Somers set to shine in 2023

Conor Somers is a driver who hopes a change of team will also bring around a change of fortune to his National Formula Ford Career in 2023.

Conor has moved his Formula Ford operation to the Multiple championship winning team in Sonic Motorsport, a move he hopes will give him more direction on raceday, “ It’s definitely a big difference from where I have come from for sure. There is a lot more of a program put in place and you know what you are doing all the time. The message given to the Drivers from the team at Sonic is very clear and precise, especially leading up to a test or race day, and the whole system they have in place is very good. You rock up to a racetrack and you’re ready to go“.

Joining Conor at Sonic Motorsport in season 2023 are young drivers Matt Hillyer and Jake Santalucia who are both progressing through the Sonic Development Pathway stepping up from the Victorian Formula Ford Series. While Somers is the only one of the three with experience at the National Formula Ford level he doesn’t believe the pressure is on him to be the team’s lead driver. “ There is more pressure on me due to the move to a big team then being the more experienced driver in the team. We have had test days at Winton, Phillip Island and Morgan Park and I can tell you Matt and Jake are both really quick. So there is no more pressure on me than the pressure I put on myself to perform in the series this year.”

2022 was a special year for Connor, not only for his efforts in the Australian Formula Ford Series but also for the fact he got to drive an S5000 car at Phillip Island for the Hi-Tech Field Services team. “ That was definitely pretty cool, the S5000 car is one of those cars that you are scared of the whole time, not knowing exactly what it is going to do. I drove it at Phillip Island and the thing was really hooked up and so hard on the body, it was like you just keep pulling gears and the thing just keeps pulling. While there is such a difference between a S5000 and a Formula Ford car, I don’t believe I will be able to take to much from the drive into this season, except it has taught me where my fitness level’s need to be to take the next step in my career.”

Sonic has an impressive record of winning 11 past championships in the Australian Formula Ford series and Conor’s goal is to add his name to that impressive list. “Our goal this year is to win the Championship, there is no doubting that. Last year was a messy year for me missing the first round due to Covid and other things. I know if I prepare myself well for the race meetings and can just be consistent finishing up towards the top each round, I will be able to give the Series a decent crack.

Connor finished school at the end of last year and now spends his time at the Sonic Workshop in Bayswater North learning more about the car he drive and other makes. " I've been trying to get in there as much as I can in the last couple of weeks. It's great to learn the cars and to be around the team as much as I can to get to know the team before the first round. My dad loved cars and I've been going to racetracks since I was in a pram so it's sort of in the DNA."

The first round the of 2023 Australian Formula Ford Series starts at Morgan Park Queensland on the 17th of March. Follow the Australian Formula Ford series on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest news.