Oli Wickham charges to final Yokohama Tyre AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship victory at Queensland Raceway

A calculated drive through the pack gave Oli Wickham victory in the final race for the Yokohama Tyre AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship at Queensland Raceway.

Wickham started from 11th after a spin hampered his result in Race 1 to take victory in the closing stages of the final event of the weekend.

Isaac Demellweek led for most of the encounter and fell short of victory after running wide on the final lap exiting Turn 4.

Seth Burchartz continued his consistent run to nab third after dropping as far back as sixth.

New race winner Lachie Mineeff led through Turn 1, but there were dramas when Ryan DeBorre spun after going three-wide with Brad James and Will Lowing.

DeBorre recovered as the fight for the lead started immediately when Demellweek attacked Mineeff into Turn 3.

Mineeff held on as the leading pack grew courtesy of faster drivers making rapid progress led by Will Lowing moving into the top 10 from the back.

The battle between Demellweek and Mineeff continued as the pair swapped the lead at Turns 3 and 4, but it was interrupted by the appearance of the Pace Car.

A loose wheel went across the track from Hunter Salvatore’s Versa Motorsport entry after he contacted the rear of Xavier Henderson’s Spectrum, resulting in retirement for both.

On the restart, combat at the front was immediate when Demellweek went around the outside and Jamie Rowe went around the inside of Demellweek into Turn 3. Rowe locked up and headed into the sand trap but recovered to catch the back of the pack.

Mineeff still maintained the lead, but Wickham was up to fourth and Tabitha Ambrose was up to sixth for her best showing so far.

However, the pursuit of the lead became a challenge for Wickham when the field ahead checked up due to Mineeff suddenly slowing resulting in the championship leader heading off track in avoidance and dropping him to fifth.

Mineeff slowing set-up Demellweek to take the lead at Turn 3 and the Holinger Racing driver began to build a gap.

Having regrouped following his off-track excursion, Wickham was on the charge and took second from Mineeff.

Lowing was now up to fifth and Giuseppe Imbrogno followed his path to be sixth to the disadvantage of Burchartz.

Wickham was eating into Demellweek’s margin and soon caught the Holinger Racing Spectrum.

The two battled, but it was Wickham winning out and he withstood the challenge from Demellweek to win. The defining moment was at Turn 4 on the final lap when Demellweek attempted an outside move, but went wide allowing Wickham to take the victory.

A great recovery gave Burchartz third from Mineeff, Imbrogno, Kaleb Belak, Brad James, Sam March, Jamie Rowe and Tabitha Ambrose.

A lock up for Lowing dropped him out of contention as he finished 13th behind Rio Campbell and Will Hickey.

DeBorre was the final classified finisher after Henderson and Salvatore retired, while Jett Leicester was a non-starter.

There is a break now until the Yokohama Tyre AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship hits Sydney Motorsport Park for the second time, but on the Gardner layout on July 17-18.A calculated drive through the pack gave Oli Wickham victory in the final race for the Yokohama Tyre AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship at Queensland Raceway.

Wickham started from 11th after a spin hampered his result in Race 1 to take victory in the closing stages of the final event of the weekend.

Isaac Demellweek led for most of the encounter and fell short of victory after running wide on the final lap exiting Turn 4.

Seth Burchartz continued his consistent run to nab third after dropping as far back as sixth.

New race winner Lachie Mineeff led through Turn 1, but there were dramas when Ryan DeBorre spun after going three-wide with Brad James and Will Lowing.

DeBorre recovered as the fight for the lead started immediately when Demellweek attacked Mineeff into Turn 3.

Mineeff held on as the leading pack grew courtesy of faster drivers making rapid progress led by Will Lowing moving into the top 10 from the back.

The battle between Demellweek and Mineeff continued as the pair swapped the lead at Turns 3 and 4, but it was interrupted by the appearance of the Pace Car.

A loose wheel went across the track from Hunter Salvatore’s Versa Motorsport entry after he contacted the rear of Xavier Henderson’s Spectrum, resulting in retirement for both.

On the restart, combat at the front was immediate when Demellweek went around the outside and Jamie Rowe went around the inside of Demellweek into Turn 3. Rowe locked up and headed into the sand trap but recovered to catch the back of the pack.

Mineeff still maintained the lead, but Wickham was up to fourth and Tabitha Ambrose was up to sixth for her best showing so far.

However, the pursuit of the lead became a challenge for Wickham when the field ahead checked up due to Mineeff suddenly slowing resulting in the championship leader heading off track in avoidance and dropping him to fifth.

Mineeff slowing set-up Demellweek to take the lead at Turn 3 and the Holinger Racing driver began to build a gap.

Having regrouped following his off-track excursion, Wickham was on the charge and took second from Mineeff.

Lowing was now up to fifth and Giuseppe Imbrogno followed his path to be sixth to the disadvantage of Burchartz.

Wickham was eating into Demellweek’s margin and soon caught the Holinger Racing Spectrum.

The two battled, but it was Wickham winning out and he withstood the challenge from Demellweek to win. The defining moment was at Turn 4 on the final lap when Demellweek attempted an outside move, but went wide allowing Wickham to take the victory.

A great recovery gave Burchartz third from Mineeff, Imbrogno, Kaleb Belak, Brad James, Sam March, Jamie Rowe and Tabitha Ambrose.

A lock up for Lowing dropped him out of contention as he finished 13th behind Rio Campbell and Will Hickey.

DeBorre was the final classified finisher after Henderson and Salvatore retired, while Jett Leicester was a non-starter.

Wickham’s three wins at Queensland Raceway have extended his lead to 45-points from Demellweek and Burchartz is a further five in arrears.

There is a break now until the Yokohama Tyre AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship hits Sydney Motorsport Park for the second time, but on the Gardner layout on July 17-18.