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Dale Wood Gives Mygale Perfect Return With Formula Ford Victory |
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Tuesday, 15 August 2006 |
Dale Wood, in his first drive for Mygale this year has scored his maiden Australian Formula Ford Championship round victory courtesy of his final race victory.
After an incorrect allocation of round points given at the Oran Park meeting by track officials was rectified, Wood received the welcome news and was officially announced as the round four winner.
"I'm totally over the moon about the weekend, we've been working really hard all year and to get a round win in our first weekend in the Mygale is just unbelievable," Dale Wood said.
"We still have more improvements to make on the car so the rest of the season is really looking good."
Sunday's race two saw John Martin and Dale Wood have an even start off the line but Martin held his line into turn one to take the lead ahead of Wood's Mygale SJ06.
Martin, in his CAMS Rising Star Spectrum 011, cleared out in to hold a comfortable gap on his nearest rivals, while still having to push his car to the limit.
Wood, racing for Preston Motors and Mygale, likewise cleared out on those behind him and sat ready to pounce on any mistake by Martin.
A race long battle developed for third between Tim Slade, Ashley Walsh and Joel Spychala.
With the front two in clear air, the major focus was on third position with the three drivers pushing each other and testing their own skills and limits.
VIP Petfoods driver Walsh made a huge move around the outside of Slade at the end of pit straight mid race and held third through turns one and two however Slade held his nerve and reclaimed third position through turn three.
Slade in the Sonic Van Diemen RF04 held off Walsh although Spychala in the Mid Coast Ford Spirit had other ideas who found a way around Walsh and proceeded to try and pressure Slade, who in third had pulled a slight gap on the two battling each other for what was now fourth.
With the top three settled, Spychala and Walsh battled it out through to the finish line, Spychala taking fourth ahead of Walsh in fifth.
Nathan Caratti finished sixth in a race where he was on his own for much of the time, while Joshua Scott and Grant Doulman both fought back from the rear of the grid to take seventh and eighth respectively.
Another battle further back in the field Saw Samantha Reid claim a strong ninth less than 0.2 seconds ahead of James Bergmuller.
But Martin up front showed his class and claimed his second race win of the weekend ahead of Wood and Slade.
In race three it was again Martin who took the lead from Wood in a carbon copy start of race two.
Slade slotted in to third in front of Joel Spychala.
Behind them, Walsh, Scott, Caratti and Doulman battled for position and Tim Blanchard, further back than normal, battled with James Bergmuller and Samantha Reid.
Walsh showed strong pace and moved up on Spychala to take fourth and the top five pulled a small margin on the rest of the field.
Continuing his charge, Walsh found his way past Slade mid-race, who had up till this point had a relatively smooth run.
Scott also moved his way up the leader board passing Spychala as Wood steadily closed in on Martin up the front and Brad Lowe found a way past Todd Fiore who was having a disappointing round.
Walsh's run came to an end when he had to retire with only a handful of laps remaining, and Dale Wood continued to pressure Martin for the lead.
With light fading, the field pushed themselves to the limits and Martin succumbed to Wood's pressure and spun on the final turn and surrendering the lead to Wood in the Mygale.
Recovering from the spin Martin resumed in fourth place with only two laps remaining, behind Wood, Slade and Scott to finish fourth.
In a result that would net him the round victory, Wood comfortably made his way to his first race victory in the national series and made it a memorable return to national racing for the Mygale chassis.
Martin, while unhappy about spinning in the final race was happy to have the round win.
"I'm pretty angry with myself about the spin at the end of that last race (race three) but we came away with the championship lead so it is a good send off for England tomorrow," John Martin said, who heads to England to compete in selected round of the British Formula Ford series.
"The car was solid all weekend and the Spectrum was excellent again so I'm looking forward to England a before I head back home for the Sandown round."
But the story of the weekend was Dale Wood and his first round win in the national series.
"This is an awesome feeling, we never expected to go this well but we'll certainly take it.it was a great race against John at the end there and this has helped put our season back on track," a delighted Dale Wood said.
"It is such a tough category Formula Ford, but I think we have shown we are going to be tough to beat for the rest of the year, so I am really looking forward to the rest of the year."
Mygale car owner and chassis importer, Greg Woodrow found it difficult to contain his excitement.
"We're absolutely thrilled, I can't believe it. I couldn't have asked for a better comeback for the Mygale chassis," an excited Greg Woodrow said
"We honestly thought a top five would be a great result, but Dale did a great job and really showed the talent he has."
Round five of the Australian Formula Ford Championship is at Sandown Raceway, 1-3 September.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 January 2007 )
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