Perfect opening North Island Formula Ford round for Dylan Grant

Auckland’s Dylan Grant had a perfect opening round of the 2025/26 Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series (NIFF) at the Auckland Car Club one-day meeting at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. Two-time winner of the category, Grant (Van Diemen RF03) set fastest lap in a wet qualifying, picking up the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy cash prize, then won all three races held on Sunday, and on used tyres.

Three podiums for the day put Jack Groenewald (Mygale SJ07A) second for the round while rookie William Beck (Spectrum 010), having gained his first NIFF podium in the opening race, went on to finish third for the weekend.

“Very happy with the result,” said Grant. “While qualifying was on a wet track we were lucky to race in the dry all day.”

Ollie Sentch (Van Diemen Stealth) was the standout rookie who won the NAPA Driver of the Day Award. Both he and Beck had a number of battles with ex NZ Formula Ford champion Shane Drake (Van Diemen RF92).

“I was very impressed with those two,” commented Drake. “For their first time out in NIFF they did an exceptional job, didn’t make any mistakes and will only get better over the season.”

For the first 12-lap race it was the experienced Dylan Grant who was able to get away quickest off the line.

“I pretty much got a good start. Campbell (Owens) was at first right behind me until I was able to create a gap, then it was all about saving the tyres.”

Grant crossed the line in first followed by Owens (Spectrum 015) and Toby McCormack (Spectrum 010) who were both later disqualified due to technicalities. This promoted Groenewald and Beck onto the podium.

“In the second race I got a better start,” said Grant. “Campbell and Toby were off the back (of the grid) so that helped for me to get a big gap. It was all about being consistent with lap times and setting a time for a decent grid position in the third race.”

Owens crossed the line in second only to later be excluded from the event due to another technical breach. This promoted McCormack to second and Groenewald to third followed by Drake, Sentch and Beck.

“We had a fuel issue in the final 13-lap race,” said Grant. “Going over the hill she was cutting out and it was then about driving around the misfire.”

Grant finished second behind Owens before being promoted into first. McCormack took second followed by Groenewald, who was battling handling issues, gaining his third podium for the round.

Also making a promising start was Braxton Kraayvanger (Van Diemen RF02) competing in his first ever motor racing event after stepping up from kartsport with the rookie driver making promising progress through the race meeting.

In only his second season of motorsport, James Collie (Van Diemen RF91) had an eventful day with a jump start in Race 1 earning him a time penalty, then running out of fuel on the in-lap in the last race.

“We may have had a small entry but there was some great racing with dicing through the field,” commented Category Manager Ian Barlow. “Our new (rookie) drivers I am sure all learnt something from this outing, and all performed well and showed that they belonged in the field. Congratulations to all the Prize winners. Looking forward now to Taupo.”

Drivers and teams now prepare for the second round at the Taupo Motorsport Park in Taupo on 9 November 2025.