Back On the Podium For Lobb

Media Release: Thursday 21st February
MTA Formula Ford National Championship 2007-8
Round 5 Manfeild Autocourse 15-17th February

Whangare driver Caine Lobb was left uninhibited to show his speed and talent in the latest round of the MTA Formula Ford National Championship where he was able to pick up yet another pole position for the season, a win and second overall for the meeting.

Lobb started the weekend extremely happy to set pole with a fastest lap in conditions that were far from perfect.

"The track was wet here and dry there. I was kind of glad when they finished the session and I was still on pole because it was hard work and in changing conditions it can be open to anybody to take it off me." he said."

Race One was a tough and hard won battle by Lobb who was under constant threat right from the start where Stefan Webling, who started alongside Lobb, managed to get ahead of him into the first corner. Lobb hunted him down managing to finally get past him and resume the lead with Webling now the hunter.

Championship leader John Whelan soon placed himself behind Webling and was looking for the chance to pounce and then maybe see what he could do about Lobb. He too manged to pass Webling but Lobb was going to be another matter. Whelan was able to make a number of draughting attempts down the long straight going to the final sweeper. On the final lap Whelan captured a fair draught and was up within striking distance of Lobb before entering the final straight. Whelan was close but came in just behind him at the chequered flag by a nose cone leaving Lobb to take first blood with the first win of the round.

The next day Lobb was to start in fourth place after losing pole to Alistair Wootten who would lead off in front of Whelan and Webling. This was due to lap times set in theSaturday's race. Whelan went through to win the race and Lobb finished where he started in fourth but set the fastest lap of the race which awarded him with a return to pole for the finale that afternoon.

Lobb placed himself into the lead of the race but was in for a very tough challenge from John Whelan once more. Whelan finally passed the Northlander but was unable to shake him and it looked as though there was to be a repeat of Race One but with the shoe being on the other foot with Lobb making repetitive draughting moves down the long straight before the final sweeper.

Lobb made many challenges through this section and looked as though he had Whelan when going around the sweeper in the final lap. Unfortunately Lobb was forced to go wide where he lost momentum and any chance of pipping Whelan on the line. Whelan went on to make it two wins to Lobb's one.

Adding up the points Lobb became the runner up for the round with 196 to Whelan's 217 but took consolation in having broken not only the winning streak of Whelan, where he took three wins at Manfeild in January, but to set foot on the podium for the first time this season since Pukekohe in November where he was second overall also.

Lobb has not been without success however with setting the most amount of fastest laps earning him the highest number of starts from pole position this season.

Caine Lobb now remains in fourth place in the championship just 13 points behind Taranaki's Stefan Webling and 137 behind second placed Andrew Waite who was 2006-7 runner. John Whelan has however strengthened his grip on the championship after Manfeild sitting pretty with 948 points.

There are 450 points maximum still to play for over the final two rounds so the heat is not off Whelan just yet with the championship still open to Waite, Webling and Lobb. The next round is at Timaru on the 29th February to 2nd March with the grand finale at Invercargill's Teretonga Park the following week on the 7-9th March.

Championship Standings after Round Five Manfeild