Round 3 Report Matt Gibson Formula First Championship

Round 3 of the 2008/2009 National Series was again a huge improvement to our bad start to the season. With some great podium finishes and some great close wheel-to-wheel racing by the lead drivers the weekend was a huge success. I was even lucky enough to break the Pukekohe Lap Record and keep it this time!

Race One
Race One was an exciting race to watch as the top 5 cars up front were changing the lead just about every second. I qualified 5th and got a poor start. The car bogged down as I dropped the clutch. This meant I had some work to do to catch on to the lead bunch but within one lap I was on them. The top 5 cars squabbled for the lead for 6 laps until Nick Cassidy came out of Castrol corner (leading on to the back straight) and his car died causing his team mate to drive right up the back of him. This led three cars left. Me. Ian Foster and Michael Shepherd. It was a race to the finish. I was third coming over Ford Mountain and pulled out of the draft at the last minute but I missed out on 2nd by 0.026 and 1st by 0.052. A great Finish.

Race Two
Race two I grabbed a better start and was straight onto the lead bunch. I was passed down the back straight by a car behind me so the next lap I drove like mad. By doing this I broke the Lap Record with a time of 1.113.187 smashing the old record by 7 tenths of a second. On lap three a driver spun out and hit the wall on Ford Mountain. This lead to a safety car for 3 laps. As the safety car pulled in there was 1 lap to go. But I missed the last lapboard as we crossed the line, A costly mistake. I was passed into the hairpin and dropped back to 4th. As I came over Ford Mountain I saw the Chequered Flag and pulled out to pass but it was to late. I crossed the line in 4th.

Race Three
Race three I started on pole and got a wicked start but the sheer grunt of Ian Fosters car led to him slightly pulling away. I came onto the back straight in 2nd. By about lap 3 the pace for the 4th driver in the lead bunch was too much and he slowly dropped off. This led 6 laps of close racing between 3 great drivers. I diced for the lead every lap just like the others drivers. It came down to the last lap. I came over Ford Mountain in 1st place but the other two drivers past me just before the line. A photo finish.

A very Satisfying weekend that proves I can still take the Championship with some huge luck and the other drivers having some DNFs. I have again moved up the Championship ladder to 5th place. Next meeting is January 3rd and 4th at Taupo. We are hoping to grab some more valuable Championship points there.