New Zealand Formula First Championship

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "New Zealand Formula First Championship" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article contains promotional content. Please help improve it by removing promotional language and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from a neutral point of view. (January 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

New Zealand Formula First Championship

Category	Open Wheel Racing
Country	New Zealand
Inaugural season	1967
Drivers	22 (2019)
Constructors	Volkswagen
Engine suppliers	VW 1200 (80 hp approx.)
Tyre suppliers	Maxxis MA-P3
Drivers' champion	Chris Symon [1]
Official website	[1]

The New Zealand Formula First Championship is an open-wheel racing championship that runs on Volkswagen engines and bodies. The introduction of the Formula Vee concept to New Zealand can be attributed to Barry Munro, an Officer in the New Zealand Army who constructed the country's inaugural Formula Vee. Commencing chassis design in 1966, Munro finalized the first mock-up by November of that year, with the vehicle being fully assembled by March 1967.

Notably, adherence to regulatory standards of the time required all racing cars to be registered, with the Munro Vee obtaining its initial registration on February 10, 1967. Munro's design prioritized affordability within the constraints of available technology. Notably, the nose cone was fashioned from a wool coat shaped over metal ribs and set with resin.

Throughout the 1967 season, Munro actively competed with the car, participating in various classes to bolster its visibility and generate interest in Formula Vee racing. Subsequently, Digby Taylor followed suit in constructing his own Formula Vee, leading to the organization of the inaugural All-Formula Vee race.

Over the course of its 50-year history in New Zealand, Formula Vee has established itself as a prominent platform for driver development and compelling competition. Noteworthy alumni include Formula 1 and IndyCar drivers, as well as touring car champions. The New Zealand Formula First Championship has attracted a host of distinguished competitors throughout its existence, including renowned figures such as Scott Dixon, Brendon Hartley, Liam Lawson, Shane van Gisbergen, Mitch Evans, and Richie Stanaway.