Modified Ford Series Season Review 2022
The burgeoning Modified Series was back for its second full season in 2022. Under the auspices of series coordinator and competitor Paul Nevill, the series pulled in packed grids at each meeting. A reasonably free rulebook meant that as long as your car was Ford-based and built before the end of 2011, you were in. The resulting collection of cars ranged from fire-breathing Escort Cosworths and Capri V8s, through the ubiquitous Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts to a 2.6-litre Anglia, a turbocharged Focus Estate and a much modified Mk1 Fiesta. Such was the size of the entry at some rounds that the field had to be split into three groups to fit on the grid! I attended most of their rounds during the season, if only for one day at some meetings, with the exception of Knockhill and Donington Park.
Races 1 & 2: Silverstone International 20th March
The entry arrived in Northamptonshire raring to go for the season ahead, will those winter tweaks have paid off? A busy Race One first lap ended with the fast-starting David Matthias Escort Cosworth in the gravel at Club after contact with polesitter Jack Gadd, Piers Grange was also forced to retire with damage to his Mk2 Escort. The race boiled down to a tussle between Malcolm Harding's Mk2 Escort and James Allen's Focus RS, the pair skated off at Club on one occasion as Harding sought to hold the Focus off. Allen eventually took the chequer from Harding but the Focus was chucked out of the results afterwards for overtaking under yellow flags, promoting Harding to victory and Paul Nevill to runners-up spot ahead of Craig Rainer's turbocharged Mk2 Escort. Harding scampered to a winning double in race two as Allen non-started, Ashley Shelswell's V6 Sierra following the Castrol Mk2 home ahead of double third place finisher Rainer.
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
The entry arrived in Northamptonshire raring to go for the season ahead, will those winter tweaks have paid off? A busy Race One first lap ended with the fast-starting David Matthias Escort Cosworth in the gravel at Club after contact with polesitter Jack Gadd, Piers Grange was also forced to retire with damage to his Mk2 Escort. The race boiled down to a tussle between Malcolm Harding's Mk2 Escort and James Allen's Focus RS, the pair skated off at Club on one occasion as Harding sought to hold the Focus off. Allen eventually took the chequer from Harding but the Focus was chucked out of the results afterwards for overtaking under yellow flags, promoting Harding to victory and Paul Nevill to runners-up spot ahead of Craig Rainer's turbocharged Mk2 Escort. Harding scampered to a winning double in race two as Allen non-started, Ashley Shelswell's V6 Sierra following the Castrol Mk2 home ahead of double third place finisher Rainer.
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
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Races 3, 4 & 5: Brands Hatch Indy 9th & 10th April
A huge entry meant that it was necessary to split the field into three for each competitor to get their two races. The first race for Group A&B saw poleman Dave Cockell disappearing up the road to a straightforward victory, who would finish second was much less certain. An all-Escort battle for the spot worked out in favour of Malcolm Harding, just ahead of Dan Minton. Minton held the place into the first corner but he was soon passed by Harding before front-row qualifier Jack Gadd got between them. A spin for Gadd exiting Graham Hill Bend dropped him back into the middle of Rod Birley and Steve Goldsmith’s scrap for fourth. Cockell clinched another win in the Group A&C split. Behind Cockell, an early duel between the Neil Jessop and Dan Minton Mk2 Escorts was resolved when an incident for Minton lapping Jimmy Neophytou's Mk1 Fiesta split the pair, Minton eventually fell to fourth behind Rod Birley’s Escort WRC. The Group B&C contest featured the closest fight for the win as Neil Jessop, Malcolm Harding and Jack Gadd duked it out. Jessop led initially before Harding and then Gadd took up the running. It looked as though Gadd would take the win but Harding cheekily nipped by in traffic on the final lap to nick the spoils. A just reward for Harding’s freshly repaired Escort after its infamous incident at Silverstone just a couple of weeks beforehand, the Mk2 having performed a complete rollover after contact but, undeterred, Harding carried on to finish 14th overall!
