Formula Suzuki Series Well Received at Manfeild

New Zealand
Formula Suzuki Series

www.FormulaSuzuki.co.nz

Round 2 NZFSS Inaugural Series

Manfeild Autocourse - Feilding
27-29th March 2009

Monday 30th March

New Zealand Formula Suzuki Series
Round 2 of 2 NZFSS Inaugural Series 2009
Manfeild Autocourse - Feilding
27-29th March 2009

Formula Suzuki Series Well Received at Manfeild

The Formula Suzuki Series was very well received at the weekend when it took part in the final meeting of Motorsport New Zealand's Tier Two for this season.

This was the second and final round of the Formula Suzuki Inaugural Series held within tier two after a late start for the brand new class of wings and slicks race cars, however the racing continues when Formula Suzuki heads to Taupo on May third for the second round of the Taupo National Series.

The weekend at Manfeild Autocourse brought an excellent display of the Formula Suzuki concept as an ideal race class for drivers to move into competitive wings and slicks racing especially as a stepping stone from karting.

This weekend five time NZ karting champion Ryan Urban joined NZ Production Series champion Gene Rollinson and NZ V8 Ute Series champion Caine Lobb with some great battles between them.

"With Ryan in 250cc Superkarts it's very much kill or be killed and the guy with the most courage at the end of the straight is the one who wins and it's usually him." said Formula Suzuki's Varney.

"He went to race Superkarts at Laguna Seca on his first time racing outside of the country and first time at that circuit and beat the world's best." he said.

Rollinson and Lobb have also come through the karting ranks as has Daniel Bray who has been very competitive so far in the class but forced to miss this meeting while competing overseas but is expected to return in May for the Taupo National Series.

Bray, Lobb and Rollinson competed neck and neck at previous rounds wooing the spectators with their skilled side-by-side and nose-to-tail racing very much keeping the onlookers on seat edge awaiting an unpredictable outcome.

On May the third when the Suzukis compete the second round of the Taupo National Series Ryan Urban will join the three with the four expected to display some fabulous close racing there.

Thrown into this as well will be Gene Rollinson's younger brother Kieran who aims to beat his sibling and has been close on his tail throughout so far beating him in points after the two rounds of the Formula Suzuki Inaugural Series.

However, at Manfeild Autocourse this weekend it was Caine Lobb who was leading all the way in the first race until a toggle switch failed on the final lap leaving him with no power until he could get the car fired up again finishing back in ninth afterall.

Gene Rollinson inherited the lead crossing the line a very slim margin ahead of Ryan Urban and brother Kieran Rollinson.

In race two it was evident that newcomer Ryan Urban was quickly coming to grips with the Suzuki which he had only met this weekend winning the race ahead of Caine Lobb with Gene Rollinson in third place ahead of Kieran Rollinson in fourth.

Urban clearly stamping his authority as a driver not there just to make up the numbers also showed he was no fluke winner by taking out the third and final race of the weekend.

Urban passed the chequered flag ahead of Caine Lobb followed by Gene Rollinson with Kieran Rollinson again in a steady fourth spot.

Hydraulink driver Caine Lobb celebrated his overall winning of the two round Formula Suzuki Inaugural Series by performing doughnuts around the Manfeild circuit after the final race much to the glee of the spectators.

Lobb was the clear winner at round one held at Pukekohe in February.

"All the other drivers came into the pits and Caine was out there doing doughnuts out on the track past the grandstands and all you could see was a huge cloud of smoke and nothing else which went down a treat with all the people!" said Varney.

"My hand and arm are both very sore from shaking hands all weekend with people supporting us including those from Manawatu Car Club and Motorsport New Zealand." he said.

Although the two round Formula Suzuki Inaugural Series is now finished the action is far from over with the class moving on to the second of the five round Taupo National Series on May 3rd.

The cars are a front and rear winged chassis designed and developed for Suzuki Motorsport by internationally renowned driver "Monster" Tajima.

The power plant comes from the exceptional Suzuki Hyabusa motorcycle which lends the race cars a very handy 175 horsepower at an exciting 9,800 revs and also a six speed sequential gearbox.

With a chassis weight of only 425kg that power can be translated into 400hp per ton and all on slick tyres!

ends

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