Disappointment for Lobb

March 12th 2007

MTA New Zealand Formula Ford Championship 2007

Round Six - Teretonga Park

Whangarei driver Caine Lobb headed off to Teretonga Park, Invercargill to the sixth round of the MTA Formula Ford Championship over the weekend with hopes of improving his standings after missing two rounds of the series - or at least come away with a podium placing for the round.

The weekend started exceptionally well with him missing out on pole position by a hair's breadth behind Palmerston North's Sam McNeil with a time of 1.02.164. That time incidentally is just off the Formula Ford lap record at Teretonga Park. It is fair to say that McNeil took the position from Lobb only after picking up a slipstream-tow from a competitor's car on the hotlap.

"Qualifying was excellent I was only 3/100th behind Sam McNeil placing second and we were 2/10ths under the lap record - we were both really quick - unfortunately he got a tow on the lap and I didn't" said Lobb.

Starting next to the Palmerston North driver Lobb could only pull in behind him in second place but soon after lost one of his gears causing him to lose momentum for the remainder of the race falling back to a disappointing 10th place.

"I missed third gear and wrecked it so much that I didn't have that gear for the rest of the race - I finished nowhere in that race" he said.

The following day Lobb started Race Two in second place on the front row again and this time managed to get the better of McNeil and lead the race for a time. Auckland's Michael Burdett fell in behind him and started applying some pressure, eventually getting around the Hydraulink Formula Ford leaving Lobb in second place. Later Daniel Jileson (Taumaranui) came rumbling down the main straight falling in behind Kurt Peterson (Auckland) picking up his slipstream and a tow in an attempt to pass him. Lobb caught sight of Jileson in his mirrors and he was coming so quickly he considered him to be in danger of taking out himself, Lobb and Peterson. Lobb moved over to escape what he thougt was gong to be a nasty incident.

"I led the race for about a lap but Burdett got past me" said Lobb. "Later on Jilleson got a huge tow and got past Kurt Peterson at the end of the straight - it looked as though he was out of control so I gave him some room but surprisingly he ended up going past me too!"

Lobb finished that race in third which was to be his last hope of a podium finish for the weekend when in the afternoon's Race Three he began to experience problems with the car. Once more starting the race on the front row next to McNeil he got ahead of him again only to fall victim to Burdett's speedy pace shortly afterwards. The car started to go "off" as the race progressed due to the drivers following each other in a "freight-train" styled formation causing the Ford to overheat according to Lobb.

"I'm not making excuses but the car seemed to go off and the engine was running hot which caused it to drop horse power - other drivers were getting past me down the straights - just pulling out, passing me and pulling in again!" exclaimed Lobb. "The car was great in qualifying but didn't quite cut-the-cheese in the races."

The next and final round of the MTA New Zealand Formula Ford Championship is at Pukekohe over the 21st-22nd of April and is run alongside the Australian Super V8 Championship Round Three. At this stage Caine Lobb is unconfirmed for that last round but hopes to be there for one of New Zealand's largest motorsports events.

Iain Whitaker

Special Thanks to Hydraulink, Mark Cromie Holden Whangarei, Classic Cover Insurance, Dold Industries, The Caboose Motel Taupo, Tony Oliver Contracting Wellington, Tony Gordon Panel and Paint Whangarei, Flamecrusher race suits, Motorsport Solutions Christchurch for you help and pledges. And of course Arai Helmets and Hans Device.

Image of Caine Lobb at Teretonga by Ron Burgin

Results

Qualification

1st Sam MacNeill

2nd Caine Lobb

3rd Michael Burdett

Race One

1st Michael Burdett

2nd John Whelan

3rd Sam MacNeil

...

10th Caine Lobb

Race Two

1st Michael Burdett

2nd Daniel Jilesen

3rd Caine Lobb

Race Three

1st John Whelan

2nd Kurt Peterson

3rd Daniel Jilesen

...

6th Caine Lobb