MASTERTON Formula First racer Matthew Stubbs maintained his lead in the winter series at the weekend with a win and two seconds in round two. His leading rival got a second and two wins to close the gap, so the series is getting very close. Matt's father and manager, Stuart, said theywere using the winter series to prepare for the national championship summer series. "We've been trying a few things, developing the car. Some work and some don't. If we'd stayed with the ideal settings we might have picked up another win or two," Stuart Stubbs said. The winter series is now halfway through and the action is expected to hot up from here on. Stubbs' car is brand new, but is running last year's engine and older tyres, while his rival has all-new gear. "We've got a new engine for the championship, and the team will probably fit it for the last winter round, just to make sure everything's OK," Stuart Stubbs said. "And we'll have new tyres for next meeting, and that will make a difference."
