Exciting start to Formula Ford

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: April 2, 2024

The 2024 Australian Formula Ford Series has started on a high at Mount Panorama with three winners from as many races and a tie in points.

Despite both Eddy Beswick and Cody Maynes-Rutty collecting 50 points across the weekend, it is the former who emerged with the championship lead courtesy of his final race win.

The 2024 season opener was always going to be a grand occasion as it was the first time the prestigious category had raced at Bathurst since 2019.

Jack Bussey started strong by being the only driver in the 2m18s window in qualifying to take pole with a 2:18.7682, three tenths faster then Maynes-Rutty.

However, Bussey got a slow start from pole, allowing the fast-starting Harrison Sellars to rise from fourth to first before the Safety Car was required for a four-car crash at The Cutting.

Fraser Hie, Logan Eveleigh, Lachlan Strickland and Nico Mendez were all caught up in the carnage.

The stoppage meant only a one-lap dash was possible to decide the race and Sellars held firm to take out the season opener ahead of Maynes-Rutty and Beswick, while poleman Bussey had to settle for sixth.

Sellar retained his lead at the start of the second race but Daniel Frougas looked racey.

Frougass pounced at Murrays Corner and pulled off a successful move to steal the lead.

To make matters worse for Sellar he was tagged by Liam Loiacono at the same left-hander, causing both to spin.

Beswick led lap 3, only for Maynes-Ratty to snatch P1 on the penultimate lap just in the knick of time.

Separate incidents for Zak Lobko and William Lowing at Hell Corner and Griffins Bend respectively saw the race finish under the Safety Car with Maynes-Ratty leading Beswick and Frougas.

Beswick and Maynes-Ratty led the field away at the start of the third and deciding race.

But another Safety Car was required as early as lap 1 after Logan Eveleigh found the fence at Griffins Bend after contact with Gary Collins.

Another victim was Imogen Radburn, but due to a clutch failure off the start.

When racing resumed a race-long battle for both the race and round win was sparked between Beswick and Maynes-Batty.

Also showing speed were Kobi Williams and Frougas, who clawed their way up to the front in the dying laps.

In a thrilling affair there were several changes for the lead in the final laps as the leaders went wheel to wheel.

In the end Beswick edged out Williams, Maynes-Rutty and Frougas as just half a second covered the top four across the line.

The Formula Ford season heads to Winton Motor Raceway on April 26-28.

Image: Ricciardo Benvenuti

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Exciting start to Formula Ford

However, Bussey got a slow start from pole, allowing the fast-starting Harrison Sellars to rise from fourth to first before the Safety Car was required for a four-car crash at The Cutting.

To make matters worse for Sellar he was tagged by Liam Loiacono at the same left-hander, causing both to spin.

But another Safety Car was required as early as lap 1 after Logan Eveleigh found the fence at Griffins Bend after contact with Gary Collins.

In a thrilling affair there were several changes for the lead in the final laps as the leaders went wheel to wheel.

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