After nine hard fought rounds, Rowan Shepherd and his INOV8 team have come out on top to claim the 2012/13 Weldwell Formula First National Championship title.

Shepherd went into the final round at Taupo with a 59 point lead over championship favourite Ryan Hellier, focusing on staying out of trouble and hoping that his INOV8 sponsored Challenge race car would be problem free.

From the opening round of the championship back in October, it was clear that the title would be fought between Shepherd and Hellier, with the two drivers battling wheel to wheel all season. They were both consistently at the pointy end of the field, with Hellier winning five of the first six races of the championship, only for Shepherd to bounce back into contention with a strong run through the middle of the season.

Both drivers had their equal share of bad luck, with the Shepherd team having a fuel pump fail in the opening round netting him no points, while Hellier’s team recorded no points as a result of an unfortunate technical infringement.

So to win the title from Hellier’s perspective the task was simple, win the remaining 3 races and hope that Shepherd finished off the podium in each of the 3 heats.

In qualifying, it was Hellier who looked to have pole position in the bag until Shepherd posted a quick time on his last lap to push Hellier off the top spot. Scorpion racing’s Taylor Cockerton would take out third while David Ruthven would start from grid four.

The opening race saw Shepherd lead initially from Hellier, with the likes of Taylor Cockerton, Aaron Marr and Oliver Gordon right behind. However by the time the chequered flag came out, it was rookie Aaron Marr who would take his maiden win with Shepherd improving his points lead with a second place finish ahead of Cockerton and Hellier.

Come Sunday, the Formula First field were treated to light rain as they went out to face the starter. Cory Holmes looked to have made the right call going out on wets while all other competitors were forced to stay with their dry setup. For the first few laps it was Holmes moving through the field, but as the dry line developed, it was Cockerton and Shepherd that battled their way back from 5th and 6th place respectively to come home strong. Cockerton would end up taking a well-deserved win as he went past Hellier on the final straight. Shepherd coming home 3rd and further increasing his chances of taking overall championship honours.

So the scene was set for the championship showdown. In the final race of the season Hellier needed to finish no worse than 2nd and hope for Shepherd to not score any points whereas Shepherd just needed to see the chequered flag and the title would be his.

Shepherd won the start and lead for the majority of the race, while it was a right royal battle behind him with Cockerton, Hellier, Gordon and Marr swapping places at every chance they could.

Come the final straight, Shepherd didn’t want to risk any contact and backed out of the 4 car battle and watched as Hellier went on to take a classy win from Cockerton and Marr.

Finishing in 4th and off the podium for the first time in 25 consecutive races, Shepherd would now be able to relax in the knowledge that he was now the Weldwell Formula First National Champion.

Dripping wet from podium celebration champagne it was a very happy Shepherd team that celebrated Rowans first NZ title. “I’m stoked to win the championship and get the

NZ#1 plates! Come that last race I was counting down the laps and just hoping that the car would get me home. Last year we came to the final round and broke a steering rod putting me into the sand trap, so I know how silly things like that can happen, thankfully that didn’t happen today. Thanks to my sponsors INOV8 and my crew for a great season, we had a rough start to the championship but managed to fight back to take the win. It was great to have so many supporters at the track this weekend and I am looking forward to enjoying myself tonight with some of my fellow competitors.”

2012/2013 Formula First campaign supported by INOV8, RESULTEX, KING TONY, Autostripes Wanganui and Revolution Electrical Hastings. For more information visit www.formulafirst.co.nz