The Investchem Formula Ford championship delivered some exciting racing at Zwartkops Raceway recently. They follow that up in East London on Saturday, July 9, when they contest round four of their national championship during the Extreme Festival race day.
The East London event allows the single-seater competitors to open their throttles wide and enjoy the thrill of open-wheel racing on a track purpose-built for high-speed competition.
Posing the big question for this event is Rick Morris (8 – Investchem) who put in an excellent performance during the first race at Zwartkops, involved in a titanic battle with Dewald Brummer (4 – MAD Racing / Ango Trucks / Fuchs Oils) for the race lead. While Brummer won the battle in the end, it made for nailbiting racing.
A second race day with this kind of close competition will make the Investchem Formula Ford championship a highlight on the programme in East London.
With Morris fourth in the championship, he is more of a concern to third-place Dean Venter (77 – MAD Racing/Fuchs Oils/Ango Trucks) who is only three points ahead, rather than to Brummer and Julian van der Watt (42 – Investchem) – first and second respectively.
Brummer leads by just two points on Van der Watt after the first three rounds – having snuck into the lead in round three. Undoubtedly, Van der Watt will want that lead back and will be pulling out all the stops to make it happen at the East London event.
Perhaps the competition amongst the leading four competitors will distract them enough to open the door for Alex Gillespie (50 – Mbotyi River Lodge). Gillespie is fifth overall in the Investchem Formula Ford championship after the first three rounds, but needs just four points to match Morris for fourth.
Competition between the Investchem Formula Ford competitors outside of the top five is quite fierce. Often separated by just one or two points, the fight for just one point can see these competitors pushed to their limits.
With Werner Scholtz (6 – Investchem) still out of competition while his recovery continues, Allen Meyer (15) will have to take charge in East London to score the maximum number of points possible. Meyer has the opportunity to consolidate his championship position in sixth place during Scholtz’s absence – a wise move to stay ahead of Bevan Williams (36 – MAD Racing / FUCHS Oils), Andrew Horne (31 – Investchem) and Andrew Schofield (23 – Investchem) – seventh and eighth respectively.
Mix in the high-speed action that the East London layout encourages and it becomes a recipe for success – for the brave. Being brave means throwing caution to the wind, to capitalise on any available opportunities and to get on the accelerator a little bit earlier and use the brakes just that little bit later than anyone else.
Just like the Zwartkops event so recently completed, the Investchem Formula Ford racing in East London has the potential to deliver some exciting moments. Winter is perhaps not the right time for a weekend at the coast, but the competition between these single-seater competitors will certainly be heating things up at the seaside on Saturday, July 9.