Current NSW Championship leader Leigh Burges has the opportunity to wrap up this year’s title and that is something that he has on his to do list heading into this weekend’s contest around the 2.2km Wakefield Park circuit.

Burges didn’t have the best of luck when he last visited Wakefield Park earlier this year for the second round of the NSW Championship. As of result Burges momentarily lost the lead of the NSW Championship after that weekend but he quickly regained it at the following round.

Despite his round two hiccups, Burges has been in sensational form throughout 2009 as he has been able to record three round wins that have resulted in a clean sweep of all three races. Currently holding a commanding lead in the NSW Championship point standings another clean sweep from him would well and truly seal his title fate with one round to spare.

Although an outside chance to deny Burges of NSW Championship success, Daniel Lewis, who is currently second in the point standing battle, is focused on his quest to return to the front of the pack. In recent rounds Lewis hasn’t enjoyed the best of runs due to a spate of mechanical issues that has consequently allowed Burges to extend his lead. One thing is for certain Lewis has been able to match the pace of Burges around Wakefield Park and this should result in a very tight battle this weekend.

Once again budget restraints will not see Queenslander Kyle Wood contest this round of the NSW Championship which is a shame as he dominated the second round at Wakefield Park by taking out qualifying and all three races. Another Queenslander in Brendon Nelson, who finished third for the round behind Wood on debut, has not been seen in action since making a cameo Formula Ford appearance with the Anglo Australian Motorsport team.

Looking to move closer to the point end of the field will be the likes of current ‘Rookie of the Year’ point’s leader Adam Leung, ‘Mr. Consistent’ Jason Liddell, Russell Newell and first year driver David Chitty. With the Wakefield Park circuit being quite unpredictable a spot on the podium at the conclusion of the weekend wouldn’t be out of the question for any of those above mentioned drivers.

Drivers such as Icon Motorsport driver Derryn Harrison, Team Sydney’s Alan Price, veterans Don Holland and Doug Matley may not have contested the majority of rounds in this year’s NSW Championship but they have set their sights on upsetting the applecart for the regulars.

In the Historic class the NSW Championship is far from decided with two rounds remaining between defending champion Cas Galjaardt and John Pymble. A total of 52 points separates the pair heading into this weekend’s Wakefield Park round and it should be an interesting battle as they fight for the title honours. Although they may be out of NSW Championship contention Stephen Weller and Norm Vesty are locked in a fight for third place in the point standings. Joining the battle in the Historic class will be both Tony Cavanagh and Graeme Degotardi.

Current 2009 NSW Formula Ford 1600 Championship Point Standings (after four completed rounds):
1 Leigh Burges – 330 points
2 Daniel Lewis – 250
3 Adam Leung – 234
4 Jason Liddell – 186
5 Russell Newell - 156

This weekend’s fifth and penultimate round of the NSW Championship will see qualifying and race one fought out on Saturday, followed by race two and three on the Sunday.     

-ENDS RELEASE-