LINDBLAD MAKES MARK

Arvid Lindblad has announced himself as the driver to catch in the 2025 Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Championship by taking round 2 at Hampton Downs.

Lindblad won the Dorothy Smith Memorial Trophy by taking the feature at the twisty North Island circuit located near Hamilton and Pukekohe.

The Red Bull junior driver also won the opening race and now enjoys a formidable 25-point lead over Zack Scoular.

Lindblad started the weekend with a bang by taking pole with a record-breaking 1:28.074, which overcame Scoular, who lamented a small mistake.

Arvid Lindblad with the Dorothy Smith Memorial Trophy. Image: Bruce Jenkins / Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ

“I really enjoy this circuit although I’m not sure it’s more to my style or not. It’s really cool and there’s a really nice flow to it. It’s quite challenging with the bumps which is not something I’m really used to,” Lindblad said after pole.

Lindblad made the most of pole position by getting a fast start and opening a large gap as early as the second turn.

But the sprint race was far from a cruise as both Scoular and Supercars champion Will Brown refused to allow him to open a significant gap.

They were in full attack mode, staying within tenths of the leader and swapping lap records.

Scouter stuck his nose alongside Lindblad a couple of times, but the latter always did enough to maintain the lead until the chequered flag.

“It was not an easy race, and it was quite long given how I felt in the car,” he explained on the podium, confirming his second win in a row was far from straightforward,” Lindblad said.

“I knew it would be difficult from lap two or three and I wasn’t very happy but I had to adapt and make the most of the car underneath me. I was struggling and it wasn’t easy in the car.”

Will Brown pushing hard. Image: Bruce Jenkins / Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ

Brown had his most encouraging race by getting a podium with third having shadowed Scoular throughout.

Josh Pierson and Australian Patrick Heuzenroeder completed the top five.

The top eight were reversed for the Race 2 sprint and Sebastian Manson used this as his chance to shine.

Nikita Johnson was on pole and led early, but he could do little about Manson’s pace.

On fresher tyres Manson had plenty of pace and needed just half a lap to snatch victory.

From there on he did not look back and took a comfortable and memorable home win.

“It feels great. I probably shouldn’t be that excited about a reverse grid race but it does feel good,” he said.

“We were quite aggressive on strategy and the idea was to get ahead and maintain it through the race, so it’s great we were able to do so.”

Despite being forced to start eighth, Lindblad cut through the field like a knife on hot butter.

Australia’s Pat Heuzenroeder raced well. Photo by Bruce Jenkins / Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ

He soared up to third to collect crucial points as Heuzenroeder was his most daunting obstacle.

The Aussie did not provide an opening for the Brit to steal third until lap 12.

Brown completed the top five again having beaten Pierson.

With the Dorothy Smith Memorial Trophy on the line, drivers knew the importance of the feature race.

Lindblad and Scoular got away well and duelled side by side for the first half of the opening lap before the Red Bull driver prevailed.

Behind them Pierson slotted into third, but not for long before Brown sneaked past by the time they arrived at Turn 2.

The race got quite physical as it went on with Manson and Rashid especially going at it.

Despite being in the lead, Lindblad was not cruising at all, breaking the lap record to push more than a second over Scoular.

All eyes were on the fight for second as Scoular and Brown were closely separated.

The Kiwi was flying, lowering Lindblad’s lap record and the pressure was too much for Brown.

The Supercars star lost it at the opening turn of Lap 11, going off and falling all the way to eighth.

Brown’s mistake elevated Pierson back into third with Johnson, Zagazeta, Heuzenroeder and Shin also being promoted.

Brown did everything to regain some ground, but Shin put up a mighty defence across the final series of laps.

But the race was all about Lindblad, who credited his fast start to the success.

“The start was a bit difficult and it was a bit hairy in turn one,” he said. 

“The first two laps were tricky but I then settled into a nice rhythm and started to build the gap. 

“It wasn’t easy as the gap was small and any mistake I made would have let Zack in, so it was pretty tough. 

“I’m here to win to races though, so I’m happy with the result.”

The next stop on the 2025 Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Championship is at Manfield’s Circuit Chris Amon this weekend from January 24-26.

Image: Bruce Jenkins / Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ

READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.