Out to show he's no bridesmaid

Weddings keep getting in the way of Palmerston North's experienced Formula First driver Michael Shepherd.

He's on track for his fourth national title when he lines up on the grid in his 1200cc Challenge BG7 at Manfeild this weekend.

But tonight he must attend his sister's wedding and will thus miss testing at the Feilding circuit.

"It will be off the trailer [tomorrow] and see how we go," he said.

A year ago at Manfeild, he was leading the national Formula First standings but had to attend his sister-in-law's wedding, missed Saturday's racing and had to settle for third overall.

"Last year I was on the grid in 22nd and got up to finish second on the Sunday. I don't want to be doing that this time," he said.

Shepherd, Toyota's new-vehicles sales and operations team leader, has a 110-point championship lead over Auckland's Aaron Hodgson going into Manfeild, with six races to go including the final round at Taupo at Easter.

He figures he can afford to finish fourth in each race and still take the title.

"If I can keep it straight, we'll be sweet," he said.

Manfeild suits the 30-year-old, at that age one of the senior drivers in the 25-car field. He has won national karting titles there and has done well in Formula Fords and NZ V8 touring cars.

This is his 23rd year of racing after starting in 1988. In that time, he has had 151 podium placings in the class formerly known as Formula Vee, and he has won 71 races. He wants that to be 75 by the season's end.

The class has been active for more than 40 years and Shepherd won his first title in 2001.

"It is a level of motorsport we can afford to run competitively," Shepherd said.

This year, he and the car have shed 10kg and that has made a difference. Father John is a mechanic and he and Michael run the team. Brother Rowan, 20kg lighter, is keen to get a drive in future while Michael would like to try the Toyota Racing Series.

He's already involved with the TRS as a scrutineer.

"I had a test during the off-season. I would love to put something together to have a season in it," he said.

Palmerston North's Ross Symon won four national titles from 1985 to 1989. He retired after a crash at Manfeild. Roger Coles, of Marton, and former Manfeild promoter Rob Lester, each won three titles.

Formula First points: 1 Michael Shepherd (PN) 1206 pts, 2 Aaron Hodgson (Auckland) 1096, 3 Andrew Vincent (Karaka) 1017, 4 Jamie Gaskin (Wellington) 814, 5 Ryan Hellier (Auckland) 634, 6 Graeme Lett (Wanganui) 533, 7 David Ruthven (Auckland) 531, 8 John Young (Taupo) 526. Also: 11 Bramwell King (PN) 454, 14 Darren Henderson (PN) 413, 16 Oliver Gordon (Feilding) 355, 17 Dave Scammell (Feilding) 352.

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