Invercargill driver Brendon Leitch has extended his lead in the 2013 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship after the second round of action at Timaru International Motor Raceway this weekend.

Leitch arrived at Timaru sharing the championship lead with Michael Collins of Christchurch but after compiling a superb record of a win and two second placings in the three races to win the round he now moves to the North Island rounds with a handy points lead.

Qualifying saw the younger of the Leitch brothers qualify third fastest, just .279 of a second off pole position. He was quickly into his work in the EH Ball / ITM Stealth in the opening race on Saturday afternoon picking off Christchurch driver Tom Alexander on lap 4 and then tucking in behind leader James Munro, also of Christchurch. However Munro struck problems soon after, slowing dramatically and Leitch was into the lead before going on to win his second race of this years championship. “I was slowly pulling him in and keeping him honest. Then he had a problem and it made it easier for me.” Leitch also took the fastest lap and moved into the sole lead of the championship with the win.

In the second race of the round on Sunday morning Brendon got off the line in fourth place and again moved through the field. He was quickly into second place but Munro had built a solid lead and Leitch could not get close enough before the chequered flag was unfurled. However second place allowed Leitch to extend his championship lead further while he again recorded the fastest lap of the race.

On Sunday afternoon Leitch again ran third early in the race before moving into second place on lap 3. Once again he finished second, giving him his first overall round win and gaining even more points towards his championship lead.

“The car was really good. We struggled a little bit in the second race with the heat of the track and the tyres. The team worked hard all weekend,” said a very happy Leitch at the end of a very successful round.

Leitch now has 411 points in the championship, 40 ahead of Michael Collins with Munro third on 333.

The next round of the championship takes place at Hampton Downs in Waikato over the weekend of 2/3 February.