All to play for with NZ Formula Ford titles on the line at Manfeild this weekend

The 2025 Napa Auto Parts New Zealand Formula Ford Championship comes to an exciting conclusion as Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon hosts the final fourth round over the weekend in Feilding. Eight drivers have a mathematical chance of winning the title although it is likely to come down to the top three. With a maximum 302-points on offer, drivers and teams will face three 12-lap races and a 18-lap Morrie Smith Memorial Trophy race to decide both the overall and Class 1 and 2 titles.

Palmerston North’s Blake Dowdall has continued to lead the series from the opening round at Timaru in January and holds a healthy 80-point margin over second placed Will Neale from Prebbleton, Canterbury. Neale is the freshly crowned South Island Formula Ford champion and tasted victory at second round in Cromwell. Twenty-points behind Neale sits Toby McCormack who moved up into third after a perfect round at Hampton Downs ten-days ago winning all three races, and could prove difficult to beat for race victories.

“I’ve done a lot of laps and races on the track (Manfeild),” said McCormack. “Last season we went pretty well in the scholarship car so confident that we will be quick.”

Fourth placed Queenslander Lincoln Taylor will not be on the grid deciding against making the trip back to NZ and will be replaced by fellow competitor Diesel Thomas’ brother, Josh. Josh Thomas will make his Formula Ford debut with a background in the Australian TA2 category. A third Queenslander, also with no past Formula Ford experience, has entered the event. Toby Musico is set on rallying but wants to get circuit experience. The 14-year-old joins both Thomas’ at Nigel Barclay Racing Projects.

Fifth in the series is former champion James Penrose. Although he is 129-points off the lead, as a highly experienced campaigner he can never be discounted. On the hunt for another win is Dylan Grant. Grant won the opening race of the season and is consistently quick and will be on a circuit he knows very well.

The mid-field pack of Jacob Begg, Izaak Fletcher and Campbell Owens have continued to push into the top five and are becoming extremely competitive.

The round also doubles as the sixth and final round of the Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series (NIFF). McCormack’s top round at Hampton Downs saw him jump into the lead, now 35-points ahead of Dowdall with Shane Drake in third. Also in the mix are Kim Crocker and Nick Buxeda and the return of Mason Potter. Along with a number of Formula Ford drivers, Potter has been competing in the Toyota TR86 Championship over the summer. The final 18-lap NIFF race will have double points on the line.

Qualifying takes place on Saturday morning with the $1,010.10 cash prize from the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy awarded for the fastest lap.

The winner of the 2025 national championship will be eligible for six Superlicence points towards participating in the Repco Supercars Championship. The recently announced return of the Superlicence sees drivers requiring 15 points, earned over the past five years, to be eligible to race in Supercars.

Prizes on offer include a $51,000 travel fund made available by the Tony Quinn Foundation. NAPA Auto Parts will again offer prizes for Driver of the Day while Yokohama return to the series as the tyre of choice for Formula Ford Racing in NZ.

This summer sees a collaboration between Rodin Cars and MotorSport NZ to create a new pathway to Formula 1 with the NZFF champion and selected Formula Ford drivers invited to an all-expenses-paid, three-day testing and evaluation program with Rodin Cars in New Zealand. From there a driver who exhibits exceptional talent has the possibility to test with Rodin Motorsport in the UK with the possibility of securing a seat in one of Rodin’s F4 teams.