Southland’s Jordan Michels leads the New Zealand Formula 1600 Championship after the opening round in Timaru on Saturday. Also doubling as the second round of the South Island F1600 Championship, Michels has extended his lead in the series continuing his winning form from a fortnight ago in Christchurch.

Fastest throughout the weekend and making his F1600 race debut was Auckland’s Callum Hedge (Mygale). Having topped the time sheets in Friday practice and in Saturday morning’s qualifying, the 13 year old went on to comfortably win the first two of three races. However, a slipping clutch in the final 12-lap race saw Hedge retire, the round win slipping out of his grasp.

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Second quickest over the weekend was Joshua Bethune (Mygale). Having twice finished runner up to Hedge he took over the lead in the third race only to have electrical gremlins rob him of the win. He dropped down the order but still finished in 13th and holds onto fifth in the South Island and third in the national championship.

Michels has arguably had his share of bad luck and this round his and the team’s experience shone through. His win in the third race secured the round win after finishing third in the two-preceding races.

Southland driver Jordan Michels leads the field in Formula 1600 action in Timaru. Photo: Media77

“It was a fantastic turn of luck,” commented Michels. “We have had some tough years and it was me who didn’t finish the final race a year ago in Timaru.”

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“In saying that, we mustn’t get into a false sense of security but continue to work as this is a championship where you must finish races.”

Also impressive in only his second F1600 outing was Nelson’s Matt Butchart (Van Diemen RF88) competing in the Historic Class 3 category. Winner of the South Island F1600 Club Scholarship, Butchart was the leading Class 3 car in all three races and now leads the national championship. However, it is Joseph Oliver (Crossle) who leads the South Island series having finished all six races so far with Butchart having one race retirement in the opening round.

“It’s been a steep learning curve and half the battle has been just learning the track,” commented Butchart. “It’s been great to be competing up amongst the top Class 1 cars today.”

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Robert Toshach continues to be difficult to beat in Class 2. Toshach (Spectrum) has now been the leading Class 2 car in all six South Island series races.

“It’s been a matter of keeping it consistent,” said Toshach. “Very happy to have finished the weekend with a good result.”

Also showing consistent result for the weekend was Southland’s Ethan Anderson (Van Diemen Stealth) and Christchurch rookie Bailey Paterson who is currently in second in the SI series ahead of Anderson, while Anderson slots into second overall in the national series. Returning to the category is Kurt Peterson who was on target for a podium in the final race before a starter-motor issue saw him retire out of the race.

Drivers and teams will head to Invercargill for the next South Island round 2-3 December before the next two national rounds in January, also in the South Island.

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2017/18 New Zealand Formula 1600 Championship
Overall Championship Points after 1/5 rounds (Top 10)

1 Jordan Michels 102
2 Ethan Anderson 91
3 Josh Bethune 83
4 Callum Hedge 82
5 Bailey Paterson 81
6 Robert Toshach 72
7 Steve Edwards 66
8 Matt Butchart 58
9 Kurt Peterson 50
10 Steve Heffernan 50

2017/18 South Island Formula 1600 Championships
Overall Championship Points after 2/6 rounds
PLACE, DRIVER, CAR, POINTS
1 Jordan Michels Mygale 219
2 Bailey Paterson Stealth 191
3 Ethan Anderson Stealth 178
4 Robert Toshach Spectrum 146
5 Josh Bethune Mygale 140
6 Kurt Peterson Stealth 135
7 Steve Edwards Mygale 130
8 Steve Heffernan Stealth 104
9 Simon Spencer-Bower Stealth 103

10 Matt Butchart VD RF88 94

Results
Qualifying
Pos Start Number Competitor Best Lap
1 17 Callum Hedge 01:06.222
2 32 Josh Bethune 01:06.227
3 23 Jordan Michels 01:06.728
4 70 Ethan Anderson 01:06.931
5 86 Bailey Paterson 01:07.230
6 36 Kurt Peterson 01:07.276
7 22 Robert Toshach 01:08.195
8 77 Steve Edwards 01:08.209
9 91 Ben Stiles 01:08.557
10 47 Matthew Butchart 01:08.558
11 46 Grant Campbell 01:08.879
12 48 Simon Spencer-Bower 01:08.920
13 92 Derek Wilson 01:08.953
14 8 Stephen Heffernan 01:09.351
15 26 Dyson Freeman 01:09.456
16 14 Joseph Oliver 01:10.700
17 55 Noel Atley 01:10.840
18 56 Andy Downs 01:10.983
19 72 Roger McKenzie 01:13.939
20 27 Dave McKenzie 01:15.655

Race 1 (10 laps)
1 Callum Hedge Mygale SJ08
2 Josh Bethune Mygale SJ07
3 Jordan Michels Mygale SJ13
4 Ethan Anderson Van Diemen Stealth
5 Kurt Peterson Van Diemen Stealth
6 Bailey Paterson Van Diemen Stealth
7 Robert Toshach Spectrum 08
8 Steve Edwards Mygale SJ08a
9 Matthew Butchart Van Diemen FR88
10 Derek Wilson Swift SC92F
11 Ben Stiles Van Diemen Stealth
12 Stephen Heffernan Van Diemen Stealth
13 Joseph Oliver Crossle F55
14 Simon Spencer-Bower Van Diemen RF93
15 Noel Atley Swift FB91
16 Andy Downs Lola 642E
17 Roger McKenzie Begg FM3
18 Dave McKenzie Begg FM3
DNS Grant Campbell Van Diemen RF03
DNS Dyson Freeman Van Diemen RF92

Race 2 (10 laps)
Pos Competitor
1 Callum Hedge
2 Josh Bethune
3 Jordan Michels
4 Ethan Anderson
5 Bailey Paterson
6 Kurt Peterson
7 Robert Toshach
8 Steve Edwards
9 Simon Spencer-Bower
10 Matthew Butchart
11 Ben Stiles
12 Stephen Heffernan
13 Derek Wilson
14 Joseph Oliver
15 Noel Atley
16 Roger McKenzie
17 Dave McKenzie
DNF Andy Downs
DNS Grant Campbell
DNS Dyson Freeman

Race 3 (12 laps)
Pos Competitor
1 Jordan Michels
2 Ethan Anderson
3 Bailey Paterson
4 Robert Toshach
5 Steve Edwards
6 Matthew Butchart
7 Stephen Heffernan
8 Ben Stiles
9 Derek Wilson
10 Joseph Oliver
11 Simon Spencer-Bower
12 Noel Atley
13 Josh Bethune
14 Roger McKenzie
15 Dave McKenzie
DNF Kurt Peterson
DNF Callum Hedge
DNS Grant Campbell
DNS Andy Downs

Southland Driver Jordan Michels Takes Lead With Timaru Win

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