CTCRC & British Endurance Championship Brands Hatch Indy 22nd & 23rd April 2023
The Classic Touring Car Racing Club took to the Indy circuit at Brands Hatch for their second meeting of 2023 over the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd of April.
Pre '66 Qualifying/Race One: The top nine were covered by a mere 0.768 seconds after their 15-minute session, the Alan Mann-coloured Lotus Cortina of Ian Thompson headed the Mustang of Piers Grange by a narrow 0.030 seconds to take pole position. The Kenneally family made up row two, dad Pat’s Lotus Cortina ahead of lad Billy’s Anglia. A Cortina and a Mini formed up on row three, Tim Abbott’s Lotus Cortina heading Mike Davies’ Cooper S. Michael Sheraton's Anglia, James Ibbotson's Imp and Robyn Slater's Cortina were all within one second of the pole time. Nigel Cox’s Lotus Cortina completed the top ten. When the action got underway, poleman Ian Thompson was slow away and was swamped by the pack. Both Kenneallys made great starts from the second row, going three-wide with Piers Grange's Mustang towards the first corner. Billy’s Anglia drove around the outside of Grange into the lead whilst Billy's father Pat went inside the Mustang to take second. Michael Sheraton was fourth out of Paddock Hill having started seventh, rocketing between the Tim Abbott Cortina and Mike Davies Mini off the line, but Sheraton's Anglia was run wide exiting Druids by Grange as he tried the long way round. James Ibbotson was then pushed wide as well towards Graham Hill Bend as he challenged the similarly coloured Anglia for fourth. Exiting Graham Hill Bend, Abbott went inside Thompson for sixth, Ibbotson's Imp having rounded the pair up at the first corner. Poleman Thompson lost further ground as the Anglia of Ed Gibbs and the Cortina of David Hall also pass the red and gold car along the Cooper Straight to finish the opening lap down in ninth. Ending the opening lap, Pat Kenneally took the lead off son Billy past the pits, Grange likewise blasts past the Anglia for second by Paddock Hill Bend. On lap two, Sheraton also outdragged the lighter blue Anglia to Surtees for third. Up ahead, Grange powered into the lead across the start/finish line completing the second lap. Thompson's recovery drive started as he moved up to eighth, after following Hall's Cortina past Gibbs' Anglia. Billy Kenneally's slide down the order continued on the third lap as Ibbotson took fourth from him at Paddock Hill Bend, Thompson also moved up to seventh at Paddock Hill by passing Hall. Leader Grange began putting a little daylight back to his pursuers before Pat Kenneally's Cortina flywheel dramatically grenaded coming on to the start/finish straight to end lap three, the Cortina quickly drove onto the grass with pieces of metal bouncing down the circuit. This elevated Sheraton and Ibbotson into second and third, with Thompson now up to sixth. With the bit between his teeth, Sheraton was hurling his Anglia around as he hunted down Grange, taking Ibbotson with him. Billy Kenneally's Anglia and Abbott's Cortina were still in contact as well. Beginning lap five, Billy Kenneally bounced through the Paddock Hill gravel after a failed late-braking run up the outside of Ibbotson, at a cost of five places. At the front, Sheraton dived into the lead at Graham Hill Bend but Grange powered back ahead by Surtees. The Anglia got its nose ahead again out of Clearways, with Ibbotson looking to the inside of both of them, but V8 grunt immediately gave Grange the lead again. After challenging for the race lead onto the start/finish straight, Ibbotson was passed for third by Abbott at Paddock Hill Bend. Just in front, Sheraton squeezed into the lead at Druids through barely an Anglia-sized gap. True to form, Grange soon thumped back ahead on the Cooper Straight, whilst the Cortina of Thompson joined the back of the train. Sheraton drew alongside again on the way out of Clearways but the Mustang blitzed away once more as they went on to lap seven. Thompson went up another place to fourth as he breezed by Ibbotson across the start/finish line. The breathless action continued on the seventh lap as Grange was held up by the lapped Tim Dodwell Mini at Paddock Hill Bend, whilst Abbott tried for second but Sheraton held on. The trio arrived at Druids as one before Sheraton flung the Anglebox into the lead at Graham Hill Bend, whilst Ibbotson took advantage of Thompson’s failed run around the outside of Abbott at Druids to retake fourth. Sheraton was slow out of the corner so Grange and Abbott sailed by on either side heading for Surtees. Thompson also sped by Ibbotson, and Sheraton too, so was now into third, albeit briefly as the Anglia dived inside at Clearways and also got ahead of the Abbott Cortina at the exit! Thompson followed Sheraton through and arrowed past the Anglia for second before Paddock Hill but Sheraton fired back up the inside and retook the place. Thompson ran back up the inside into Druids to take second before a tyre-smoking Sheraton returned the favour at Graham Hill Bend! Abbott also repassed Thompson as the red and gold Cortina lost momentum. All this allowed Grange to pull a small gap from the fierce fight behind. Not for long though, as Sheraton soon bridged the gap and wasted no time getting alongside the Mustang once more exiting Clearways. Grange blatted away again when the Mustang is pointing straight, however. Into Druids for the tenth time and the muscle car ran wide, which put Sheraton alongside but Grange then slowed with a loose coil wire. Sheraton swiftly moved into the lead with Abbott close behind but poleman Thompson was catching the pair. Traffic allowed Sheraton and Abbott to make a break on the eleventh lap, crossing the timing line abreast - the Anglia ahead by just 0.01 seconds. In the battle for third, Thompson and Ibbotson were being reeled in by a flying Billy Kenneally. With the minutes ticking down, a lock up sends Sheraton wide at Graham Hill Bend but Abbott can’t take the chance because of yellow flags for Grange’s Mustang stranded on the edge of the track at Surtees. An early chequered flag is waved at the end of the lap, with a little under three minutes remaining, to allow the recovery of Grange's lame Pony car, which meant Sheraton won an outstanding race by 0.385 seconds from Abbott's Cortina. Thompson bested Ibbotson for third, with Billy Kenneally almost back with the Imp for fourth and finished 1.110 seconds back from the 2021 champion.
