The fact that he has won the 2013 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship in his rookie season is just sinking in for sixteen year old Christchurch driver James Munro.

Munro went into the final round of the championship at the Taupo Motorsport Park this weekend 3 points behind series leader Brendon Leitch of Invercargill and emerged with two wins and a second placing to become the New Zealand Formula Ford Champion.

Munro dedicated his title win to fellow Christchurch driver Stan Redmond who succumbed to injuries suffered in a crash at Teretonga last month. “Stan was a great member of the racing fraternity and a really nice guy. Dad knew him well and I had a few conversations with him. It is such a shame we lost him,” said the new champion.

Munro sealed the championship by taking his Mygale, run by Neale Motorsport, to pole position on Saturday before winning the opening race on Saturday afternoon after a torrid dice with Leitch. The win gave the Christs College student his first taste of the championship lead after battling back from a non finish at the second round in January. He followed that up with a good win in the second race of the round on Sunday afternoon which extended his lead to 13 points.

That meant Munro just needed to finish second behind Leitch in the final race which he managed to do. “Brendon tried to back me up to try and push me behind Tom (Alexander) and Michael (Collins) to help his cause, but despite being forced off the track once I hung on,” said Munro. Second place behind Leitch gave Munro the title by a five point margin.

Munro is one of the few who have won the championship in his rookie year. “I’m absolutely rapt. It will take a long time to sink in,” he said.

It was a great season for the young driver with three round wins, victory in ten of the fifteen races and pole position in qualifying at all bar one round.