Oli Wickham scores thrilling Yokohama Tyre AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship victory in Sydney opener

A thrilling opener for the Yokohama Tyre AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship fell the way of Oli Wickham to the tune of 0.005s after a race-long fight with Seth Burchartz.

Wickham made the perfect jump off the rolling start as Burchartz did likewise to follow the championship leader through Turn 1 and demote Isaac Demellweek to third.

These two ended up running away from the chasing pack led by Demellweek and a rapid Kaleb Belak.

A Pace Car was required to neutralise the field when Demellweek and Jamie Rowe collided at Turn 2, resulting in rear suspension damage for the latter’s Spectrum, which left it stuck on the outside of the corner.
When racing resumed, Wickham and Burchartz were joined by a charging Will Lowing, who had risen from 10th on the grid to be in contention for the win.

As a result of the contact with Rowe, Demellweek was forced to nurse his Spectrum home in eighth.

Burchartz managed to take the lead at Turn 1 during the mid-stages of the race, but Wickham responded and did likewise a lap later to hold the ascendency until the end.

It was a worthy challenge from Burchartz exiting the final corner by using the side draft, however he fell just short.

It was Wickham scoring his third win of the season form Burchartz, Lowing, Salvatore and a great run from Giuseppe Imbrogno delivered a top five result.

Xavier Henderson converted his top qualifying result into his best race result of the season so far in sixth.

Belak faded to seventh ahead of Demellweek, Brad James and rookie Sam March completed the top 10.

The final race as support to the TFH Legends Short Track Nationals event at Sydney Motorsport Park is due to start at 9:25pm AEST.