Race Two: The Pre ‘66 field lined up for their second outing with some notable cars missing - race one winner Michael Sheraton had only entered the first race and the next two front-running Lotus Cortinas were absent from the grid, so the Imp of James Ibbotson became the effective pole sitter on the second row with Billy Kenneally alongside in his Anglia. Two more Angleboxes were next up in the hands of Ed Gibbs and Kevin Swann. A pair of Lotus Cortinas in the hands of David Hall and Nigel Cox started next, just ahead of Will Egby’s Imp and the Mini of Kevin Bottomley. The traction of the little Imp fired Ibbotson into the lead from Kenneally into Paddock Hill Bend as Cox surged through to third, after Gibbs and Swann are caught in a flurry of wheelspin. The Cortina fell down to sixth at Druids, however, as Gibbs, Egby and Hall each get ahead. Egby dived inside Gibbs for third at Paddock Hill as they started the second lap. Lap four and a slip-up from Egby saw Gibbs back into third exiting Druids. Not for long, as Gibbs fell back behind both Egby and Hall on the fifth lap. Now back into third, Egby started moving up towards Kenneally’s second place. With a little over nine minutes remaining, the Imp relieved the Anglia of the spot into Paddock Hill Bend as Kenneally found himself boxed in behind a lapped car. Both were also eating into Ibbotson’s advantage, with Egby setting the fastest lap. Ending the lap, Egby got inside usual wet weather maestro Ibbotson exiting Clearways and the pair of Imps were neck and neck until Egby claimed the lead at Paddock Hill Bend. Egby moved clear with another fastest lap and set off towards his maiden victory by five and a half seconds from Ibbotson in an Imp 1-2. Sadly, Egby would lose his win in post-race scrutineering so the results show that Ibbotson won by 1.231 seconds from Kenneally - who rotated his Anglia at Clearways but continued without losing a place whilst Egby made his move for the lead. David Hall’s Cortina would be classified third. Piers Grange’s Mustang would start way back from the tenth row and would have his hands full in the greasy conditions, finishing two laps down in thirteenth.
Pre '66 Qualifying/Race One: The top nine were covered by a mere 0.768 seconds after their 15-minute session, the Alan Mann-coloured Lotus Cortina of Ian Thompson headed the Mustang of Piers Grange by a narrow 0.030 seconds to take pole position. The Kenneally family made up row two, dad Pat’s Lotus Cortina ahead of lad Billy’s Anglia. A Cortina and a Mini formed up on row three, Tim Abbott’s Lotus Cortina heading Mike Davies’ Cooper S. Michael Sheraton's Anglia, James Ibbotson's Imp and Robyn Slater's Cortina were all within one second of the pole time. Nigel Cox’s Lotus Cortina completed the top ten. When the action got underway, poleman Ian Thompson was slow away and was swamped by the pack. Both Kenneallys made great starts from the second row, going three-wide with Piers Grange's Mustang towards the first corner. Billy’s Anglia drove around the outside of Grange into the lead whilst Billy's father Pat went inside the Mustang to take second. Michael Sheraton was fourth out of Paddock Hill having started seventh, rocketing between the Tim Abbott Cortina and Mike Davies Mini off the line, but Sheraton's Anglia was run wide exiting Druids by Grange as he tried the long way round. James Ibbotson was then pushed wide as well towards Graham Hill Bend as he challenged the similarly coloured Anglia for fourth. Exiting Graham Hill Bend, Abbott went inside Thompson for sixth, Ibbotson's Imp having rounded the pair up at the first corner. Poleman Thompson lost further ground as the Anglia of Ed Gibbs and the Cortina of David Hall also pass the red and gold car along the Cooper Straight to finish the opening lap down in ninth. Ending the opening lap, Pat Kenneally took the lead off son Billy past the pits, Grange likewise blasts past the Anglia for second by Paddock Hill Bend. On lap two, Sheraton also outdragged the lighter blue Anglia to Surtees for third. Up ahead, Grange powered into the lead across the start/finish line completing the second lap. Thompson's recovery drive started as he moved up to eighth, after following Hall's Cortina past Gibbs' Anglia. Billy Kenneally's slide down the order continued on the third lap as Ibbotson took fourth from him at Paddock Hill Bend, Thompson also moved up to seventh at Paddock Hill by passing Hall. Leader Grange began putting a little daylight back to his pursuers before Pat Kenneally's Cortina flywheel dramatically grenaded coming on to the start/finish straight to end lap three, the Cortina quickly drove onto the grass with pieces of metal bouncing down the circuit. This elevated Sheraton and Ibbotson into second and third, with Thompson now up to sixth. With the bit between his teeth, Sheraton was hurling his Anglia around as he hunted down Grange, taking Ibbotson with him. Billy Kenneally's Anglia and Abbott's Cortina were still in contact as well. Beginning lap five, Billy Kenneally bounced through the Paddock Hill gravel after a failed late-braking run up the outside of Ibbotson, at a cost of five places. At the front, Sheraton dived into the lead at Graham Hill Bend but Grange powered back ahead by Surtees. The Anglia