Surprise Win For Lobb In Formula Ford Nationals

Whangarei driver Caine Lobb was certainly not expected to win the second round of the MTA Formula Ford National Championship held at Christchurch this weekend. He entered the national round to 'see how he went' against the series' contenders and get an idea of what to expect next season.

Currently Lobb is running a Formula Ford, leased from Motorsport Solutions, in the less competitive South Island Formula Ford Championship in preparation for the nationals next year.

On Saturday starting from fourth on the grid, Lobb's consistent driving and a mechanical failure for Michael Burdett (while in the lead) moved the eighteen year old Northlander from third to second place which he held onto until the end of race one coming in behind championship leader Sam MacNeill.

Sunday morning and in race two Lobb moved himself through the pack into second position again behind Sam MacNeill. He held on until the finish displaying as much pace as MacNeill although was unable to get past.

A third place in the third and final race Sunday afternoon behind Andrew Waite (first) and Hugh Gardiner (second) awarded Lobb's consistency with enough points to overtake Sam MacNeill (seventh) and take the round and trophy.

Stepping up onto the number one spot on the podium, Lobb was over the moon with his unexpected weekend's victory.

"It was wicked... wicked - I'm really rapt!" said Lobb ecstatic with his first win in a National Formula Ford round.

Not a stranger to winning races Lobb is having an impressive winning streak in the South Island Formula Ford Championship which he currently leads after three rounds.

Lobb recently left Whangarei and moved to Christchurch to join the staff at the Canterbury Racing School.

This year he is also contesting the national Formula First series to improve on his fifth place overall last year and will be heading off to Pukekohe this weekend for round three.

Caine Lobb will have another crack at the National when he will contest round three of the MTA Formula Ford National Championship which features as part of the upcoming A1GP event held at Taupo in January.

Iain Whitaker