Lobb Graduates From Academy and Heads To Manfeild
 Media Release: Friday 6th July
Formula Ford Winter Series - Round Two
Freshly graduated from the intensive NZ Elite
Motorsport Academy training camp held in Dunedin through the
week, Caine Lobb heads to Manfeild Autocourse this Saturday
for the second round of the Formula Ford Winter Series.
The Christchurch based Northland driver will be
hopping back into his team owned Hydraulink Ford for the
first time after it's rebuild following the horrific crash
at Taupo at the start of this year. The full rebuild and
opportune upgrade to the car while it was completely
stripped down should help Lobb to perform well this weekend
as he trys to maintain his lead in the series.
Two wins and a second place at the opening round
of the series last month saw Lobb leave the Feilding circuit
with a satisfying lead against strong contenders Russell
Hartley, Daniel Jileson and John Whelan. Other contenders to
watch out for this weekend will include Selby Allison who
has moved up to the Fords after winning the Formula First
Championship last season and rising youngster Alastair
Wootten who is also moving up from Firsts after winning the
Speedsport Scholarship to enter that series.
Last year Caine Lobb managed to win the Formula
First Winter Series and then the South Island Formula Ford
Championship which ended earlier this year and is now
focused on the titles of the Formula Ford Winter Series and
the Formula Ford National Championship which follows.
A bonus for Lobb and the team is to have the
Hydraulink Ford back after the major rebuild and upgrade.
This will give Lobb not only a good car for the Winter
Series but provide three rounds of competitive racing with
which to test and fine tune the car before entering the
first round of the national championship in November. If the
car is as good as expected Lobb will have the potential to
realise his goal of adding the national Ford title to his
growing list of achievements which also include many
regional and national accolades from his days in karting.Caine Lobb showed much promise in his scattered
attendances in the Formula Ford National Championship last
season including a round win at Ruapuna last November in his
first appearance and a top three showing before his high
speed crash at Taupo in January after coming into contact
with another driver.
The Formula Ford Winter Series is made up of
four rounds all held at Manfield Autocourse in Feilding near
Palmerston North.
The NZ Elite Motorsport Academy is an annual one
week intensive training camp held at the University of Otago
and the attendees are hand picked due to their potential for
competing in the international motor racing scene. The
annual intake is only nine candidates.
"Not only are we able to provide insights for
the drivers into their preparation and performance, and how
to improve it, but also with the University of Otago,
provide the basis for research into race driver physiology,
and psychology" says Iain Ansell, ASI (Academy of Sport -
South Island) Programme Director for the Academy
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