got its nose ahead again out of Clearways, with Ibbotson looking to the inside of both of them, but V8 grunt immediately gave Grange the lead again. After challenging for the race lead onto the start/finish straight, Ibbotson was passed for third by Abbott at Paddock Hill Bend. Just in front, Sheraton squeezed into the lead at Druids through barely an Anglia-sized gap. True to form, Grange soon thumped back ahead on the Cooper Straight, whilst the Cortina of Thompson joined the back of the train. Sheraton drew alongside again on the way out of Clearways but the Mustang blitzed away once more as they went on to lap seven. Thompson went up another place to fourth as he breezed by Ibbotson across the start/finish line. The breathless action continued on the seventh lap as Grange was held up by the lapped Tim Dodwell Mini at Paddock Hill Bend, whilst Abbott tried for second but Sheraton held on. The trio arrived at Druids as one before Sheraton flung the Anglebox into the lead at Graham Hill Bend, whilst Ibbotson took advantage of Thompson’s failed run around the outside of Abbott at Druids to retake fourth. Sheraton was slow out of the corner so Grange and Abbott sailed by on either side heading for Surtees. Thompson also sped by Ibbotson, and Sheraton too, so was now into third, albeit briefly as the Anglia dived inside at Clearways and also got ahead of the Abbott Cortina at the exit! Thompson followed Sheraton through and arrowed past the Anglia for second before Paddock Hill but Sheraton fired back up the inside and retook the place. Thompson ran back up the inside into Druids to take second before a tyre-smoking Sheraton returned the favour at Graham Hill Bend! Abbott also repassed Thompson as the red and gold Cortina lost momentum. All this allowed Grange to pull a small gap from the fierce fight behind. Not for long though, as Sheraton soon bridged the gap and wasted no time getting alongside the Mustang once more exiting Clearways. Grange blatted away again when the Mustang is pointing straight, however. Into Druids for the tenth time and the muscle car ran wide, which put Sheraton alongside but Grange then slowed with a loose coil wire. Sheraton swiftly moved into the lead with Abbott close behind but poleman Thompson was catching the pair. Traffic allowed Sheraton and Abbott to make a break on the eleventh lap, crossing the timing line abreast - the Anglia ahead by just 0.01 seconds. In the battle for third, Thompson and Ibbotson were being reeled in by a flying Billy Kenneally. With the minutes ticking down, a lock up sends Sheraton wide at Graham Hill Bend but Abbott can’t take the chance because of yellow flags for Grange’s Mustang stranded on the edge of the track at Surtees. An early chequered flag is waved at the end of the lap, with a little under three minutes remaining, to allow the recovery of Grange's lame Pony car, which meant Sheraton won an outstanding race by 0.385 seconds from Abbott's Cortina. Thompson bested Ibbotson for third, with Billy Kenneally almost back with the Imp for fourth and finished 1.110 seconds back from the 2021 champion.
Race Two: The Pre ‘66 field lined up for their second outing with some notable cars missing - race one winner Michael Sheraton had only entered the first race and the next two front-running Lotus Cortinas were absent from the grid, so the Imp of James Ibbotson became the effective pole sitter on the second row with Billy Kenneally alongside in his Anglia. Two more Angleboxes were next up in the hands of Ed Gibbs and Kevin Swann. A pair of Lotus Cortinas in the hands of David Hall and Nigel Cox started next, just ahead of Will Egby’s Imp and the Mini of Kevin Bottomley. The traction of the little Imp fired Ibbotson into the lead from Kenneally into Paddock Hill Bend as Cox surged through to third, after Gibbs and Swann are caught in a flurry of wheelspin. The Cortina fell down to sixth at Druids, however, as Gibbs, Egby and Hall each get ahead. Egby dived inside Gibbs for third at Paddock Hill as they started the second lap. Lap four and a slip-up from Egby saw Gibbs back into third exiting Druids. Not for long, as Gibbs fell back behind both Egby and Hall on the fifth lap. Now back into third, Egby started moving up towards Kenneally’s second place. With a little over nine minutes remaining, the Imp relieved the Anglia of the spot into Paddock Hill Bend as Kenneally found himself boxed in behind a lapped car. Both were also eating into Ibbotson’s advantage, with Egby setting the fastest lap. Ending the lap, Egby got inside usual wet weather maestro Ibbotson exiting Clearways and the pair of Imps were neck and neck until Egby claimed the lead at Paddock Hill Bend. Egby moved clear with another fastest lap and set off towards his maiden victory by five and a half seconds from Ibbotson in an Imp 1-2. Sadly, Egby would lose his win in post-race scrutineering so the results show that Ibbotson won by 1.231 seconds from Kenneally - who rotated his Anglia at Clearways but continued without losing a place whilst Egby made his move for the lead. David Hall’s Cortina would be classified third. Piers Grange’s Mustang would start way back from the tenth row and would have his hands full in the greasy conditions, finishing two laps down in thirteenth.
