Dylan Grant has continued his winning form in the 2022 Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series at the latest round at the Taupo International Motorsport Park in Taupo. Grant (Van Diemen RF05), first set the fastest lap with an amazing double tow in qualifying, winning the $500 cash Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy prize, then went on to win the first race and finish second in Races 2 & 3, winning the round and the NAPA Auto Parts $200+gst trade voucher.

“It’s been a great round,” commented Grant (Van Diemen RF03). “We had a really good qualifying session which gave us a good start to the weekend. I managed to pull a five-second gap in the first race and was pleased to get the win.”

Behind Grant, Blake Dowdall (Spectrum 015) finished in second ahead of Shane Drake (Van Diemen RF92) and Mason Potter (Van Diemen Stealth) after vigorously defending first from Liam Sceats (Van Diemen Stealth), lap after lap, then Potter and Drake who also joined into the battle for second.

While series leader, Liam Sceats, retired from the first race with a fuel pump issue, he then bounced back to win the following two races, with Grant and Potter finishing second and third. Grant had led Race 2 until he ran wide at T7 and slid into the marbles handing the lead to Sceats.

The third and final race of the round had the added challenge of rain and a wet track. Sceats got away and fought with Dowdall while Grant slipped well behind the front two to fight with Potter and Drake for third.

“I started off P2 in the final race,” said Grant.  I dropped a couple of places at the start with wheel slip then just before the back straight I aquaplaned off the track and dropped further back giving Liam (Sceats) and Blake (Dowdall) a bit of a gap.”

Leo Scott also fell victim to the wet track on the first lap with a massive high-speed aquaplane spin into the gravel at turn 11.

Unfortunately for Dowdall, he too was to leave the track handing second position to Grant who went on to win the round from Potter and Drake.  

“We’re very happy with the car at the moment,” said Grant. “The only thing we have changed this season is the setup which is definitely better than in the first couple of rounds.  

“I’m trying to get up the leaderboard after a couple of retirements early in the season. The competition is great and I’m really looking forward to the next round at Hampton Downs.”

Sceats still leads the series by 166-points to Dowdall with Potter third, Leo Scott fourth and Grant fifth. The Series has a long break before the fifth round at Hampton Downs in support of the New Zealand Grand Prix meeting which also doubles as a round of the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship.

The Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford Series is also supported by Yokohama, the Tony Quinn Foundation and NAPA Auto Parts. 

‍Caption: #15 Dylan Grant leads #6Blake Dowdall, #29 Liam Sceats, #93 Mason Potter and #92 Shane Drake

Photo Credit: Geoff Ridder