Kobi Williams takes thrilling Sydney opener

Kobi Williams has withstood immense pressure to take victory in the opening race of the Formula Ford Stars Series at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Williams led from start-to-finish, but it wasn’t as academic as that due to the constant challenge from Lachlan Evennett throughout the 18-minute affair.

It was a spectacular rolling start under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park as the field arrived safely at Turn 2, but it soon went array upon exit when title contender Joe Fawcett and Hunter Salvatore tangled.

Salvatore recovered to finish eighth, but Fawcett failed to finish after hitting the wall and will start Race 2 from the rear.

Just a couple of corners later, there was wheel-to-wheel contact between Jack Johnson and Jamie Rowe as the duo battled for a position inside the top five, which allowed the leaders to build a margin featuring Will Lowing in tow.

Williams and Evennett soon dripped Lowing to stage a thrilling battle for the lead until the end of the race.

Ethan Fitzgerald found trouble and spun allowing Tabitha Ambrose to move inside the top 10, while ahead Fraser Hie pushed from a poor qualifying position to be challenging Johnson for fifth by the race’s mid-point.

Hie and Johnson battled hard for numerous laps until a mistake by the latter led to an off-course excursion through Turn 5 due to a locked brake.

The battle for the lead heated up when Evennett made several attempts at the lead, but his most serious was a dive down the inside at Turn 6 when he got alongside Williams, but superior drive out of the corner allowed the series leader to maintain position.

This proved race defining as Evennett was unable to make another serious attempt at the lead, with Williams taking the victory by 0.483s and extending his margin at the top of the standings.

Lowing maintained third from Rowe and a charging Hie, while Johnson was able to recover from his lock up to be sixth.

Salvatore, Ambrose and Kaleb Belak completed the top 10, while Fitzpatrick completed the field.

It’s a short turnaround until Race 2, which is scheduled for 7:40pm AEST live on SBS Viceland, Fox Sports and Kayo.