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Pre '83 Qualifying/Race One: Stephen Primett topped a closely fought qualifying session in his Ford Escort Mk1, 0.232 seconds ahead of Mark Cholerton's Mk2 version. Jason Christie and the ‘Big Dog’ Stuart Caie made up the second row, with Tom Harvey’s Shell Sport Escort Mk1 and Don Hughes Golf GTi on the third row as the top six were covered by 0.991 seconds. The Jonathan Corker Datsun 510 lurked in seventeenth and would be looking to progress up the order. There was drama immediately as the race got underway, with Primett breaking a driveshaft off the startline. Caie also hit trouble after a good launch and fell to last. Cholerton completed the opening lap with a 0.879-second lead from the Mk1 Escorts of Christie and Harvey, with Hughes' Golf in fifth and pressuring the Shell Sport Escort. A charging Corker was up to seventh by the end of the lap. Hughes slipped past Harvey at Druids for the second time whilst Corker moved up to sixth behind Bradley Bosdet's Mk2 Escort. The Datsun doesn't stay behind for long as Corker took fifth off Bosdet heading up the hill to Druids on lap three. On lap five, Harvey took a trip through the Paddock Hill gravel after being wrong-footed by Hughes slowing down to retire with electrical issues, Corker taking advantage to move up to third by Druids. Two laps later and the flying Corker was up to second and lapping faster than leader Cholerton, his fastest lap being faster than the pole time, bringing the gap down to 2.451 seconds. Christie bowed out of third on the eighth tour with a fuel related issue, the Escort Mk1 of Harvey is promoted into third as a result. Up ahead, Corker takes 0.735 seconds out of the leading Mk2's margin and then another 0.776 seconds off on the next lap to bring the lead gap down to under a second. Cholerton stemmed the tide with a personal best laptime to rebuild his lead to 1.735 seconds, as Corker’s charge is blunted by wilting tyres. Cholerton kept Corker at arm’s length to eventually win by 2.945 seconds. Harvey crossed the line in third but would be disqualified for being underweight, thus Bradley Bosdet's Mk2 Escort was elevated to third. Duncan Leftley’s Golf and Mark Fowler’s Vince Woodman VMW Garages-liveried Escort Mk1 completed the top six. Club chairman Caie’s climb back up through the field saw him reach fifth, before a sideways moment with fading brakes on his Capri at Graham Hill Bend sent him into the pits to retire.
Race Two: Front row starter Corker headed Cholerton out of Paddock Hill Bend despite a great start from Duncan Leftley, which saw him surge up alongside Corker. Anton Martin flew up from eighth into fifth by Druids and then took fourth at Graham Hill Bend. Just behind the black RS1600i was a flying Primett, who surged past the Mk3 Escort on the Cooper Straight for the second time, the Mk1 Escort having come through from seventh row. The duo were also closing on Cholerton and Leftley ahead, Primett taking the pair of them on the run to Paddock Hill starting the third lap. Primett’s inexorable charge to the front was completed when he breezed by Corker ending the lap. Leftley's Golf was also on the rise, moving into second on the fifth lap. Martin soon began a cat-and-mouse squabble with Cholerton for fourth as the Mk3’s standard motor saw him struggling to escape the Mk2 in a straight line, finally making a move stick exiting Clearways ending the seventh tour. The pair were quickly joined by Simon Jeff’s’ Golf and a determined Tom Harvey, who had risen from even further back than Primett - going from last with a ten-second penalty. At the eighth time of asking, Cholerton, Martin and Harvey were nearly three abreast down the hill to Graham Hill Bend, where Martin went around the outside of Cholerton again before losing out on the following straight. Harvey followed suit into Surtees but sideways moments for both RWD Escorts sees the FWD Escort up to fourth by Clearways! Harvey’s Mk1 slithered by the Cholerton Mk2 on the exit as Martin made his escape. Only temporarily as Harvey dived past into Paddock Hill Bend, the Mk1 Escort's greater straightline speed bringing him quickly back onto terms. Martin fought back at Druids and Graham Hill Bend but the Mk1’s superior speed on the Cooper Straight made the place Harvey’s. A slide for Corker’s Datsun exiting Clearways saw Harvey move up to third and Martin also got past the Japanese saloon ending the tenth lap. Next time around and Harvey held a big slide at Surtees, which allowed Martin to pull alongside. He then had an even bigger slide passing the pits, which put Martin ahead but only as far as Paddock Hill Bend, where Harvey redressed the balance up the inside. The race finally settled down towards its conclusion, with Primett running out the winner by 18.514 seconds. Leftley’s Golf stemmed Harvey’s storming drive by 3.630 seconds to make up the podium placings. Another 3.011 seconds later in fourth came Anton Martin’s near-standard Escort RS1600i, which proved how much of a leveller the wet weather can be.
