Lobb's Next Challenge

Media Release: Sunday 12th October 2007

Caine Lobb will be competing on very familiar ground this weekend at Ruapuna International Raceway where he will be hungrily looking for a victory at the annual Formula Ford Festival.

Lobb, originally from Whangarei, has spent over a year working as an assistant instructor for the Canterbury Motor Racing School situated at the circuit and has come to know the circuit's layout and secrets extremely well under tutorage from owner/chief instructor Andrew Neale.

Testament to his knowledge gained and skills at the circuit, Lobb managed pole position last year at the festival in his first outing in a Formula Ford and then in November took first place at the Ruapuna round of the MTA Formula Ford National Championship in his first ever entry into the series last year!

Most recently Lobb has come out on top over the off season and claimed the title for the 2007 Formula Ford Winter Series which was held over four rounds at Feilding's Manfeild Autocourse. The series also gave opportunity for Lobb to become more accustomed to the newly built Hydraulink Ford and after showing his strengths there has been rewarded with a new engine for the car. The team who run the car are Motorsport Solutions who apparently see Lobb as their number one hope for the upcoming summer season.

This weekend at Ruapuna will attract Formula Ford drivers from around the entire nation as drivers prepare for the start of the MTA Formula Ford National Championship which kicks off in the first weekend of November at Pukekohe Circuit. Up for grabs for the winner of the festival is a fully paid season in the nationals so financially there is a lot at stake.

Caine Lobb hopes to capitalise on his experience with the circuit and the new engine in the car which so far has proven to be competitive since it's complete rebuild after the horrific crash at Taupo last January.

"There's a lot to race for this weekend with a free season up for grabs and there are going to be a lot of drivers going hard trying to get it. I will be doing my best and trying to stay out of trouble. I believe the grid positions for the start are going to be randomly drawn so that will be interesting" says Lobb.

This weekend the drivers will have Saturday to get themselves and the cars up to speed on the technical circuit with timed practices and then will compete in four sprint races on the Sunday.