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One (Groups A&B) - click here, Race Two (Groups A&C) - click here, Race Three (Groups B&C) - click here
A huge entry meant that it was necessary to split the field into three for each competitor to get their two races. The first race for Group A&B saw poleman Dave Cockell disappearing up the road to a straightforward victory, who would finish second was much less certain. An all-Escort battle for the spot worked out in favour of Malcolm Harding, just ahead of Dan Minton. Minton held the place into the first corner but he was soon passed by Harding before front-row qualifier Jack Gadd got between them. A spin for Gadd exiting Graham Hill Bend dropped him back into the middle of Rod Birley and Steve Goldsmith’s scrap for fourth. Cockell clinched another win in the Group A&C split. Behind Cockell, an early duel between the Neil Jessop and Dan Minton Mk2 Escorts was resolved when an incident for Minton lapping Jimmy Neophytou's Mk1 Fiesta split the pair, Minton eventually fell to fourth behind Rod Birley’s Escort WRC. The Group B&C contest featured the closest fight for the win as Neil Jessop, Malcolm Harding and Jack Gadd duked it out. Jessop led initially before Harding and then Gadd took up the running. It looked as though Gadd would take the win but Harding cheekily nipped by in traffic on the final lap to nick the spoils. A just reward for Harding’s freshly repaired Escort after its infamous incident at Silverstone just a couple of weeks beforehand, the Mk2 having performed a complete rollover after contact but, undeterred, Harding carried on to finish 14th overall!
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One (Groups A&B) - click here, Race Two (Groups A&C) - click here, Race Three (Groups B&C) - click here
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Races 6 & 7: Knockhill 8th May
The Modified Ford clan made the trek north of the border to Knockhill in Fife for two races. Polesitter Dave Cockell just beat Jack Gadd to the Race One win by half a second, Piers Grange coming home in third. Cockell had a slightly easier time in Race Two, besting Gadd by 2.9 seconds with Malcolm Harding in third. Gadd did have the consolation of defeating BTCC legend John Cleland's Vauxhall Vectra Super Touring car when the Fords were invited to bolster the David Leslie Trophy Super Touring car grid.
Results links: Qualifying (Page 8) - click here, Race One (Page 37)- click here, Race Two (Page 71) - click here
The Modified Ford clan made the trek north of the border to Knockhill in Fife for two races. Polesitter Dave Cockell just beat Jack Gadd to the Race One win by half a second, Piers Grange coming home in third. Cockell had a slightly easier time in Race Two, besting Gadd by 2.9 seconds with Malcolm Harding in third. Gadd did have the consolation of defeating BTCC legend John Cleland's Vauxhall Vectra Super Touring car when the Fords were invited to bolster the David Leslie Trophy Super Touring car grid.
Results links: Qualifying (Page 8) - click here, Race One (Page 37)- click here, Race Two (Page 71) - click here
Races 8 & 9: Donington Park GP 28th May
The Modified Fords were on the British GT support bill for this meeting. Regular pace setter Dave Cockell took the two races, Simon Light's Capri V8 following him home in Race One and Jack Gadd's Mk1 Escort RSR doing likewise in Race Two. Ashley Shelswell took two thirds in his lusty Sierra XR4i.
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
The Modified Fords were on the British GT support bill for this meeting. Regular pace setter Dave Cockell took the two races, Simon Light's Capri V8 following him home in Race One and Jack Gadd's Mk1 Escort RSR doing likewise in Race Two. Ashley Shelswell took two thirds in his lusty Sierra XR4i.
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
Races 10 & 11: Oulton Park International 25th June
Polesitter Dave Cockell ran away as he pleased with Race One in his Escort Cosworth, Dan Minton's BDX-engined Escort Mk2 grabbed second from the ex-Matt Moore/Piers Grange turbocharged Mk1 Escort RSR of first-year racer Richard Rudd. Cockell retired from the Race Two lead with a blown engine, promoting Dan Minton into the race lead. However, the former Thundersaloon Mk2 Escort developed a late misfire and handed the win to the Piers Grange Mk2 Escort. Ashley Shelswell's XR4i was runner up and the recovering Mk1 Escort RSR of Jack Gadd completed the podium, the Millington-powered spaceframe having started from the rear of the field.