Race Two: Front row starter Corker headed Cholerton out of Paddock Hill Bend despite a great start from Duncan Leftley, which saw him surge up alongside Corker. Anton Martin flew up from eighth into fifth by Druids and then took fourth at Graham Hill Bend. Just behind the black RS1600i was a flying Primett, who surged past the Mk3 Escort on the Cooper Straight for the second time, the Mk1 Escort having come through from seventh row. The duo were also closing on Cholerton and Leftley ahead, Primett taking the pair of them on the run to Paddock Hill starting the third lap. Primett’s inexorable charge to the front was completed when he breezed by Corker ending the lap. Leftley's Golf was also on the rise, moving into second on the fifth lap. Martin soon began a cat-and-mouse squabble with Cholerton for fourth as the Mk3’s standard motor saw him struggling to escape the Mk2 in a straight line, finally making a move stick exiting Clearways ending the seventh tour. The pair were quickly joined by Simon Jeff’s’ Golf and a determined Tom Harvey, who had risen from even further back than Primett - going from last with a ten-second penalty. At the eighth time of asking, Cholerton, Martin and Harvey were nearly three abreast down the hill to Graham Hill Bend, where Martin went around the outside of Cholerton again before losing out on the following straight. Harvey followed suit into Surtees but sideways moments for both RWD Escorts sees the FWD Escort up to fourth by Clearways! Harvey’s Mk1 slithered by the Cholerton Mk2 on the exit as Martin made his escape. Only temporarily as Harvey dived past into Paddock Hill Bend, the Mk1 Escort's greater straightline speed bringing him quickly back onto terms. Martin fought back at Druids and Graham Hill Bend but the Mk1’s superior speed on the Cooper Straight made the place Harvey’s. A slide for Corker’s Datsun exiting Clearways saw Harvey move up to third and Martin also got past the Japanese saloon ending the tenth lap. Next time around and Harvey held a big slide at Surtees, which allowed Martin to pull alongside. He then had an even bigger slide passing the pits, which put Martin ahead but only as far as Paddock Hill Bend, where Harvey redressed the balance up the inside. The race finally settled down towards its conclusion, with Primett running out the winner by 18.514 seconds. Leftley’s Golf stemmed Harvey’s storming drive by 3.630 seconds to make up the podium placings. Another 3.011 seconds later in fourth came Anton Martin’s near-standard Escort RS1600i, which proved how much of a leveller the wet weather can be.
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Classic Thunder Qualifying/Race One: A bumper entry of 32 cars turned out for qualifying and a bevvy of BMW M3s would head the times. Jason West bagged pole position, going round in 49.861 seconds to head Bryan Bransom by just 0.022 seconds. Jasver Sapra and Rod Birley’s E36 M3s made up the second row. The first non-BMWs would be the Audi A3 Turbo of Nick Vaughan in fifth and the Zakspeed Escort Mk2 of Malcolm Harding starting alongside in sixth. After two green flag laps, West led the way into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time but the orange M3 of Bransom would run side-by-side with West around Druids before West made the place his own at Graham Hill Bend. Harding also drove around the outside of Vaughan for fifth, followed by the Sam Wilson Aston Martin V8 - who was being pressed by Abbie Eaton’s Holden Commodore VH. Sapra, Birley and Harding began the second lap close together but Birley ran a bit wide out of Paddock Hill and the Escort needed no second invitation to dive inside the BMW at Druids, where contact is made. Birley spun off into the gravel, where he would stay. The Safety Car was called to remove the errant BMW but the red flag was quickly brandished soon after after a major fire for Joe Collier's Peugoet silhouette on the start/finish straight. Collier was swiftly out of the car, fortunately. There would be no restart after a long delay clearing up the scorched 206 CC, with the race postponed until Sunday morning. The field reformed in sodden conditions and polesitter West would be out before the start, the car emitting clouds of steam from a failing head gasket on the grid. Sapra leapt forward at the start to run beside Bransom through Paddock Hill Bend and up to Druids, where Bransom ran wide, before the orange M3 dived ahead into Graham Hill Bend. Another quick starter was Malcolm Harding, the Mk2 Escort leapt up to third at the rolling start but was into second by the end of the lap after getting round Sapra at Surtees. Vaughan and Wilson spent the opening lap fighting for fourth, with the Aston finishing the lap in front. The V8 Aston was briefly third as he powered past Sapra ending the lap but the sky-blue E36 M3 reclaimed the place at Paddock Hill Bend for the second time. However, the Aston cut back inside Sapra exiting the corner to make the place his own by Druids. The Audi A3 Turbo of Vaughan further demoted Sapra on the Cooper Straight but the BMW fought back into Clearways. The A3 steamed ahead as they exited the corner but Sapra refused to give in and launched the BMW up the inside into Paddock Hill Bend. Vaughan cut back inside up the hill to Druids as they traded places again. Sapra then spun exiting Clearways at the end of the lap, the closely following Paul Wood just avoided the rotating M3. Now free from Sapra's attention, Vaughan started homing in on the Harding and Wilson dice. Harding gamely held on to second until the Aston got up his inside at Druids with just under five minutes remaining. Next time around and Vaughan repeated the Wilson move to squeeze into fourth. The red flag was thrown shortly after Vaughan's move for the beached VW Beetle of Neil Oakley at Clearways, so Vaughan’s move counted for little as Harding took third on countback behind the victorious Bransom and Wilson. Vaughan was classified fourth, with 1.418 seconds covering the trio, from Wood's BMW in fifth and Kirk Armitage's E36 M3 completing the top six. A noteworthy drive came from Ronan Bradley, who made up 30 places to finish eleventh from starting 31st in his M3 E36.
