MOTORSPORT - Podium hat-trick secures '07 title

Whangarei driver Caine Lobb left Manfeild Autocourse on Sunday as the 2007 Formula Ford Winter Series champion.
After dominating the four gruelling rounds of the series, Lobb had to hold off a hard-charging Russell Hartley, who began to close the gap on the Whangarei driver in the latter part of the competition.
With three podium finishes from the three races held in Feilding on Sunday, Lobb finished second overall _ enough to secure the title.
Qualifying in second place he held his spot and finished the first race in second behind Hartley.
In the second race Lobb outbraked Hartley on turn one, two-thirds of the way through the second race, and managed to hold on to the advantage from that point and take the win.
In the final race both Lobb and Hartley relaxed somewhat with nothing to gain for either driver without an unlikely DNF, leaving Andrew Waite to win the race.
Hartley took second and secured the round win, while Lobb finished third but was later handed this season's Winter Series title.
Lobb, 18, finished the series with a comfortable lead of 42 points over Hartley after executing a very successful campaign. He showed remarkable speed and consistency in the all-new Hydraulink Ford.
The New Zealand Formula Ford Championship, which starts in November, will be Lobb's next serious challenge.
His pace and consistency from the Winter Series will hopefully spill over into the nationals where he will surely be looked upon as a favourite for winning the 2007/8 championship.