Beswick clinches Formula Ford title

Eddie Beswick has joined some of the biggest names in motorsport by winning the 2024 Australian Formula Ford Championship title at Phillip Island.

Beswick entered the finale held within the Victorian State Race Series with a solid 38-point advantage over Harrison Sellars and Jack Bussey.

Despite finishing ninth in the Phillip Island round, Beswick did enough to hold on ahead of round winner Kobi Williams and Jack Bussey.

He needed to finish seventh of better among the national competitors in race 2 and eighth on the road, but seventh in class was enough to seal the title.

In addition to joining famous names ranging from Chaz Mostert to Craig Lowndes on the national Formula Ford champions list, Beswick will receive a Supercars test with Dick Johnson Racing.

Beswick was a model of consistency all year with just three wins at Mount Panorama, Sydney Motorsport Park and Symmons Plains.

Despite a nervy start being 14th in race 1, two top 10 finishes on Sunday were enough to get the job done.

“I’d like to thank my family, my grandparents, my mum, dad, and sister for their support to be able to race and have a real crack at things,” he said.

Runner-up Kobi Williams, champion Eddie Beswick and third placed Jack Bussey.Image: Phil Wisewould Photography

“A massive thanks to Justin; I wasn’t much of a go-karter – I’ve got the national champion in go-karting next to me – so everything is a result of his teaching and I’m looking forward to continuing that in the future.

“To win a national championship with only three race wins was so difficult and kept me on my toes all year.”

Weather was the first curveball thrown in the season finale, with docile conditions arriving for the opening race.

Liam Loiacono started from pole after being the only driver in the 1m36s window in qualifying.

But heavy rain soaked the track for the opening race, which started under the control of the Safety Car.

With six minutes on the clock the green flag was finally waved with Loiacono leading Lachlan Evennett and Williams.

Amongst the early exchanges Cody Maynes-Rutty surged to second, only to run wide and allow Williams to second.

Williams was a man on a mission and charged to the lead on the penultimate lap, denying Loiacono as Evennett rounded out the podium.

It was a tough race for Beswick as he dropped a wheel in the grass, which saw him fall from 10th to 14th.

As a result, he needed to soar to seventh or better among the national racers to wrap up the crown in the penultimate race.

Round winner Kobi Williams. Image: Phil Wisewould Photography

In changeable conditions Beswick made up six spots within four laps to climb to eighth and critically he held it.

With state cars further ahead, it was enough for Beswick to become national champion.

Up front Williams and Maynes-Rutty put on a grand show for victory with the former leading every lap, but only winning by 0.0705s.

The dead rubber race 3 was another thriller as Bussey, Williams, Loiacono and Maynes-Rutty went at it.

The decisive moment was when they started the fourth lap four wide with Bussey emerging ahead.

Before the battle could enrage further, the Safety Car ended the race after Evennett and Joe Fawcett tangled.

The Formula Ford Kent class was also a tight affair with veteran Richard Davison fending off Andrew Torti and Peter Fitzgerald as just two points covered the trio.

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