Race Two: At the rolling start, Wilson used the Aston’s power to sweep into the lead at Paddock Hill Bend, poleman Bransom slotted in behind with Harding in third. Abbie Eaton's thundering Holden Commodore ended lap one inside the top ten, she then worked through a big group to take sixth from Rod Birley’s E36 M3 on the second flying lap. Up front, Bransom was starting to pressure the leading Aston and, with thirteen minutes left, the Aston defended the inside line into Druids so Bransom took the long route around the hairpin to grab the lead at Graham Hill Bend. On the same lap, Vaughan leapfrogged Harding for third. The advancing Eaton cracked into the top five on the seventh tour, passing the M3 E46 of Paul Wood, she then set about chasing down Harding and the Holden was with the Escort with five minutes left, slithering up the inside into fourth at Graham Hill Bend. Multiple race winner Birley had contact for the second day in a row during the closing minutes, a charging Jasver Sapra tipping the similar E36 M3 out of sixth exiting Clearways. Bransom serenely took the flag 14.933 seconds clear of the Wilson Aston in second. The Team Prawn Racing A3 Turbo of Vaughan took third, 3.452 seconds further back. Another 5.058 seconds down the road was Abbie Eaton, who had revelled in the grip provided by a brand new set of wets to finish just off the podium in fourth in the Holden which had started from the eighth row. Malcolm Harding’s Zakspeed Escort splashed to fifth, ahead of Sapra’s BMW - which had risen from 25th after his earlier DNF.
Race Two: At the rolling start, Wilson used the Aston’s power to sweep into the lead at Paddock Hill Bend, poleman Bransom slotted in behind with Harding in third. Abbie Eaton's thundering Holden Commodore ended lap one inside the top ten, she then worked through a big group to take sixth from Rod Birley’s E36 M3 on the second flying lap. Up front, Bransom was starting to pressure the leading Aston and, with thirteen minutes left, the Aston defended the inside line into Druids so Bransom took the long route around the hairpin to grab the lead at Graham Hill Bend. On the same lap, Vaughan leapfrogged Harding for third. The advancing Eaton cracked into the top five on the seventh tour, passing the M3 E46 of Paul Wood, she then set about chasing down Harding and the Holden was with the Escort with five minutes left, slithering up the inside into fourth at Graham Hill Bend. Multiple race winner Birley had contact for the second day in a row during the closing minutes, a charging Jasver Sapra tipping the similar E36 M3 out of sixth exiting Clearways. Bransom serenely took the flag 14.933 seconds clear of the Wilson Aston in second. The Team Prawn Racing A3 Turbo of Vaughan took third, 3.452 seconds further back. Another 5.058 seconds down the road was Abbie Eaton, who had revelled in the grip provided by a brand new set of wets to finish just off the podium in fourth in the Holden which had started from the eighth row. Malcolm Harding’s Zakspeed Escort splashed to fifth, ahead of Sapra’s BMW - which had risen from 25th after his earlier DNF.
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Pre93/03/BOSS Race One: A full restart was required after Jamie Thwaites put his Sierra Cosworth off at Druids. Before the restart took place, regular Pre '03 pace setter Gary Prebble pitted with a misfire in his Civic at the end of the formation lap and didn't take the start. Stuart Waite converted his pole position into the race lead and cleared off into the distance in his Pre '93 BMW up front. Behind, Kevin Willis got another great start to bolt up to second ahead of Chris Southcott and Oliver Owen - having reached third from row three during the first attempted start. David Clark's Renault 5 GT Turbo lost out to the Willis and Owen BMWs off the line and was level with top BOSS runner James Dunkley's Fiesta. The red XR2 got by at Paddock Hill Bend and Clint Le Chalmers jumped at the chance to further demote the Renault before Druids, the BMW then pounced on the Fiesta at Druids to take fifth. Clark slipped back another spot at the hairpin as Bower also went by the yellow machine. Second BOSS competitor Sam Daffin slotted in just behind, with Ross Craig's Pre '03 Civic Type R for company. Ending the lap, Clark breezed by Bower past the pits and threatened Dunkley on the outside of Paddock Hill but is rebuffed. Ahead of them, Southcott's Honda attacked Willis for second at Druids and the pair were side-by-side down the hill into Graham Hill Bend before Willis used his M-Power to hold the spot on the Cooper Straight. Oliver Owen looked to get involved at Clearways too. Clark eventually passed Dunkley at Graham Hill but the pesky red Fiesta wouldn’t let the Renault get away easily and was back ahead by Clearways. The GT Turbo then used its straightline speed advantage to whistle ahead of the Fiesta starting lap three. With lappery starting, the BMW of Owen used the traffic to slip by Pre '03 leader Southcott for third at Paddock Hill at the seventh time of asking. Owen then flew up to second into Paddock Hill next time round, before Southcott dived past Willis at Druids for the tenth time. Race winner and top Pre '93 Waite took the flag a comfortable 10.754 seconds clear of Owen. Third past the flag was top Pre '03 finisher Southcott but he would be excluded after failing post-race scrutineering due to the Honda not being fitted with a catalytic converter so Willis took the spot. There was a last-lap scrap for sixth, seventh and eighth as Craig's Honda tried to wrest seventh from Dunkley's Fiesta starting the final lap. However, their squabble was being caught quickly by the Fiesta Ecoboost of Daffin. The turbocharged Fiesta passed the pair of them to nick the BOSS win from Dunkley on the run to Surtees, whilst Craig was given the Pre '03 win after Southcott's removal.
