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Melbourne resident Glen Wood received an early birthday present today, breaking through for his first Australian Formula Ford Championship race and round win at Sandown Raceway.

Emerging unscathed from a brush with Joshua Scott at turn two on the opening lap, the Sonic Motor Racing driver quickly assumed a position in a three-car battle for the race lead, along with Tim Blanchard and Ash Walsh, while Nick Percat and Adam Graham waited in the wings.

The race lead was traded on numerous occasions, but the race - and the championship battle - was dealt a twist on lap nine.

Entering turn 11, Walsh made contact with the rear of Blanchard's car, damaging Blanchard's rear suspension.

The championship leader limped home to 13th, while Walsh was given a 26-second penalty by stewards after crossing the finish line first and dropped to 10th.

Blanchard's championship lead is now eight points, with two rounds remaining, while the penalty has been appealed by Walsh's camp.

The incident and subsequent penalty elevated Wood to top spot for the race and round.

"It's fantastic, I'm over the moon," Wood beamed.

"I had to push hard to get back up to the lead group after running wide at turn one on one of the early laps, but the car was great.

"I'm delighted to have my first national win, especially at a big event like the Sandown 500."

Second place for the race and third for the round - behind Wood and double race-winner Walsh - was Nick Percat.

In his second round with Team BRM, Percat showed strong form and held out a late challenge from Adam Graham.

Percat's result is the first time a Van Diemen has finished on the podium since last year's Phillip Island season finale.

"It was a good race, we had the pace to run at the front of the field and had a clean run," Percat said.

"Everything was really rushed before Queensland Raceway, this was like my first weekend working with BRM, so it's really promising to get a result like this."

Graham's third place capped a strong weekend, his second round back in the class, and completed a good recovery after an opening-race DNF.

Also on the recovery trail, Scott ended the race in fourth place after his opening lap incident, edging out Michael Pereira.

On debut at national level, a pair of sixth-place finishes yesterday and fifth today saw Pereira claim fifth for the round.

"I'm happy with the way things went," Pereira said.

"Coming into the weekend, I said I'd be happy with a top 10 finish, so to end up in the top five on my first run exceeded all my expectations."

James Moffat ended a frustrating weekend with sixth in race three, ahead of Tobia Kipper, Kristian Lindbom, recovering from a race two gearbox problem, and Grant Doulman.

Opening lap incidents accounted for a number of cars.

Taz Douglas' luckless home weekend ended with rear suspension damage, while Sam Sewell, Brad Lowe, James Bergmuller and Luke Wood were also eliminated early.

The Sandown Raceway action will be broadcast in a 30-minute package on Sunday 30 September from 12:30pm on Channel 7.

The next round of the 2007 Australian Formula Ford Championship will be held at Tasmania's Symmons Plains Raceway on 16-18 November.

Sandown Race Three Top Six

1.         Glen Wood

2.         Nick Percat

3.         Adam Graham  

4.         Joshua Scott    

5.         Michael Pereira

6.         James Moffat               

Sandown Round Top Six

1.         Glen Wood                    48 points

2.         Ash Walsh                     41        

3.         Nick Percat                    38

4.         Joshua Scott                  27

5.         Michael Pereira              26

6.         Adam Graham                20

Current Championship Points Standings

1.         Tim Blanchard                248 points

2.         Ash Walsh                     240

3.         James Moffat                 205

4.         Kristian Lindbom            176

5.         Glen Wood                    161