Bilinski seizes advantage

Poland’s Roman Bilinski has taken the early lead in the 2024 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship after two victories in the opening round of the series.

The M2 Competition driver had a New Zealand debut to remember after winning the opening clash of the weekend at Taupo International Motorsport Park and securing the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy with victory in race three. 

He clinched the trophy after biding his time perfectly in the 23-lap contest, settling into third place behind Christian Mansell and Kiwi Liam Sceats before making near identical passes on each in the final sequence of corners.

Bilinski, pictured right, says his car showed good pace over the opening three races of the 2024 competition “so that is good news for the remainder of the championship”.

Mansell was set to start the final action of the January 20-21 meeting on pole position but a post-race penalty from the second race dropped him to fifth on the grid. 

The Australian managed an impressive start and in less than a lap was tucked behind the early leader, Sceats, and five laps later found himself out front.

Bilinski, 19, gradually reeled the pair in and produced two late passes to clinch the win, with Mansell second and Sceats completing the podium.

China’s Gerrard Xie won the second race of the weekend, which meant a clean sweep for the M2 Competition team, after he took the chequered flag ahead of teammate Bilinski and New Zealand’s Alex Crosbie.

Bilinski has a 25-point advantage over Sceats as the teams prepare for round two of the championship at Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding from January 25-28.

Driver standings

1. Roman Bilinski, 88 points
2. Liam Sceats, 63pts
3. Christian Mansell, 62pts
4. Michael Shin, 58pts
5. Alex Crosbie, 56pts