The 2006 NSW Formula Ford Championship kicked off in fine style last weekend (March 25-26) with fierce and close racing that is synonymous with this series.

To begin proceedings was an announcement that long time category supporter Simpson Race Products would increase their involvement by becoming one of the main sponsors of the series. Simpson Race Products, based at Sydney's Wetherill Park, will provide product awards to the first three place getters of the overall championship, together with the winner of the Simpson Rookie of the Year.

With the recent high levels of competitiveness shown by the drivers over the past few years, all eyes were on this year's championship to see the next bunch of contenders.

After an eight year absence from the NSW Formula Ford Championship, Ben Morley made a triumphant return during the opening round of the 2006 season at Goulburn's Wakefield Park Raceway.

The former NSW Series runner-up (1998) managed to withstand constant pressure from Victorian based Taz Douglas throughout all three races to take out a clean sweep of victories and also topped the time sheets in qualifying in what was the perfect weekend for the Icon Motorsport driver.

This has certainly been a turn up for the books as the past two years have been dominated by youngsters Paul Laskazeski and Joel Spychala, both of whom now compete in the National Championship.

In Saturday morning's qualifying, Morley was able to outpace the 20-car field by registering a best lap of 1:03.7883 around the 2.2km Wakefield Park circuit. Anglo Australian Motorsport team driver Leigh Burgess (1:03.7967) was the next best followed by 2002 NSW Series winner Matthew Howard (1:03.9314), Douglas (1:03.9561) and CAMS Rising Star Kristian Lindbom (1:04.1141) in fifth.

The battle between Morley and Douglas kicked off from the opening race (8 laps) on Saturday afternoon when the pair battled intensely around the tight Wakefield Park layout. After starting from pole position, Morley powered to an immediate lead followed by Burgess and Douglas, and by the completion of the second lap Douglas had moved into second.

What then transpired was Morley and Douglas fighting for the lead, and on the sixth lap Douglas managed to grab command; but that was short lived, when Morley powered his way back into the lead as Douglas dropped back to third. This was the position that Morley kept up until the fall of the chequered flag defeating Howard, Douglas, a steady Lindbom and in fifth was Glenn Welch.

A lengthy safety car period marred race two (10 laps) on Sunday morning and forced proceedings to finish under the yellow flag. The opening laps went incident free with Morley holding the front running as he defended his lead from an aggressive Douglas, who tried every which way to find a way to the lead in a spectacular battle. Newcomer Lindbom was pinned for jumping the start and was forced to come into the pits for a drive through penalty.

On the fourth lap drama unfolded, firstly contact at the top section of the circuit between Nick Lowe and Welch, as they were well entrenched inside the Top 10, saw them both spin off the track and out of the race. Elsewhere on the track, back marker Ken Birt spun out in the middle of turn two and after slight contact with Matt McGill; he was unable to restart his car, which consequently brought out the safety car period.

The safety car deployed, during which both San Pattis and Colin Sieders were sidelined after contact was made between the pair before the entry of the final turn. With the safety car leading the field to the end of the race, victory was awarded to Morley, who finished ahead of Douglas, Howard, Stephen Payne and Burgess, whom rounded out the top 5. After starting from the rear of the field, due to a non-finish in race one, Queensland based Kyle Wood finished a credible ninth, whilst Lindbom finished down the order in 12th.

In the third and final race of the weekend, Morley led the entire 12-lap distance after some initial pressure from Douglas. Morley was able to shake off the Douglas challenge, as the latter fell into the clutches of Howard.

Whilst Morley was comfortably out in front, the battle for second turned into a four-way tussle between Douglas, Howard, Payne and Burgess. Despite these positions not changing, the racing was nose to tail, but in the end Morley completed a perfect weekend by taking victory ahead of Douglas, Howard, Payne and Burgess. Lindbom worked his way up to 8th at the finish, to salvage some valuable championship points.

Those that encountered dramas during the third race and failed to go the distance due to mechanical woes were Daren Martin (lap 1), Chris Goodham (lap 5) and Lowe (lap 10).

All in all the opening round action has certainly set the tone for an exciting year of racing ahead in the NSW Formula Ford Series.

Eastern Creek Raceway will play host to the second round of the NSW Formula Ford Series on the weekend of April 29 & 30.

Latest NSW Formula Ford Series Point Standings (after round one):
1 Ben Morley - 90
2 Taz Douglas - 76
3 Matthew Howard - 74
4 Stephen Payne - 60
5 Leigh Burgess - 54
6 Kristian Lindbom - 45
7 Daniel Cotton - 41
8 Glenn Welch - 36
9 Alan Price - 36
10 Kyle Wood - 30

Simpson Race Products Rookie of the Year:
1 Taz Douglas - 76
2 Leigh Burgess - 54
3 Kristian Lindbom - 45
4 Alan Price - 36
5 San Pattis - 18