Lobb Makes It Two From Two

Media Release: Monday 9th July

A repeat performance of last month's round one of the Formula Ford Winter Series has put Whangarei's premiere open-wheeled race driver, Caine Lobb, into a comfortable lead after taking another two wins and second place this weekend at Manfeild Autocourse.

Lobb, currently based in Christchurch at the Ruapuna circuit, has this weekend jumped back into the seat of the team owned Hydraulink Formula Ford after the completion of a rebuild following a major crash at Taupo. After only a few laps around the Manfeild circuit on Saurday, Lobb knew for sure he now had a car with the potential to win this year's Winter Series and the upcoming Formula Ford National Championship which starts in November.

"The car feels like a brand new one! You know when you drive a car straight from the showroom and everything just feels new? That's what this feels like - it's great!" said Lobb. "All credit and thanks to John Crawford and Motorsport Solutions for building us an awesome car."

Lobb was looking good from early Sunday morning after achieving pole position with a time of one minute 12.69 seconds just a tiny fraction of a second off the Formula Ford lap record at one minute 12.64secs.

At last month's first round of the series the Northland driver won with the same results as this time putting Lobb into a sizeable series lead. During the day's racing he faced some stiff competition from Russell Hartley who won the first race by a mere half a nose cone. The two drivers had pulled away substantially from the rest of the field and were both several seconds ahead after a gruelling eight laps of dog fighting and exchanging the lead. Lobb just missed passing Hartley at the chequered flag after gaining good speed exiting the final turn.

"Russell's car has a real "dragstrip" motor, it's a great engine and he just kept driving around the outside of me." said Lobb who had managed to pull up alongside of Hartley on many occasions but was unable to stay ahead.

In Race Two Russell Hartley was nfortunately involved in a crash after the start on the very first corner leaving Lobb free to take a decisive win with a clear margin of eight and a half seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

The final race of the day saw Hartley back in the action but it was Lobb who took an early lead after starting in pole for the third time. Hartley however managed to pass Lobb soon after and a battle of wits and driving skill ensued while the two pulled away from the field once again and fought for the final victory. An exciting race between the two, with pressure being applied heavily by Lobb at every turn, eventually pushed Hartley into making a mistake with him missing a gear change, over revving the engine and nearly cooking the Ford powerplant. Hartley slowed and left Lobb to take his second win of the weekend leaving Lobb with a comfortable series lead of 434 points to Hartley's 329.

The Formula Ford Winter Series has two rounds to run with Caine Lobb making a serious challenge in the Formula Ford National Championship.

NZ Elite Motorsport Academy Last Friday Caine Lobb graduated from a week long intensive Motorsport Academy camp held at the University of Otago. Nine promising New Zealand drivers were selected for the elite course and divided into teams of three. Lobb along with his team mates, Porsche GT3 drivers Jono Lester and Anthony Pederson, were the winning team at the end of the camp.