Race Two: Race one winner Stuart Waite held the lead from pole, whilst Kevin Willis made another good getaway to leapfrog Oliver Owen into second. The top Pre ‘03 Honda of Ross Craig made a surging run around the outside of Paddock Hill and jumped up five places into fourth, he then rounded up Willis and Owen into Druids to sit in second! The Owen and Willis BMWs also lost out to David Clark's Renault exiting Druids, Sam Daffin successfully eyed Willis’ fifth place into Graham Hill Bend. Second BOSS runner Dunkley was sat just behind and a great exit took him past Willis too and the Fiesta then threatened Owen's fifth place at Clearways, Daffin having passed the E36 towards Surtees. Further back, Chris Southcott dumped his Honda in the Druids gravel to finish a disappointing weekend and he Safety Car was deployed whilst the Civic was dragged out of the gravel. At the restart, Pre '03 leader Craig was soon pressuring Waite for the lead at Druids, whilst Daffin dived under Clark into Paddock Hill Bend and Dunkley followed the Fiesta through at Druids. Next time around and Daffin repeated his Clark move to pass Craig for second, the little blue Fiesta then reeled in Waite and moved into the overall lead exiting Clearways. Dunkley’s forward progress also continued as he went by Craig for third. The action was halted a short time later after Andrew Smith’s Honda Civic smote the barriers climbing up to Druids, Smith got out unaided. The grid reassembled for a restart over seven minutes and Waite used his BMW’s traction to hold the lead away from the grid into Paddock Hill Bend from Daffin and Dunkley. Craig and Owen also battled it out for fourth, with the Honda prevailing. Up at Druids, Daffin went under Waite for the overall lead. Soon after, Dunkley moved up to threaten Waite and made his move into second coming out of Clearways. The red XR2 got a run on Daffin up the hill to Druids but Daffin came across to defend, which allowed Waite to look on Dunkley’s outside. Craig's Honda and Owen's BMW weren't far away either. At the third time of asking, Dunkley drove the long way around Daffin at Druids to take the race lead. Daffin quickly hit back on the Cooper Straight but ran wide at Surtees to hand the lead back to Dunkley with three and a half minutes to go. The two Fiestas started to edge away from Waite as time ran out, with Daffin drawing up to Dunkley on the run to the flag but it’s too little, too late. The red Fiesta takes the victory by 0.348 seconds, whilst Waite takes the Pre ‘93 win with third overall. Craig tops the Pre ‘03s in fourth with Owen, Clark and third BOSS runner Craig Owen completing the top seven aboard his Sierra Cosworth.
Race Two: Race one winner Stuart Waite held the lead from pole, whilst Kevin Willis made another good getaway to leapfrog Oliver Owen into second. The top Pre ‘03 Honda of Ross Craig made a surging run around the outside of Paddock Hill and jumped up five places into fourth, he then rounded up Willis and Owen into Druids to sit in second! The Owen and Willis BMWs also lost out to David Clark's Renault exiting Druids, Sam Daffin successfully eyed Willis’ fifth place into Graham Hill Bend. Second BOSS runner Dunkley was sat just behind and a great exit took him past Willis too and the Fiesta then threatened Owen's fifth place at Clearways, Daffin having passed the E36 towards Surtees. Further back, Chris Southcott dumped his Honda in the Druids gravel to finish a disappointing weekend and he Safety Car was deployed whilst the Civic was dragged out of the gravel. At the restart, Pre '03 leader Craig was soon pressuring Waite for the lead at Druids, whilst Daffin dived under Clark into Paddock Hill Bend and Dunkley followed the Fiesta through at Druids. Next time around and Daffin repeated his Clark move to pass Craig for second, the little blue Fiesta then reeled in Waite and moved into the overall lead exiting Clearways. Dunkley’s forward progress also continued as he went by Craig for third. The action was halted a short time later after Andrew Smith’s Honda Civic smote the barriers climbing up to Druids, Smith got out unaided. The grid reassembled for a restart over seven minutes and Waite used his BMW’s traction to hold the lead away from the grid into Paddock Hill Bend from Daffin and Dunkley. Craig and Owen also battled it out for fourth, with the Honda prevailing. Up at Druids, Daffin went under Waite for the overall lead. Soon after, Dunkley moved up to threaten Waite and made his move into second coming out of Clearways. The red XR2 got a run on Daffin up the hill to Druids but Daffin came across to defend, which allowed Waite to look on Dunkley’s outside. Craig's Honda and Owen's BMW weren't far away either. At the third time of asking, Dunkley drove the long way around Daffin at Druids to take the race lead. Daffin quickly hit back on the Cooper Straight but ran wide at Surtees to hand the lead back to Dunkley with three and a half minutes to go. The two Fiestas started to edge away from Waite as time ran out, with Daffin drawing up to Dunkley on the run to the flag but it’s too little, too late. The red Fiesta takes the victory by 0.348 seconds, whilst Waite takes the Pre ‘93 win with third overall. Craig tops the Pre ‘03s in fourth with Owen, Clark and third BOSS runner Craig Owen completing the top seven aboard his Sierra Cosworth.
