Lobb Kicks Ass

Media Release: Sunday 9th March
MTA Formula Ford National Championship 2007-8
Round 7 Teretonga Park, Invercargill 7-9th February

Adding to his perfect round at Timaru last weekend where he won all three races, Caine Lobb has ended the MTA Formula Ford National Championship in style today at Invercargill'sTeretonga Park with yet another hat trick claiming the most race wins for the season.

Starting from third on the grid on Saturday Caine Lobb fought his way to win the race ahead of Championship leader John Whelan (second) and Andrew Waite (third).

Today Lobb topped that by achieving the unthinkable and claiming two more wins from the final round to give him back to back hat tricks, the highest number of race wins for the season and the most in succession in recent history. He also narrowed the gap considerably between himself and overall winner John Whelan plus overtaking Andrew Waite for second in the championship to boot.

Just over a week before, Lobb who has struggled for points throughout his first full season in the Formula Fords, was a fair way behind leader John Whelan and second placed Waite with a 233 and 137 point deficit before racing at Timaru.

Winning a season's record of six races from six over the last two rounds of the season, Lobb closed the sizeable gap between himself and Whelan by taking the maximum 450 points from the two rounds and finishing behind this year's winner Whelan (Dunedin) in second place ahead of Waite (Auckland).

The morning's race was delayed due to a hail storm but with Lobb being a strong wet weather driver he went on to win with a comfortable margin and Whelan was involved in a racing incident leaving him with 11th place and a championship still open.

"This morning in Race Two it started hailing when we were on the dummy grid before the race and I got soaked because we had no umbrella! I went on to win that race in the wet by over five seconds so I was really happy with that." said Lobb.

And there was no sitting back to let Lobb cruise to a round win from John Whelan or Andrew Waite. Whelan fought for the Race Three win although he needed only a handful of points to clinch the title and Waite was defending his second place against Lobb only to lose it by finishing sixth and three slim points behind him.

"John wasn't holding back and really made me work for the win in the last race." said Lobb.

Lobb has driven a great season overall having to overcome some tremendous hurdles after a high number of racing incidents had left him out of contention and down on points. Due to his outstanding show of speed throughout the season, he has excelled in qualifying and claimed the highest number of poles taking four from the seven sessions.

Lobb has also taken the highest number of wins this season at 10 and after the back to back hat tricks at Round Six and Seven has also claimed the most wins in succession in recent Formula Ford history. This is a feat not even Shane Van Gisbergen accomplished in his outstanding 2005-6 Formula Ford season where he turned the heads of the New Zealand motorsport society and opened up the doors to the V8 Supercars.

The season had not really gone his way before the final two rounds in the South Island but he has clawed his way uphill to become runner up in a very competitive national championship where he was always a favoured contender for the title.

After the final race Lobb was over the moon about the weekend and a successful conclusion of the season which he thoroughly enjoyed.

"We're just waiting for the award ceremony and then we are off to dinner and have a massive celebration!!!" said Lobb immediately after the final race.

Looking ahead to next year the doors are wide open for Lobb who must now decide whether to make the typical move into the Toyota Racing Series or look elsewhere.

Over the off-season, Lobb will team up with Whangarei entrepreneur and V8 Jetboat champion Mark Cromie to drive a Holden in the New Zealand V8 Ute Championship which starts in April. Caine Lobb will also be moving back to his hometown of Whangarei after working for Andrew Neale at the Ruapuna based Canterbury Motor Racing School for nearly two years.

Championship Standings After Round Seven at Teretonga