Brook Reeve won the New Zealand Formula First Rookie championship with one round remaining after taking an unassailable points lead at Hampton Downs.
The 17-year-old teenager from Blenheim continued to notch up more podium placings at the south Auckland race track to add to a season that has so far seen him finish in the top three on nine occasions.
Reeve is the first driver in the 14-year history of the SpeedSport Scholarship program to win the Rookie title at the penultimate round.
“Only two of our Scholarship drivers haven’t won the Rookie title but no-one has won it before the last round of the season,” said co-founder Dennis Martin.
Driving for Martin’s Sabre Motorsport team, Reeve is 247 points clear of rival Elliot Andrew in the Rookie stakes and can not be beaten with the final round still to be contested at Taupo over Easter weekend.
At Hampton Downs, Reeve crossed the finish line 2nd in the first race but was later given a 10-second penalty for crossing a white line on the track. However he ended the weekend’s racing with two 3rd placings.
“The team has given me a very good car and I was close to getting another race win,” said Reeve.
“Racing three and four [cars] wide is pretty exciting stuff and this very close racing is really valuable in developing my racing career.
“I’d love to get at least one more win before the season ends,” he added.
Not only is Reeve a new driver to the Formula First class, he is also in his rookie year of motor racing. His move from racing karts to cars came after winning the annual SpeedSport Scholarship last May
Apart from winning a drive in the New Zealand Formula First championship, Reeve also won a personalised race suit, boots and racing gloves from Chicane.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2001 Nic Jordan
2002 Joshua Hart
2003 Mark Russ
2004 Shane van Gisbergen
2005 Andrew Waite
2006 Alastair Wootten
2007 Richie Stanaway
2008 Aaron Hodgson
2009 Nick Cassidy
2010 Hayden Pedersen
2011 Malcolm Finch
2012 Aaron Marr
2013 James Webb
2014 Brook Reeve
CALENDAR
Rnd 1: Taupo 25-26 October
Rnd 2: Pukekohe 16 November
Rnd 3: Pukekohe 6-7 December
Rnd 4: Hampton Downs 31 Jan-1 Februray
Rnd 5: Manfeild 14-15 February (NZGP meeting)
Rnd 6: Manfeild 21-22 February
Rnd 7: Hampton Downs 21-22 March
Rnd 8: Taupo 4-5 April
