Competitive field assembled for Formula Ford Stars & Renegades Series opener at Winton
Competition is expected to be hot at the front for the inaugural Formula Ford Stars & Renegades round at Winton Motor Raceway.
A new addition to the burgeoning Hi-Tec Oils Super Series roster, the Formula Ford Stars & Renegades Series welcomes a new era for a category that has remained a key part of Australian motorsport’s development structure for more than 50 years.
Third-generation racer Tabitha Ambrose will contest the series in a striking Pirtek Spectrum supported by dual Supercars Championship winning father Marcos in what will is a two-car attack alongside Brad James.
Both Ambrose and James are starting their Formula Ford journey, but plenty of experienced rivals will be targeting victory at the rural Victorian circuit.
National regulars Kobi Williams, Lachlan Evennett, Joe Fawcett, Fraser Hie and Will Lowing will provide tough competition as each aim to get their season off to the perfect start.
Vastly experienced Williams was runner up in last year’s national title and will enter the series as one of the favourites.
Evennett is vastly experienced in a variety of categories including the Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series, Monochrome GT4 Australia and the Toyota GAZOO Racing Australia GR Cup.
Fawcett is a former Victorian State Formula Ford Champion and was on the podium at the final two national rounds last year, with Hie a consistent top 10 contender as is New South Welshman Lowing.
Just like Ambrose and James, South Australia Giuseppe Imbrogno is a recent entry into Formula Ford, but was among the contenders at Sandown earlier this month.
Other newcomers to national competition include Kaleb Belak and Ethan Fitzgerald, though both have made selected starts at the level.
Another to watch out for is Jamie Rowe after he won the round at Sandown and will be hoping to add more silverware at Winton.
Another of the national level debutants is Jack Johnson, who is mentored and engineered by Ben Bargwanna. Johnson recently made the switch to Formula Ford, with his AFL legend Brad there to support.
Hunter Salvatore is also making his maiden steps into circuit racing and makes his Formula Ford debut following a round of GiTi Formula Open at Phillip Island.
All these drivers will be fighting for the Stars category of the series, with the prize at the end of the season being $1000 and a TA2 test courtesy of Marcos Ambrose Motorsport. Second wins $850 and a test in an Australian Production Cars, with third $350 plus a Hyper Racer test.
Awards per round are a Pole Award, Driver of the Weekend and placings trophies to be won.
The round starts with three practice sessions on Friday at 12:10pm, 1:50pm and 3:55pm (times all in AEDT).
Saturday’s action begins with Qualifying at 9:50am featured on the livestream, the first 20-minute Heat at 1:10pm to kick off the live broadcast on SBS On-demand, Fox Sports and Kayo, before the 30-minute Feature at 3:20pm.
Formula Ford kicks off the livestream on Sunday at 9:45am before the Heat at 1:45pm and the Feature at 3:30pm, which both broadcast on SBS On-demand, Fox Sports and Kayo.
Winton Motor Raceway kicks off the five-round Formula Ford Stars & Renegades Series as part of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series on February 28-March 2.
