Finishing is key to any title hopes and Pukekohe’s Taylor Cockerton’s consistent results have put him in the lead of the 2014/15 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship. Two wins and a second place at the penultimate round at Manfeild Park, Feilding, over the weekend has seen Cockerton jump from fourth to first with a narrow one point lead over Christchurch’s Caleb Cross.
Cockerton had won the last seven races heading into the weekend and was 100 points behind series leader Cross. But the result of the second race was fortunate for one and not the other. Cross was controversially disqualified by officials for dangerous driving giving him zero points for the race. This was an unexpected bonus for Cockerton who finished second to Australian teenager Luis Leeds, dramatically closing the gap.
“It was a very successful weekend,” commented Cockerton. “Once again we came into the round with pretty high hopes. We were expecting three wins.”
“Unfortunately we didn’t manage to get the win in the second race but we banked some very valuable points and were consistent so I am very happy to come away with another round win.”
Cockerton was the fastest in Saturday morning’s qualifying session and felt confident heading into the first race.
“It was still very close and we weren’t particularly happy after qualifying with the way the way the car handled, so we made some changes for the first race and it made a big different.”
“Aaron (Marr) jumped us at the start of race 1 then managed to creep ahead. I followed him for the first few laps then managed to out-brake him into Turn 1 then it was like race 3 I managed to keep consistent time and he sort of fell back into the clutches of the chasing group and for me it was just a matter of staying consistent at the front.”
In the second race after earlier leading before a safety car period, Cockerton found himself fourth heading into the final laps.
“We were fourth coming out of the hairpin down the infield straight and Caleb (Cross) who was in second was trying to pass Aaron Marr for the lead. They made contact so Luis (Leeds) won the race and I was second.”
In the final race of the weekend it was the Australian who took the early lead before Cockerton caught him.
“We were chasing Luis for the first few laps and he was very fast, but I managed to out brake him into Turn 1 then just tried to be as consistent as I could.”
“Also, fortunately for us Luis fell into the clutches of Aaron Marr and they ended up fighting amongst each other which allowed us to get away and create a gap.”
Cockerton held onto the lead to the checkered flag while Leeds was able to hold off a charging Marr. With Cross finishing fifth it has allowed Cockerton to take the championship lead by one point with one round remaining.
“I think it was the weekend we were looking for,” commented Cockerton. “We sort of knew that coming into it wasn’t going to be a walk in the Park.”
“These long straights make it easy for drafts so it was always going to be a challenge and there were always going to be battles so we came into it accepting that but I am pretty happy to come away with two firsts and a second.
It’s back to St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton for Cockerton with the final round to be held at Hampton Downs in the Waikato 21-22 March.
Taylor Cockerton Racing acknowledges the support of McDonalds NZ, Safetystep NZ Ltd, Pearce Brothers, Pinnacle Hill Logistics Ltd and Neale Motorsport.
