Dowdall extends lead in NZ Formula Ford Championship at Highlands

Blake Dowdall has increased his lead in the 2025 Napa Auto Parts New Zealand Formula Ford Championship after the second round held at the NZ Grand Prix weekend in Cromwell. Two wins and a fourth placing has given the Palmerston North teenager a 38-point lead over Christchurch’s Will Neale ahead of Australian Lincoln Taylor, Auckland’s Dylan Grant and Cantabrian James Penrose.

“Close to a clean sweep so to come away with the result from a solid weekend is great,” commented Dowdall. “It’s about winning the war and not the battle.”

It’s been a tough weekend of intense racing for the national title held at the Highlands Motorsport Park with some classic Formula Ford racing and competitive rivalry. Heading into the round Dowdall had a 24-point lead over Dylan Grant but it was Will Neale who has emerged in second place after standing on the podium in all three races including his first victory in the series.

“Absolutely wrapped after such a hard weekend,” commented Neale. “We haven’t been on the pace and found it hard to be in the front pack. We made a couple of changes for Race 3 and it was perfectly in the window. The car was mint and came on when we wanted, and I was in the zone. I can’t thank Dad and the team enough.”

Dowdall put his mark on the meeting after setting the fastest lap in qualifying on Saturday morning, picking up the $1010,10 cash prize from the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy. He then went on to win a close fought Race 1 with Taylor second followed by Neale, Izaac Fletcher, Jacob Begg and Dylan Grant.

Australian rookie Lincoln Taylor again proved he was quick and in Sunday morning’s Race 2 emerged in the lead to which he never relinquished until the chequered flag. Unfortunately, he was penalised five-seconds for exceeding track limits, dropping him to fourth. Dowdall inherited the win from Penrose and Neale with a resurgent Dylan Petch taking fifth ahead of Grant.

Track limit penalties hit a number of competitors across all classes at the meeting throughout the weekend, particularly at Turn 10.

In the final 20-minute Race 3, Taylor took the lead from Penrose, Dowdall, Grant, Petch and Neale. Unfortunately for Penrose, he dropped out of contention after nudging the wall on the start/finish straight and then retired with an engine misfire.

Taylor continued to lead with Dowdall in second and Neale chasing both drivers. Dowdall then received a track-limit penalty which would add five seconds to his race time. Neale’s car appeared set up to come-on in the last third of the race which saw him break through into the lead which he held for the remaining two laps. Grant took second followed by Taylor, Dowdall, Begg and Toby McCormack.

Taylor as well, received a similar time penalty for not giving racing room which dropped him to third and promoted Grant into second place.

“Good to come away with a podium after a tough weekend,” said Grant. “We need to be further up (the field) but will take the points when we can.”

Rookie driver Campbell Owens received the Napa Auto Parts Driver of the Day after his enormous shunt earlier in the weekend and repairs required to get back on track.

With two rounds remaining, 73-points now covers the top four competitors. The third round will be at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park 21-23 March followed by the final weekend at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding 4-6 April 2025.

A $51,000 travel fund has been 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 New Zealand 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.