Lachlan Mineeff has confirmed he will line up for a second year in the Australian Formula Ford Championship, as he continues his pursuit of a professional motorsport career.
The 16-year-old impressed in his rookie season in 2018, stringing together consistent results in all seven rounds of the championship, and finishing fifth in the final standings.
The Oxley College student says the benefit of knowledge gained will stand him in good stead for his second attempt at the acclaimed junior development category.
“We had some good results last year, but it was very much a learning experience – most of the circuits, I had never been to before,” Mineeff said.
“The tracks on the 2019 calendar are exactly the same as last year, which means we can work on the finer aspects of car setup and my driving technique without having to learn new layouts.”
Last year, Formula Ford cemented its reputation as a breeding ground for young talent, with three of the top four finishers in the championship graduating to higher-level categories. Mineeff said it highlights the quality of drivers in the series.
“Last year, the standard of competition in Formula Ford was very high and you definitely get noticed if you achieve good results,” Mineeff said.
“While some of the best drivers from last season have moved on, there are new drivers coming in, some of who did very well in karting.
“I’m expecting it to be another competitive season, but the aim is definitely to improve on my 2018 results; I hope to be finishing regularly on the podium, contending for race wins and challenging for a top-three result in the championship.”
Mineeff will again race alongside Tom Sargent in a two-car CHE Racing outfit, overseen by 2015 Australian Formula Ford Champion and current Porsche Carrera Cup racer Cameron Hill.
“It’s a very comfortable environment – Tom and I work well together, and having someone with Cameron’s experience to help us with driving and data analysis is really valuable,” Mineeff said.
“It’s been a long off-season, so I can’t wait to be back behind the wheel for the first round in April.”
2019 Australian Formula Ford Championship Calendar
Round 1. Sydney Motorsport Park, 5-7 April
Round 2. Queensland Raceway, 4-5 May
Round 3. Winton Raceway, 25-26 May
Round 4. Tailem Bend, 22-23 June
Round 5. Sandown, 20-21 July
Round 6. Wakefield Park, 7-8 September
Round 7. Phillip Island, 28-29 September
