Robb sets Friday pace at Manfeild
The 2024 Toyota 86 Championship resumes this weekend in Feilding and three test sessions today gave a tantalizing glimpse of who may be the pace setters at the second round of the season.
Hunter Robb was the man in form in the full 23 car field during the first two sessions of the day at Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon.
Robb dominated the first and second practice sessions at the Manawatu circuit, fending off William Exton and home favourite Justin Allen in the first session and Exton and Saxon Sheehan in the second, marginally slower session.
Exton, a feature at the sharp end of the timesheets all day, went one better in the third session to go quickest ahead of a different looking chasing pack which comprised Jackson Rooney, John Penny, Tim Leach and Australian 86 scholarship series champion Lockie Bloxsom.
Earlier pace setter Robb was sixth but competitive throughout. Tom Bewley, who had won two races and the round at the opening weekend of the season back in November at the Taupo International Motorsport Park finished the day with 9th, 7th and 7th fastest time in the three sessions but is likely to show his true pace in Saturday morning’s qualifying session.
Master class racer Noel Simpson caught the eye too, putting in his best performance so far in the category with a top eight time in the second session.
His main rival for the Master title John Penny was fast throughout the day with Christina Orr-West, who scored her first category podium at Manfeild, also showing strongly during the day.
