Penrose back in winning form as Neale holds lead in South Island Formula Ford

James Penrose has had a successful return to Formula Ford competition at the third round of the 2024/25 Yokohama South Island Formula Ford Series, winning all four races at Teretonga Park in Invercargill over the weekend. Will Neale continues to lead the overall series after finishing three times on the podium with Dylan Petch moving into second overall with four podiums from the round.

“It has been nice to be back in a car and back in the front,” commented former South Island (2020/21) and New Zealand (2021) champion, Penrose (Ray GR20). “It was first time in this car on Friday when it all came together in the last minute, so I was realistic in my expectations for the weekend. It’s just as competitive as last time so nice to be racing. It doesn’t get much better that racing a Formula Ford.”

Neale set fastest lap in qualifying, winning the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy $500 cash prize, ahead of Penrose, Petch (Van Diemen RF93) and Dylan Grant (Van Diemen RF03), with local Jacob Begg (Van Diemen RF94) in fifth.

“The first race was so close,” said Neale. “I didn’t get off the line very well and initially dropped to fifth. After moving up to second I had a real ding-dong battle with James (Penrose). There is so much to learn from him as I have never raced someone who was always aware of where I was on track at every corner so there wasn’t much opportunity to get ahead.”

“I was pleasantly surprised to be at the front in Race 1,” said Penrose. “I was having to defend at every corner and had to work incredibly hard for the win.”

A wet Sunday morning greeted drivers for Race 2 resulting in several top runners going off track.

“There was a Safety Car period and once we got going again, I just couldn’t see ahead and locked up and went off the track,” said Neale. Auckland’s Dylan Grant faced a similar situation. Both drivers not finishing the race or scoring key series points. Penrose won the race from Petch, Jake Bryant (Van Diemen RF94), Begg and Jacob Cunniffe (Mygale SJ12).

“We had several lead changes in the third race, this time in the dry,” said Penrose. Both Will and Dylan (Petch) were again really quick, and I only just managed to get by for the win.

“For me the last race (R4) was similar to the start of Race 3,” said Neale. “I got off the line well and took the lead then continued to dice with James. It was a four-way train with a number of lead changes, with both Dylans right behind us. I got alongside James heading into the final corner and went a bit wide, allowing Dylan (Petch) to get by, beating me by a nose.”

Now with a break over the Christmas New Year period, drivers and teams will now prepare for the fourth-round in Timaru at the end of January which also doubles as the first round of four of the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship. At this stage it is unclear whether Penrose will be on the grid at the Timaru International Raceway.

“We have no firm plans as yet,” said Penrose who picked up the NAPA Auto Parts Driver of the Day award. “We are keen to do more but will wait and see what unfolds.”

The South Island Formula Ford Club acknowledge the support from Team Hutchinson Ford. Available across the Formula Ford season is a $60,000 Formula Ford prize pool from the Tony Quinn Foundation with funding for travel and testing opportunities with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing NZ. NAPA Auto Parts has prizes for both Driver of the Day and Rookie of the Year while Yokohama return 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.