Scott Connole off to a flying start in the 2021-22 NSW Formula 500 Series

Local Formula 500 driver Scott Connole has enjoyed a successful start to 2022 as he goes in search of more glory on the track.

The 44-year-old has impressed in the opening two rounds of the NSW Formula 500 Series and also placed fifth at the NSW Titles event.

The NSW Formula 500 Series opener and the NSW Title were held on back-to-back nights late last month on Friday and Saturday, January 21 and 22 at the Oakburn Park Raceway in Tamworth.

On the Friday, Connole placed third in the opening round of the 2021-22 NSW Formula 500 Series.

That was his first outing of the year, and following a disrupted start to the season due to flooding and wet weather, Connole was pleased with his and his team’s efforts.

That meeting was held to make up for one that was cancelled at Oakburn Park Raceway back in November.

Connole won his second heat at that meeting and started out of fourth position for the 15-lap feature race.

He finished third in that main event but was only ever really competing for third after winner Blake Matthews got away from the rest of the pack early.

The Narrabri driver then lined up in the NSW Title event the following evening.

He unfortunately did not have much luck with the grid draws, with his best being fourth position in his first heat.

He got turned around three times by no fault of his own in that first heat and eventually finished seventh.

He then started out of seventh position in heat two and placed third then started out of eighth position in the third heat, which is where he finished.

That put him a long way back in the 25-lap feature race, in which he started out of position 12.

Connole had a good run and got himself up to fourth position, but following a restart on the last lap was forced to settle for fifth.

The Narrabri man said that while a top-five finish was his team’s goal, he believed that with a bit more luck he definitely could have achieved a podium finish.

Connole and his team then travelled to Gunnedah on Saturday for the second round of the NSW Series.

He won the first eight-lap heat after starting from fourth position, then finished second in heats two and three after starting from seventh and eighth position, respectively.

Those results saw him earn a pole position start for the 15-lap feature race, which he placed second in.

Connole’s brilliant start to the 2021-22 NSW Series comes after he finished second in the 2020-21 series after winning it two seasons prior.

He thanked his team and sponsors for all of their ongoing support so far during the 2021-22 season and said that he looked forward to achieving great things during the remainder of the campaign.