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
Polesitter Dave Cockell ran away as he pleased with Race One in his Escort Cosworth, Dan Minton's BDX-engined Escort Mk2 grabbed second from the ex-Matt Moore/Piers Grange turbocharged Mk1 Escort RSR of first-year racer Richard Rudd. Cockell retired from the Race Two lead with a blown engine, promoting Dan Minton into the race lead. However, the former Thundersaloon Mk2 Escort developed a late misfire and handed the win to the Piers Grange Mk2 Escort. Ashley Shelswell's XR4i was runner up and the recovering Mk1 Escort RSR of Jack Gadd completed the podium, the Millington-powered spaceframe having started from the rear of the field.
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
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Races 12, 13 & 14 Snetterton 300 23rd & 24th July
Dave Cockell's almighty Escort Cosworth withstood the heat of a searing weekend to bag all three race wins from pole. He was kept in sight during Race One by Jack Gadd until a late spin for the Mk1 Escort RSR promoted Simon Light's 5-litre Capri into the spot. It was Light's turn to hang on to Cockell's coat tails in Race Two, before a retirement for the rumbling Capri in Race Three gave the spot to Paul Nevill's RS2000 after a fine drive. Ashley Shelswell took two bronzes in the first and third races whilst David Matthias' Sierra RS500 took the spot in Race Two.
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here, Race Three - click here
Dave Cockell's almighty Escort Cosworth withstood the heat of a searing weekend to bag all three race wins from pole. He was kept in sight during Race One by Jack Gadd until a late spin for the Mk1 Escort RSR promoted Simon Light's 5-litre Capri into the spot. It was Light's turn to hang on to Cockell's coat tails in Race Two, before a retirement for the rumbling Capri in Race Three gave the spot to Paul Nevill's RS2000 after a fine drive. Ashley Shelswell took two bronzes in the first and third races whilst David Matthias' Sierra RS500 took the spot in Race Two.
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here, Race Three - click here
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Races 15 & 16: Cadwell Park 20th & 21st August
'The Boss' Paul Nevill qualified his Mk2 RS2000 on pole position for Saturday's race, which was marred by a startline crash. Second qualifier Gary Wait's Sapphire Cosworth didn't appear to accelerate at the rolling start, sparking a chain reaction. Pip Finney's Fiesta ran into the back of the Cosworth, Malcolm Harding likewise went into the back of the Fiesta and Harding was then rear-ended by Alex Boam. Boam's Fiesta pin-balled across the circuit where he was collected by Tony Paxman's Mk1 Escort and then suffered a second impact with the armco barrier. The race was immediately red-flagged whilst the severely winded Boam was extracted from his Fiesta, Paxman was able to get out unaided. The field got away cleanly at the second attempt and it was Nevill who headed a trio of Escorts home, the group making a fine sight at the head of the field. Jack Gadd finished close behind in second and Harding took third but the pink Focus ST of Rory Jose was reeling them in when the early chequer flew. Race Two saw Nevill and Gadd fighting it out around the opening lap, Gadd snuck into the lead at Park Corner but Nevill struck back at Mansfield to reclaim the top spot. Nevill, Gadd, Harding and Jose were lapping in close quarters to each other throughout but further back Dave Cockell was making inroads through the field, having missed Saturday's race due to power steering issues. Setting continuous fastest laps soon brought the 4WD Escort up to the rear of the leading bunch. Once he'd cleared Jose' Focus, the 700+ bhp of Cosworth grunt saw Cockell power past Gadd exiting Mansfield and breezing by Nevill next time along the pit straight to take the lead with a couple of minutes remaining. Cockell duly took the win after a great drive by 3.793 seconds from Nevill and Gadd.
