Oli Wickham converts pole to victory in Sunday’s opener
Oli Wickham has added another Yokohama Tyre AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship race victory after crossing the line first in Sunday’s opener.
Wickham was pressured throughout by Isaac Demellweek and Seth Burchartz joined the duo on the podium for the first time.
Demellweek’s challenge on Wickham was continuous during the 12-lap encounter, with the duo fighting it out at the opening corner in close confines.
Burchartz was under pressure from Sam March, who charged from sixth to be side-by-side with the satellite Sonic driver into the first turn.
Saturday’s Race 1 winner Jamie Rowe was attempting to make moves, but Hunter Salvatore proved difficult to pass. However, this proved untrue when Rowe took the outside line around Turns 6 and 7 to complete the pass for fifth on the next corner down the inside.
The pace car came out at the end of the first lap after Xavier Henderson shot off at Turn 11 and made contact with Will Hickey. The front suspension was broken on Henderson’s Spectrum, while Hickey was able to soldier on.
Wickham meanwhile held the lead off the restart and was handed a Yellow Card in response after late jump.
Behind, Rowe made his move into fourth from March and there was further contact in the pack. Kaleb Balek was on the move and down the inside of Salvatore, but contact was made and the latter spun, while the former had retired with suspension damage.
In the end, Wickham led every lap to take his second win of the weekend from Demellweek, Burchartz, who won after battling with Rowe for third, as March completed the top five.
A great drive from Giuseppe Imbrogno delivered sixth for the Synergy Motorsport driver ahead of Lachlan Mineeff, Hunter Salvatore, Jett Leicester and Tabitha Ambrose.
There was an off approaching the finish line when Kobi Williams Racing teammates Brad James and Rio Campbell came into contact again sending the pair both into the gravel trap.
The final race of the weekend is to commence at 3:15pm ACDT live on SBS and Kayo Sports.
