Two 14 year old high school students will take their motor sport rivalry to the Mike Pero Motorsport Park this Sunday as the first round of the 2014/15 Ace Hire South Island Formula Championship gets underway in Christchurch.  Twenty-seven drivers have registered to compete in 3 classes over six rounds of the $10,000 Ace Hire Series during the next five months.

Christ’s College students Marcus Armstrong (Van Diemen RF94 Stealth) and Caleb Cross (2013 Mygale) have a strong history in kartsport competition with each having won five national titles.  Now both have made the move up to single seaters and could provide the competition to watch in the three races that will take place on Sunday.

“I’m looking for a series victory,” commented Caleb Cross.  “But there is the need to be sensible about everything.  Every single lap is a qualifying lap to me as I want to get everything out of the car that I can.”

With last season’s title winner Jamie Conroy expected to compete in the 2015 Toyota Racing Series, competition is expected to be hot at the front of the field this season as runner up to last year’s title Michael Collins is back, hoping to move up to the top of the podium.  Also returning are Ryan Yardley (Van Diemen Stealth) and Arron Marr (2007 Mygale).  New to the series ae Ethan Anderson (Van Diemen Stealth) and Taylor Cockerton has purchased Conroy’s championship winning 2008 Mygale and moves into the category after finishing 3rd in last season’s Formula First Series.

Collins has made a strategic decision to lease the ex-Greg Tullet championship winning Class 2 Van Diemen.  The older class car is lighter than the Class 1 cars and Collins will not only threaten the overall title but will provide stiff competition to Stephen Heffernan (92 Van Diemen RF92) who returns to defend his Class 2 title.

Gary Lovie also returns to Class 2 in his 92 Van Diemen while the series welcomes Trevor Stiles from the UK who will compete in all six rounds in a Van Diemen RF92.

Class 3 will see Graham Dickie (1970 Begg FM3) defend his title from brothers Roger McKenzie (1972 Begg FM3) and Dave McKenzie (1984 Crossle 55F).  Also joining the class is John Gibbons in a 1988 Swift FB4.

Steve Edwards from the SIFFC Race committee is thrilled about the prospects for the season.  “The committee, who are also tasked with managing the national competition, are excited about the coming season.”

“We have a wide range of drivers competing in modern to historic Formula Ford race cars. We have several teenagers entering the class from karting through to three pensioners. We welcome a visiting British driver, Trevor Stiles who arrived on Monday to race in the championship and a professional race team (Neale Motorsport) with connections in Australia that will manage three drivers.”

Qualifying takes place on Sunday morning with two 10 lap and a 12 lap race in the afternoon using the short circuit at Ruapuna.  The event is part of the second Canterbury Car Club Club day which also features sports cars, saloons, classics and Rennsport.

The South Island Formula Ford Club acknowledge the support of Ace Hire (Chch), Avon Tyres, Arai Helmets, Motorsport Solutions (NZ) and Newfield Autos (Invercargill).

2013/14 Ace Hire South Island Formula Ford Championship Calendar

Rnd 1: Oct 5 2014 Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, Christchurch

Rnd 2: Nov 14/15 2014 Timaru International Raceway, Timaru, (also Rd 1 NZ Formula Ford Champs)

Rnd 3: Dec 6/7 2014 Teretonga Park, Invercargill

Rnd 4: Jan 16-18 2015 Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna (also Rd 2 NZ Formula Ford Champs)

Rnd 5: Jan 23-25 2015 Teretonga Park, Invercargill, (also Rd 3 NZ Formula Ford Champs)

Rnd 6: Mar 28 2015 Timaru International Raceway, Timaru