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
'The Boss' Paul Nevill qualified his Mk2 RS2000 on pole position for Saturday's race, which was marred by a startline crash. Second qualifier Gary Wait's Sapphire Cosworth didn't appear to accelerate at the rolling start, sparking a chain reaction. Pip Finney's Fiesta ran into the back of the Cosworth, Malcolm Harding likewise went into the back of the Fiesta and Harding was then rear-ended by Alex Boam. Boam's Fiesta pin-balled across the circuit where he was collected by Tony Paxman's Mk1 Escort and then suffered a second impact with the armco barrier. The race was immediately red-flagged whilst the severely winded Boam was extracted from his Fiesta, Paxman was able to get out unaided. The field got away cleanly at the second attempt and it was Nevill who headed a trio of Escorts home, the group making a fine sight at the head of the field. Jack Gadd finished close behind in second and Harding took third but the pink Focus ST of Rory Jose was reeling them in when the early chequer flew. Race Two saw Nevill and Gadd fighting it out around the opening lap, Gadd snuck into the lead at Park Corner but Nevill struck back at Mansfield to reclaim the top spot. Nevill, Gadd, Harding and Jose were lapping in close quarters to each other throughout but further back Dave Cockell was making inroads through the field, having missed Saturday's race due to power steering issues. Setting continuous fastest laps soon brought the 4WD Escort up to the rear of the leading bunch. Once he'd cleared Jose' Focus, the 700+ bhp of Cosworth grunt saw Cockell power past Gadd exiting Mansfield and breezing by Nevill next time along the pit straight to take the lead with a couple of minutes remaining. Cockell duly took the win after a great drive by 3.793 seconds from Nevill and Gadd.
Results links: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
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Races 15, 16, 17 & 18: Ford Power Live Brands Hatch Indy 18th September
Group A: Dave Cockell led the opening race from pole early on with Jack Gadd shadowing him during the early laps but the Escort Cosworth soon started to ease away until disaster struck with retirement into the pits ending lap ten. Gadd was then left on his own for the run to the flag. Contact in traffic for early third-place sitter Simon Light's Capri V8 forced the rumbling coupe out, he'd been chasing James Allen's Focus RS at the time which had fought back from sixth on the opening lap to follow Gadd home. Steve Goldsmith's amazing little Anglia made up the top three at the flag. A near-dead heat for fourth went in Rory Jose' favour when turbo power enabled him to outdrag Paul Nevill to the line after the RS2000 got up the inside at Clearways. Gadd headed the field in race two until a persistent misfire set in. which aided Dave Cockell's charge towards stealing the race win from the rear of the grid. Gadd spluttered to second with Goldsmith's Anglebox taking third for the second time on the day. Earlier second-place finisher James Allen ran wide at Graham Hill Bend on the opening lap but came back through to third before retiring.
Group B: The Zakspeed tribute Escorts of Neil Jessop and Mike Thurley split the wins between them, the bewinged Mk2 of Jessop held off Thurley to take race one before the beautiful Castrol-liveried Mk1 of Thurley reversed the positions in race two. Andy Pipe's Mk1 Escort took third in race one and Nick Proudlock's Class C Mk1 Escort snared third in race two, heading Class C from Justin Fuller's Puma in each race.
Results links (Group A): Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
Results links (Groups B): Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
Group A: Dave Cockell led the opening race from pole early on with Jack Gadd shadowing him during the early laps but the Escort Cosworth soon started to ease away until disaster struck with retirement into the pits ending lap ten. Gadd was then left on his own for the run to the flag. Contact in traffic for early third-place sitter Simon Light's Capri V8 forced the rumbling coupe out, he'd been chasing James Allen's Focus RS at the time which had fought back from sixth on the opening lap to follow Gadd home. Steve Goldsmith's amazing little Anglia made up the top three at the flag. A near-dead heat for fourth went in Rory Jose' favour when turbo power enabled him to outdrag Paul Nevill to the line after the RS2000 got up the inside at Clearways. Gadd headed the field in race two until a persistent misfire set in. which aided Dave Cockell's charge towards stealing the race win from the rear of the grid. Gadd spluttered to second with Goldsmith's Anglebox taking third for the second time on the day. Earlier second-place finisher James Allen ran wide at Graham Hill Bend on the opening lap but came back through to third before retiring.
Group B: The Zakspeed tribute Escorts of Neil Jessop and Mike Thurley split the wins between them, the bewinged Mk2 of Jessop held off Thurley to take race one before the beautiful Castrol-liveried Mk1 of Thurley reversed the positions in race two. Andy Pipe's Mk1 Escort took third in race one and Nick Proudlock's Class C Mk1 Escort snared third in race two, heading Class C from Justin Fuller's Puma in each race.
