Minda Motorsport

Symmons Plains Round 3

The National Formula Ford Championship headed to Australia’s most southern state, Tasmania, for it’s 3^rd round on the last weekend of May. MMS drivers Ben Walter, Jesse Dixon and Nick McBride all headed down with justified confidence after their great outings so far in 2009.

Practice 1 was an extreme highlight of the weekend with rookie driver and future star, Jesse Dixon, setting the pace. It was Jesse’s first time to lead the time sheet and in only his fifth race meeting. To be fastest at a National FF round is an amazing effort and we're sure it won’t be the last time he will do so.

The short Tasmanian track is renowned for it’s need for great track position and getting a tow to snare a good time. Ben Walter was the teams best qualifier with 7^th , Jesse Dixon 11^th, and fellow rookie Nick McBride 12^th, all acknowledging after the session that they failed to make the most of the all important tow and tyre gain, but were all happy that the races would be different.

Race 1 was a fantastic display of FF racing with the top ten all very close and six drivers in this ten all going under the lap record. Ben Walter had a great run in the lead group finishing 5^th, with only 2 seconds separating 2^nd to 5^th , which highlights the competitiveness of this years field. Also in this lead group was Jesse Dixon, however he had a coming together at the 1^st gear hairpin resulting in a DNF. Nick McBride again had a strong run, finishing a fine 10^th after a race long battle with experienced Luke Ellery, who is now a Cams Rising Star member.

Race 2 was again a fine display of close and clean racing with Ben Walter in the lead group, in fact 5 drivers again went under the lap record including Ben who was 3^rd fastest and finished a fighting 5^th. Nick McBride had another top 10 result showing again in his rookie year he keeps on improving. Jesse Dixon had to fight his way up to 13h from rear of the grid after his DNF in Race 1 and this mature and clean drive again showed us that he is also making great leaps forward in his quest to be a race winner.

Race 3 was one to forget for Ben Walter, after a strong run in Races 1 & 2 he was again in to the lead group hoping to better his 5^th from Race 1, but unfortunately he misjudged his braking into the hairpin and had to run wide, resulting in a heavy impact with a fellow competitor and the guard rail and an instant DNF. Nick McBride again showed us his maturity by being able to run with a lot more experienced drivers, and considering Nick and Jesse are the only two drivers on P plates in this years competitive field, his 10^th position was another fantastic result. Jesse Dixon had a race long battle as well, and drove to his game plan finishing a mighty fine 13^th.

The whole team at MMS are very proud of Jesse, Nick and Ben’s pace and we all look forward to round 4 at Darwin. The team is looking to transfer this pace into some strong results.

10_winton_w 25_agp2_w 74_top_w

#10 Jesse Dixon #25 Ben Walter #74 Nick McBride

JDR Road Solutions Marshalls & Dent Lawyers

Brabham joins Kangan Batman Tafe and Minda Motorsport

Matthew Brabham has teamed up with the Kangan Batman Tafe and Minda Motorsport to debut in the teams Formula Ford later this year.

Matthew's aim is to race at the last two rounds of the Victorian State Formula Ford Championship to be held at the Sandown circuit on July 18-19 and the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit on September 26-27.

The final decision will be decided after testing in early July if to enter the Sandown event or wait until Phillip Island later in the year.

"My testing programme has been going well, and I am feeling more comfortable in the car every time I drive. I am going to make a decision after the next test when I am going to start racing, as I have just turned 15 years old I have plenty of time and there is no point rushing things at this stage. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Greg Moulden from the Kangan Batman Tafe and Bruin Beasley from Minda Motorsport for all their support" Matthew said.

2009 National Season Begins

This weekend marks the beginning of the 2009 National Formula Ford Championship and Minda Motorsport will back up it's fantastic debut year at national level in 2008, where it was the most successful 4 car team. Consistently all of the 4 cars were in the top 10 and regularly in the lead group. The team also had a race win, in it's feet finding year with a new spectrum chassis, after winning 6 state titles with the Van Diemen chassis.

The team takes up where it left off with 4 cars and 3 new drivers. Ben Walter will make his first appearance at the Albert Part circuit in his MMS spectrum 011c after a great rookie season in car racing seeing a high of 5th at Phillip Island and his off season testing is showing his real natural speed. Joining the team for 2009 is young 16yr old Jesse Dixon who has only one race under his belt (Tasmania 2008) where he had a sensational top 10 finish on debut to motor racing and Formula Ford. Also young Nicholas McBride joins the MMS family for 2009, having a very limited 2008 state season.

BRITEK SCHOLARSHIP EYE VICTORY AT ORAN PARK

The Britek Motorsport Scholarship will go for victory at the final round of the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Series at Sydney Oran Park on 4-7 December.

The Minda Motorsport program will run three cars at Oran Park for Ben Walter (Hobart) in the Road Solutions entry, Glen Wood (Melbourne) in the Komatsu car and New South Wales Series driver Daniel Lewis.

At the recent round in Tasmania, guest driver Glen Wood took victory in race #1 before being bundled off the circuit in race #2.

"It was a big thrill to be part of the first race win for the Britek Motorsport Scholarship, now I want to get them a round win," said Wood.

"We have been working very hard with our sponsor Worchester to ensure we make this race. With the support of everyone from Jason Bright through to the Minda Motorsport crew we have made it to the starting line.

BRITEK MOTORSPORT SCHOLARSHIP SCORES RACE WIN IN TASMANIA

Guest driver Glen Wood has scored the Britek Motorsport Scholarship its first individual race win in the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship.

Wood took victory in the opening race of three at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

He was on-course for at least a podium for the weekend, but was bundled out of the second race while battling for third position. Wood had led for the first half of the race, before being caught by Nick Percat and Paul Laskazeski.

He recovered in the final race of the weekend to take eighth position and finish in fourth place for the weekend.

"After competing all year in the UK, it was nice to come home and give the Britek Scholarship its first race win," said Wood.

Minda Motorsport

Symmons Plains Round 3

Brabham joins Kangan Batman Tafe and Minda Motorsport

2009 National Season Begins

BRITEK SCHOLARSHIP EYE VICTORY AT ORAN PARK

BRITEK MOTORSPORT SCHOLARSHIP SCORES RACE WIN IN TASMANIA

Track Support

Restoration

Driver Development

Transportation

Setup

Race Preparation