2003 New Zealand Grand Prix
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| 2003 New Zealand Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 48th New Zealand Grand Prix | |||
 | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 19 January 2003 | ||
| Location | Teretonga Park, Feilding, New Zealand | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 2.57 km (1.59 miles) | ||
| Distance | 40 laps, 102.8 km (63.6 miles) | ||
| Weather | Fine | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Van Diemen RF94 | ||
| Time | 1:03.279 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Jonny Reid | Van Diemen RF94 | |
| Time | 1:03.036 on lap 9 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Van Diemen RF94 | ||
| Second | Spectrum 010 | ||
| Third | Van Diemen Stealth | ||
The 2003 New Zealand Grand Prix was an open wheel racing car race held at Teretonga Park, near Invercargill on 19 January 2003. It was the 48th New Zealand Grand Prix and was open to Formula Ford cars.
The event was dominated by Jonny Reid who completed a clean sweep of pole position, fastest lap and race win. Chris Pither and Daniel Gaunt rounded out the podium.
As with the previous years event, the Grand Prix was held over two 20-lap segments. This was a measure implemented as the Formula Ford fuel tank did not have the capacity to negotiate the full 40 laps. Thus once the 20th lap was completed, all cars were brought into the pitlane for refuelling before resuming once again under a safety car restart.
Reid dominated proceedings and led the entire race distance. However, the second half of the race was beset with incidents that saw the safety car redeployed over again. Veteran Ken Smith was livid with the driving standards during the race and let know his feelings to the offenders. Reid took the overall race win with Pither in second and Gaunt in third.[1]