Results links (Group A): Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
Results links (Groups B): Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
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Races 19, 20 & 21: Brands Hatch Indy 21st & 22nd October
The large Modified Ford entry was divided into three groups, with each getting two races at the Formula Ford Festival meeting. The Group A&B race held on Saturday saw Neil Jessop leading the field in the early stages until a safety car period brought poleman James Allen onto his tail. Allen pounced immediately at the restart to take the lead on the climb up to Druids. The Focus RS steadily drew away up front to take the win by 2.457 seconds, surviving a lurid moment in traffic heading up to Druids along the way. Jessop's wide-arched Mk2 Escort followed him home but a leaking head gasket would end his weekend. Rod Birley took the flag in third, the Escort WRC having challenged Jessop for the lead early on. Birley blasted through from the second row of the wet Group A&C encounter and into a lead he wouldn't lose, 4WD helping him to sweep clear in the wet conditions to a comfortable win. It was anything but comfortable behind as a fierce five-way fight for second was being resolved. The Fiesta of David Guthrie took the position off Wayne Crabtree's Mk1 Escort starting the last lap, the Escort then ran wide at Graham Hill Bend which allowed the Puma of Harry Hardy to steal third. The Group B&C split saw James Allen fighting a rear guard action on the wet/dry surface as Steve Goldsmith's slick-shod Anglia crawled all over the rear of his Focus on the drier sections of the track but the extra grip he had from his wet tyres through a still-damp Clearways kept him ahead. The Ecoboost Fiesta of Kester Cook rounded out the top three finishers. One of the drives of the race saw Rory Jose claw his way back up to fourth after starting at the back of the field after suffering a gearbox problem on Saturday. In the earlier A&C bout, another heroic effort from Jose saw him finish sixth despite a severely misted windscreen and was well in the fight for second until a gravelly moment at Clearways.
Results links: Qualifying (Group 1) - click here, Qualifying (Group 2) - click here, Race One (Groups A&B) - click here
Race Two (Groups A&C) - click here, Race Three (Groups B&C) - click here
The large Modified Ford entry was divided into three groups, with each getting two races at the Formula Ford Festival meeting. The Group A&B race held on Saturday saw Neil Jessop leading the field in the early stages until a safety car period brought poleman James Allen onto his tail. Allen pounced immediately at the restart to take the lead on the climb up to Druids. The Focus RS steadily drew away up front to take the win by 2.457 seconds, surviving a lurid moment in traffic heading up to Druids along the way. Jessop's wide-arched Mk2 Escort followed him home but a leaking head gasket would end his weekend. Rod Birley took the flag in third, the Escort WRC having challenged Jessop for the lead early on. Birley blasted through from the second row of the wet Group A&C encounter and into a lead he wouldn't lose, 4WD helping him to sweep clear in the wet conditions to a comfortable win. It was anything but comfortable behind as a fierce five-way fight for second was being resolved. The Fiesta of David Guthrie took the position off Wayne Crabtree's Mk1 Escort starting the last lap, the Escort then ran wide at Graham Hill Bend which allowed the Puma of Harry Hardy to steal third. The Group B&C split saw James Allen fighting a rear guard action on the wet/dry surface as Steve Goldsmith's slick-shod Anglia crawled all over the rear of his Focus on the drier sections of the track but the extra grip he had from his wet tyres through a still-damp Clearways kept him ahead. The Ecoboost Fiesta of Kester Cook rounded out the top three finishers. One of the drives of the race saw Rory Jose claw his way back up to fourth after starting at the back of the field after suffering a gearbox problem on Saturday. In the earlier A&C bout, another heroic effort from Jose saw him finish sixth despite a severely misted windscreen and was well in the fight for second until a gravelly moment at Clearways.
Results links: Qualifying (Group 1) - click here, Qualifying (Group 2) - click here, Race One (Groups A&B) - click here
Race Two (Groups A&C) - click here, Race Three (Groups B&C) - click here
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The 2023 calendar includes outings on the Grand Prix circuits at Silverstone and Brands Hatch, a trip abroad to Spa-Francorchamps in June, the scenic Anglesey circuit later in June and to the short, sharp Lydden Hill on August Bank Holiday weekend. See right.
For more details on the series, visit www.modifiedfords.co.uk |
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