After five hard fought rounds, the 2008 NSW Formula Ford 1600 Championship will conclude this weekend (September 27 – 28) when the sixth and final round is held at Eastern Creek Raceway and it is Ryan Simpson that is in the box seat to seal the championship.

So far this year in the NSW Championship Simpson, who drives out of the Anglo Australian Motorsport stable, has managed to capture a total of 13 races out of 15 and has also managed to take out all five rounds. Sitting in the box seat to win this year’s NSW Championship Simpson has to finish within the top five of the opening race of the weekend to wrap up the championship point standings in what would cap off what has been a wonderful rookie Formula Ford year.

The only driver that is a chance of denying Simpson the NSW Championship is his Anglo Australian Motorsport team-mate, Tom Tweedie, and he would have to rely on Simpson failing to finish the opening race and not taking part in the opening race and Tweedie would have to win all three races in Simpson’s absence. Despite the long odds of him winning the NSW Championship it hasn’t stopped Tweedie from aiming to finish the year on a high and breaking through for his first round victory of the year.

It was round two of the NSW Championship at the Eastern Creek circuit back in May, it was a thrilling battle between Simpson and Tweedie, and this time around it should be no different.

Another driver in the hunt for a strong finish to the year is 16-year-old Nathan Morcom and the Anglo Australian Motorsport driver has improved with each outing and he has figured inside the top three this year and would love to have another round podium finish, adding to his maiden one at Wakefield Park Raceway last round, and maybe a break through first race win.

With the top two places in the NSW Championship likely to remain the same, the battle for third place is still very much alive and there are three drivers that have the opportunity to capture the position with strong results during the final round.

Currently in third place in the NSW Championship point standings is Bruce McCabe, and he is ahead of rookie Daniel Lewis and teenager Morcom. A total of 25 points separates third to fifth place in the NSW Championship standings, so it will certainly be an interesting to see who manages to come out on top with all three drivers have scored round podium results with McCabe placing in the opening round, Lewis scoring back-to-back round podium finishes at rounds three and four, and Morcom at round five.

Although they may not be in NSW Championship contention, Leigh Burgess, who made a cameo return to the championship at the last round with the Anglo Australian Motorsport outfit, and Team Sydney driver Alan Price are keen to upset the applecart amongst the front runners.

There are a bunch of drivers that are looking to finish the year on a high include Derryn Harrison, and rookies James Stewart and Russell Newell.

Once again the historic Formula Fords will feature as part of the NSW Championship and front running drivers are Greg Watson, Cas Galjaardt, amongst others.

Qualifying and race one will be held on Saturday, and race two and three is to be battled out on Sunday.

Latest NSW Formula Ford 1600 Championship point standings (after five completed rounds):

1 Ryan Simpson – 440 points
2 Tom Tweedie – 362
3 Bruce McCabe – 290
4 Daniel Lewis - 278
5 Nathan Morcom - 255