AUS-FF: 2006 champion announced

BOSCH MOTORSPORT AND JOHN MARTIN WIN 2006 AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP

Bosch Motorsport driver John Martin has won the 2006 Australian Formula Ford Championship in a spectacular final round at Phillip Island in Victoria today.

The CAMS Rising Star took out the prestigious crown today at the fast Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, beating rival Tim Slade to the title by 21 points.

Martin, 21, drove his Borland Racing Developments Spectrum to a win in Race 2 and sixth in Race 3, following up from third place in yesterday's opening race for the weekend. The results gave Martin second overall for the round behind Ashley Walsh as well as the series title.

"This is an awesome achievement and a big box to tick in any young driver's career," said Martin.

"It's been a very tough season and the racing has been close all year long. We've had some really good rounds and some tougher rounds, but in the end we came out on top.

"The CAMS Rising Star team has been great to work with this year. I have learned a lot this season and the team has always been behind me. This result is a credit to them.

"I have to thank people like Bosch who have helped our team this season. We couldn't have done it without them.

"Congratulations also to Tim (Slade). It's been a hard race all season and he is a great guy to race against."

Martin grabbed the championship lead in Race 2 earlier today with a victory in what was a Bosch 1-2, with Martin CAMS Rising Star team-mate Paul Laskazeski following Martin home in second.

The spectacular race tipped the championship in Martin's favour after Slade suffered damage to the front of his car late in the race, falling to eighth in the final stages of the race. Martin then followed the win up with sixth in the final race of the season, enough to seal the title.

Martin, who hails from Blackwater in Queensland, won seven races and two rounds in this year's championship, claiming one of the most prestigious trophies in Australian motorsport.

-credit: bam media