KNOCKHILL, Scotland – The Scottish Formula Ford 1600 Championship has been keenly contested this season among talented young drivers all with their eye on the Mazda Road to Indy USF2000 $200K Scholarship Shootout prize.
The three races at Knockhill in June included several surprises. Round Five of the 15-race championship saw Kenneth Cowie claim his first pole and lead all the way, only to be excluded by officials following a mid-race clash with 17-year-old championship leader Ross Martin which resulted in Martin retiring. After a safety car period Neil Broome grabbed second from the experienced Jordan Gronkowski, who was then quickly passed by teenager Sebastian Melrose and later slipped further down the order. Broome was eventually declared the winner for his first victory. Melrose finished second ahead of guest driver Keith Donegan who wasn’t eligible to score points, so they were claimed instead by teenager Clay Mitchell.
Melrose led all the way in Round Six for his first race win, despite intense pressure from Martin who had started a lowly ninth but quickly worked his way through the field to challenge the leader. Cowie also impressed while climbing from 12th on the grid to third.
Round Seven later that day was also for the David Leslie Trophy, held in memory of the fine Scottish driver who starred in single seaters before going on to race in International Sportscars and then in British Touring Cars.
Melrose led the first couple of laps before being demoted by Martin, who was soon followed by Cowie. The top two ran nose to tail until lap 11 when Cowie went into the lead, only for the pair to clash at the first corner, Duffus Dip, as they sped onto the final lap. With Martin rolling and Cowie retiring, a close-following Melrose was able to pick his way through and take the race win. The other podium places were taken by Matthew Chisholm and 16-year-old Michael MacPherson.
Martin and Melrose ended the weekend tied for the championship lead, although that lasted only until the two July races which both went to Martin. The 17-year-old raced clear in Round Eight, chased by Cowie who slowly edged away from Gronkowski. Melrose finished sixth, which was hardly ideal for the driver who shared the championship lead, but he simply couldn’t find a way past Clay Mitchell and Matthew Chisholm as the threesome ran nose to tail.
Martin was pressed all the way by Cowie in Round Nine as Mitchell took third having passed Gronkowski early on and then staunchly defended the position. Melrose took fifth, dropping more points to Martin.
The pair of races in August, Rounds 10 and 11, also were won by Martin. Knockhill was once again the venue but it was a new experience for nearly every driver as it was run in the reverse direction. The competitors adapted quickly to the new anti-clockwise layout, with Martin being pressed initially by MacPherson until Cowie found a way through on Lap Four.
Martin gradually extended his lead to win from Cowie, with MacPherson trailing a couple of seconds further back in third. Melrose had to be content with fourth.
Round 11 started with pole-man Martin under pressure from Cowie. These two slowly got away from MacPherson who opened up a one-second gap on the battle for fourth between Melrose and Mitchell, who swapped places a couple of times over the early laps. Up front Martin pulled clear of Cowie by mid race and won again. Cowie followed him home just two seconds clear of MacPherson. Mitchell took fourth after Melrose spun at the hairpin on Lap Seven and dropped to sixth behind Steven Barlow.
As a consequence of his midsummer run Martin leads both the main championship and the Newcomer Cup with just four rounds remaining. Melrose holds down second place but now faces a 50-point deficit. Cowie and MacPherson are still in with a chance of taking the Newcomers Cup, although Martin holds a big points lead.