Oli Wickham takes Race 2 of Yokohama Tyre AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship at The Bend

It was another close contest in Race 2 of the Yokohama Tyre AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship as Oli Wickham took his maiden victory at his debut event.

BF Racing’s Wickham was able to hold off Isaac Demellweek for a 0.209s victory, with opening race winner Jamie Rowe a further 0.215s in arrears at the finish line.

Rowe started from pole and held the lead into Turn 1 from Demellweek as Seth Burchartz moved into third.

Kaleb Balek was a big mover to be fifth through the Turn 3 and 4, but ended the lap sixth after Hunter Salvatore demoted him.

Maintaining the lead until lap 2, Rowe fell victim to Demellweek at Turn 1 as Wickham moved to third ahead Burchartz and Salvatore.

Xavier Henderson’s race ended after flying off at Turn 6, but this also ended Belak’s as well after he clipped the Pioneer DJ Spectrum.

This was fortuitous for Jett Leicester after his Race 1 charge, he moved up to sixth behind Salvatore.

Demellweek had gapped his pursuers by 1.1s as Wickham led the group from Rowe, Burchartz and Salvatore, but Leicester in sixth ended his charge after he went off at the final corner.

The order behind Demellweek continue to change as Burchartz took third from Rowe, but the battle didn’t end there. Burchartz ran wide out of the final corner as Rowe and Salvatore drew alongside to enter Turn 1 three-wide. The trio of drivers emerged from the opening corner unscathed and Rowe took back the position.

It was becoming interesting at the front as Demellweek margin continued to be eaten into by Wickham as the latter set the fastest lap of the race.
Rowe’s battles continued as this time it was Salvatore as the duo dropped off the leaders to the tune of 2.3s.

By lap 10, Demellweek was caught by Wickham and Rowe had dropped Salvatore after he went off in the final part of the track.

A moment for Demellweek opened the door for Wickham at the penultimate corner and the reigning GR Cup champion grabbed the opportunity.

From there, despite pressure from behind it was Wickham scoring his maiden win in the championship from Demellweek and a fast closing Rowe.

Burchartz was fourth ahead of Lachlan Mineeff, Sam March, Brad James, Tabitha Ambrose, Will Hickey and Ryan DeBorre.

It was 11th for Leicester from Giuseppe Imbrogno after an amazing effort from the Synergy Motorsport crew to return the Spectrum to the track after a Race 1 incident.

Salvatore completed the finishes.

Practice leads into a Shootout for the entire field for qualifying at 9:15am ACDT ahead of two races in the afternoon.