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Jaguar Challenge Race One: First to race at the weekend was the Berkshire Jaguar Components Jaguar Challenge. Colin Philpott took pole position in his XJS by 0.658 seconds from the XK8 of Michael Seabourne. Guy Connew held on to third despite stopping at Druids mid-session, Tom Lenthall would line up alongside the Group 44 XJS. Silverstone race winner Jack Robinson went from fifth in his XK8. Polesitter Philpott headed the field into Paddock Hill Bend, leading Connew, Seabourne and a sprightly Chris Boon, who had made a cracking start from fourth row to slot into P4, ahead of Tom Lenthall. Robinson literally went backwards at the start but is able to get going in ninth. This quickly became eighth at Druids before taking seventh off Tim Morrant's Daimler Sovereign at Clearways. On the second lap, Seabourne moves up to second after Connew skates wide at Druids and Robinson progresses into sixth at Clearways, clearing Andrew Harper's supercharged S-Type. In the battle for fourth, Boon is assaulted by the XJS of Lenthall at Clearways on lap three and the XK8 limps into retirement with rear damage. Their coming together also results in Robinson climbing back to his start position of fifth. Philpott wins with ease at the end of the fifteen minutes, having also set a fastest lap faster than his pole position time. Seabourne comes home in second on-the-road, surviving a late scare after a touring Morrant crosses paths with the XK8 at pit entry, from Connew's Group 44-liveried XJS but both would lose their results after their cars were found to be underweight. This promoted Lenthall and Jack Robinson to the podium.
Race Two: Philpott flew out of the blocks at the start and survived a late safety car period to complete a victory double in a soggy race two, the supercharged S-Type of Andrew Harper came home second with Tom Lenthall third after twice overcoming the XJ diesel of James Wall, the XJS having spun at Surtees with nine minutes left. The diesel XJ had held a short-lived second place after usurping Harper at Druids on the restart, Wall then threw the place away with a grassy excursion at Surtees and became stuck on the wet grass. At virtually the same time, Jack Robinson crashed out at Paddock Hill Bend with a minute left - the incidents bringing out the red flag. Chris Boon impressively rose through the field to finish fourth after his Saturday DNF. Fellow XK8 pilot Mike Seabourne quickly charged into the top ten from the back of the grid, reaching third until retiring with a bit over seven minutes to go. James Ramm was due to be entrusted with Guy Connew’s XJS after driving Simon Lewis’ yellow XJ6 on Saturday but didn’t appear for the start.
Race Two: Philpott flew out of the blocks at the start and survived a late safety car period to complete a victory double in a soggy race two, the supercharged S-Type of Andrew Harper came home second with Tom Lenthall third after twice overcoming the XJ diesel of James Wall, the XJS having spun at Surtees with nine minutes left. The diesel XJ had held a short-lived second place after usurping Harper at Druids on the restart, Wall then threw the place away with a grassy excursion at Surtees and became stuck on the wet grass. At virtually the same time, Jack Robinson crashed out at Paddock Hill Bend with a minute left - the incidents bringing out the red flag. Chris Boon impressively rose through the field to finish fourth after his Saturday DNF. Fellow XK8 pilot Mike Seabourne quickly charged into the top ten from the back of the grid, reaching third until retiring with a bit over seven minutes to go. James Ramm was due to be entrusted with Guy Connew’s XJS after driving Simon Lewis’ yellow XJ6 on Saturday but didn’t appear for the start.
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The Classic Touring Car Racing Club heads west for its next meeting at Castle Combe over the weekend of the 10th and 11th of June.
British Endurance Championship
The lone GT3 car present sped to pole position, the Audi R8 of Peter Erceg/Marcus Clutton setting a time of 45.690 seconds to head the stunning Aston Martin Vulcan of Gleb Stepanovs/Steve Tomkins on the front row. Erceg held the lead into Paddock Hill Bend at the start of the two-hour race, never to be threatened. The R8 scampered clear to a 6-lap victory, covering 135 laps of the Indy circuit. The Team Hard Porsche 991 GT3 Cup car of Brad Thurston/Daryl Deleon came home second with the Mercedes AMG GT4 of Chris Jones/Matt George 6.153 seconds behind in third. Another 3.831 seconds back was the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of Stuart Hall/Peter Montague, whose charge was blunted by a stubborn Team BRIT McLaren late on, the McLaren fighting the Aston believing it was for position... An early casualty was the fabulous Vulcan of Stepanovs/Tomkins, Stepanovs losing the rear on cold tyres at Surtees for the first time and clattering into the armco.
The lone GT3 car present sped to pole position, the Audi R8 of Peter Erceg/Marcus Clutton setting a time of 45.690 seconds to head the stunning Aston Martin Vulcan of Gleb Stepanovs/Steve Tomkins on the front row. Erceg held the lead into Paddock Hill Bend at the start of the two-hour race, never to be threatened. The R8 scampered clear to a 6-lap victory, covering 135 laps of the Indy circuit. The Team Hard Porsche 991 GT3 Cup car of Brad Thurston/Daryl Deleon came home second with the Mercedes AMG GT4 of Chris Jones/Matt George 6.153 seconds behind in third. Another 3.831 seconds back was the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of Stuart Hall/Peter Montague, whose charge was blunted by a stubborn Team BRIT McLaren late on, the McLaren fighting the Aston believing it was for position... An early casualty was the fabulous Vulcan of Stepanovs/Tomkins, Stepanovs losing the rear on cold tyres at Surtees for the first time and clattering into the armco.
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