the NAPA New Zealand Formula Ford Championship supported by Ford. Heading into the final fourth round, Marco Manson has a ‘slim’ 51-point lead over Seb Eskandari with Maxim Kirwan in third followed by Campbell Owens and Dylan Petch. In fact, with a maximum of 302-points available across the event, there are ten drivers with a mathematical chance of taking the title at the Taupo Motorsport Park in Taupo.

To Manson’s advantage, he has consistently been the quickest driver across the 11 races held over three rounds this season. He has set fastest lap in in the three qualifying sessions and won seven races.

Eskandari has stood on the podium six times including two race wins while Kirwan has stood on the podium seven times with two race victories. Of the three, Eskandari has finished in all eleven races while the other two have DNF’ed (did not finish) one race each, losing the chance to score valuable championship points.

“I’m feeling confident heading to Taupo,” commented Kirwan. “Anything can happen. It’s a fast and smooth track with some great passing opportunities.”

The event also doubles as the fifth and final round of the 2025/26 Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series (NIFF) which saw a change in the overall leaderboard at the last round at Hampton Downs. Campbell Owens has a 45-point over Jack Groenewald with William Beck having moved into third and Toby McCormack fourth. Campbell is the in-form driver of the series and sits fourth overall in the national championship.

Qualifying takes place on Saturday morning with two championship points available for the fastest driver who will also be awarded the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy $1,010.10 cash prize. Saturday afternoon sees the first of four races while on Sunday there are three races including the prestigious Morrie Smith Memorial Trophy race,
to complete the season. Key to a successful conclusion on Sunday for each driver will be error free races. Any mistake is likely to cost valuable championship points. 

Rodin Cars is supporting the championship by giving the overall winner of the Championship, plus a wildcard, a three- day free test at their facility at Mt Lyford with the opportunity for further testing in a Formula 4 car in the UK as part of their Formula Ford to F1 programme.

The championship continues to be supported by Yokohama, the tyre of choice for Formula Ford Racing in NZ. The Tony Quinn Foundation provides a $60,000.00 Travel Fund to be shared between each entrant that competes in all four rounds of the championship. Included in this is the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy Pole Award.

The Foundation will also offer, for the first time, $10,000 in cash for the overall champion.