Champion and debutants star in opening round of Giti AFO at Sandown

The 2024 Giti Australian Formula Open series kicks off at Sandown Raceway, Victoria, this weekend with 14 drivers across three classes competing in the opening round being held as part of the Shannons Speed Series.

Reigning champion for Tim Macrow Racing, Trent Grubel will adorn the #1 on his Dallara F312 after clinching last year’s title by just two points over Ryan How who won’t be returning in 2023.

Last year’s third-place finisher Miles Bromley (#9 TMR Dallara F308) returns with eyes set on a title fight in 2024 but will have fierce competition from Gilmour Racing’s Kyle Evans (#17 Dallara F308) who is locked in for the full seven-round season.

After competing in two rounds last year, including an impress third place at Island Magic in November, Beau Russell (#22 TMR Dallara F308) is back in 2024, while Ryan McMillan (#21 SP Tools) steps up to AFO1 after two rounds last year in AFO4. He’ll be competing in the same Dallara F308 that took How to second in the title last year.

Gerrit Ruff from Ruff Racing (#3) is back in AFO1 having rebuilt his Mygale M11 after it suffered extensive damage in a start-line accident at Sydney Motorsport Park last year. While Ryan Astley will make a one-off return in the #99 Gtechniq F3.

The class fight in AFO2, which caters for Formula Toyota cars and other similarly powered vehicles, will intensify at Round 1 as Adelaide-based TRS drivers make way across the border including class champion Matthew Roesler (#3 State Fleet Services), third-placed Matthew Woodland (#53 TCM Race Services) and Christopher Slusarski (#93 Jetforms.com.au).

For AFO4, making her debut in circuit racing is Joanne Ciconte from Victoria in the F4 Mygale. The teen has a decorated karting career including being the 2023 Australian Pink plate Champion as a KA3 Junior Light driver and made it to the final four of the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars Program last November in Fiorano, Italy.

Also making his debut in single-seaters out of karts is Isaac McNeill from Queensland for Volante Rosso, who just last week won the opening round of the Ipswich Kart Club Championship in KA3 Junior Light. He’ll race the #11 EvoHeat Tatuus T014.

Victorian Jayden Hamilton is another name to watch as he steps up from karting for Tim Macrow Racing in the Mygale M14 after a big finish to 2023 with a third-place result at the Geelong City Titles in November.

Earlier this week the series announced Giti Tire as its official naming rights partner for the 2024 season, with full technical support thanks to local Australian-based businesses Tyres4U and Gary’s Motorsport Tyres.

Tickets for Round 1 at Sandown Raceway from February 9-11 can be purchased here: https://www.speedseries.com.au/race-sandown/

AFO1
1 – Trent Grubel, Tim Macrow Racing – Dallara F312
3 – Gerrit Ruff, Ruff Racing – Mygale M11
9 – Miles Bromley, Oil Baron Supply/Tim Macrow Racing – Dallara F308/11
17 – Kyle Evans, Gilmour Racing – Dallara F308/11
21 – Ryan Macmillan, SP Tools/Tim Macrow Racing – Dallara F308/11
22 – Beau Russell, RBG Property Services/Tim Macrow Racing – Dallara F308/11
23 – George Kantzios, GK Racing – Dallara F304
99 – Ryan Astley, 99 Motorsport – Dallara F308/11

AFO2
4 – Matthew Roesler, State Fleet Services – Tatuus FT-50
53 – Matthew Woodland, TCM Race Services – Tatuus FT-50
93 – Christopher Slusarski, Jetforms.com.au – Tatuus FT-50 

AFO4
11 – Isaac McNeill, Evoheat/Volante Rosso – Tatuus T014
16 – Jayden Hamilton, Tim Macrow Racing – Mygale M14/F4
25 – Joanne Ciconte, Kaboodle/Tim Macrow Racing – Mygale M14/F4