Having been out of the drivers seat for 18 months, Rob Storey, aboard the #16 Anglo Australia Motorsport Stealth Van Diemen, caused a huge upset in the fourth round of the NSW Formula Ford Championship at Oran Park Raceway over the weekend.

Even the presence of current Championship leader, Ben Morley, wasn't enough to deter Storey from a stunning return to racing that saw him qualify on pole position and take command clear victories in both race one and three of the 2.9 kilometre Oran Park Grand Prix circuit.

Morley was able to capitalise on a mistake made by Storey in the second race, scoring a comfortable win (his ninth from 11 starts this year), whilst Storey finished further down the field in fourth after enduring two separate off track excursions.

Due to Storey not figuring in the Championship officially, Morley was able to take a maximum 90 points after winning race two and finishing second behind Storey in both race one and three. As a result Morley has stretched his Championship lead over his nearest rival, CAMS Rising Star Kristian Lindbom, to a massive 123 points.

The weekend kicked off with Storey blitzing the field in qualifying as he stamped his authority on the event recording the fastest lap in 1:13.1996 - ahead of Morley (1:13.4688), Lindbom (1:13.6340), Leigh Burgess (1:13.8785) and Queensland based Kyle Wood (1:14.0038) in fifth.

During the 15 minute qualifying session, newcomer Chris Goodman suffered irreconcilable damage early in the piece after colliding with the wall coming onto the main straight, drawing a red flag. Goodman was unable to continue the session, and due to his rookie status regulations state that competitors must complete three recorded lap times in qualifying so as to compete in the three races. This ruling sidelined Goodman for the remainder of the weekend, resonating a similar scenario involving Leigh Burgess in round two at Eastern Creek.

For the opening race (6 laps) on Saturday afternoon it was Morley that got away to a good start and he stayed in front for the first two laps before Storey was able to get in his tow and execute a pass to take the lead at the end of the main straight.

Earlier in the second lap, Wood was in the process of taking over third on the fourth turn only to have his run halted by an electrical drama that cut engine power mid-corner. As a result Wood spun off the track, where stayed for the remainder of the race.

Up front Storey had pulled out a handful of car lengths over Morley, and that was how it remained until the fall of the chequered flag, with Storey taking out his maiden Formula Ford victory - defeating Morley and Lindbom, followed by Burgess, Nick Lowe, Stephen Payne, Matthew Howard, Alan Price, Andrew Taite, and San Pattis in 10th.

The action was thick and fast in the second race on Sunday morning with a number of position changes at the pointy end of the field throughout the eight lap distance. But in the end it was Morley who prevailed.

After Morley finished the opening race with the upper hand, Storey refused to allow a repeat, getting off to a strong start, but Morley and Lindbom both fought hard as all three drivers poured into the opening turn only inches apart.

Storey built up a handy lead within the opening lap, as Morley dropped back to third behind Lindbom. What then transpired was a tooth and nail battle between Lindbom and Morley, and on the fourth lap the pressure from Morley became all too much for Lindbom as the latter ran wide in the second turn, allowing Morley through in second place.

Despite being out front, Storey lost his lead on the following lap in turn two when he ran wide after out-braking himself. Storey consequently spun out and allowed Morley to take over the front running. Soon after fellow Anglo-Australia Motorsport driver Burgess also spun out on the same corner.

More drama unfolded on the sixth lap when second placed Storey, (pushing all the limits in order to reel in Morley), ran off the track at Suttons (turn 9) and came all too close to hitting the wall, but was able to avoid contact and drive back onto the track - losing only two places. Whilst all that was going on Nick Lowe broke a rear tow rod shortly before entering Suttons which unsettled the car and caused him to spin off the track. Lowe tried valiantly to continue on in the race, but was unable to do so and recorded a non-finish.

At the completion of the eight lap journey, Morley took a comfortable win ahead of Lindbom, Payne, Storey, Howard, Taite, Wood, Burgess, Price and Pattis in 10th.

The start of the third and final race of the weekend saw pole sitter Morley get the jump on the field, and he was able to hold down that position until he ran wide, exiting the bridge and allowing both Lindbom and Storey through. A few corners later Wood's unlucky weekend continued as he slowed on the back section of the track, citing electrical woes which forced him to retire to the circuit infield.

Lindbom held onto his lead for the remainder of the opening lap before Storey was able to get a draft on him and make the pass for the lead just before the pair entered the first turn at the beginning of the second lap. It was from there that Storey cleared out and went on to claim the win. It was his maiden round win and the first round win for Anglo-Australia Motorsport since Damien Meyer in 2003.

After battling fiercely with Lindbom for 6 of the 10 laps, Morley managed to get by the youngster coming into the main straight to finish second behind Storey. Morley followed and was closely tailed by Lindbom who also scored his second consecutive podium placing in third place. In fourth was Burgess, who finished right on the tail of Lindbom, but ahead Payne, a rear field starting Lowe, Taite, Price, Howard (who came back from an early race spin) and Pattis - rounding out the top 10 in all three races.

Latest NSW Formula Ford Championship Point Standings (after four completed rounds):
1 Ben Morley - 356
2 Kristian Lindbom - 233
3 Stephen Payne - 224
4 Nick Lowe - 220
5 Matthew Howard - 196
6 Leigh Burgess - 172
7 Andrew Taite - 146
8 Glenn Welch - 144
9 Kyle Wood - 144
10 Daniel Cotton - 133

Simpson Rookie of the Year Point Standings:
1 Kristian Lindbom - 233
2 Leigh Burgess - 172
3 Alan Price - 127
4 San Pattis - 108
5 Taz Douglas - 76

The fifth and penultimate round of the NSW championship is to be battled out at Goulburn's Wakefield Park Raceway from August 19 - 20.