Modified Ford Series Mallory Park 17th & 18th May 2025
RSR RAMPAGE AT MALLORY MODIFIED FORD MEETING UNTIL FIESTA DOES IT FOR ENGLAND
The Modified Ford Series gathered at Mallory Park in Leicestershire for a packed weekend of four races on the 17th and 18th of May, the first time the collective had visited the waterside circuit since 2021.
The sole Class SA entry this weekend belonged to Jon and Warren Farazmand, the father and son pairing sharing an immaculate 2.3-litre Ecoboost-powered RSR. Jon was making his racing return after a 20-year hiatus and ex-National Hot Rod racer Warren would also race his Peugeot 206 CC silhouette on the same bill. The superbly-presented machine was fresh from winning the Retro Rides Weekender ‘Car of the Year 2025’ at Goodwood Motor Circuit one week prior to the Mallory Park meeting. David Matthias was entered in the superb Robb Gravett replica RS500 but would be using his brother Scott's Sapphire instead after a gearbox issue became apparent in the build up. Matthias would still be tough to beat for Class A honours, possibly overall too in the car that had recently seen use at his sibling's wedding! Colin Claxton completed the pair of entries as he chased reliability from his turbocharged Mk1 Escort. There should be little to separate the two Duratec-powered RSRs of Mini Challenge JCW hotshoe Tom Ovenden and BTCC podium finisher Lea Wood from Class SB, with both among the favourites for overall glory. Daz Owen’s RSR suffered from gearbox issues in Cheshire but managed a top-five result first time out and ran in an initial third in the follow up before its early exit, the car recently was adorned with 1966 World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst’s signature. Mat Brennan may well find his Mk2 Escort outgunned by the spaceframed machinery around it in the class but to finish first, first you have to finish. Series coordinator Paul Nevill was involved in two hard-fought contests at Oulton Park as he came away with a Class B+ win and a second overall so the RS2000 pilot would fancy his chances in Leicestershire. The popular Millington-engined Mk2 Cortina of Josh Payton took its bow for 2025 at the lakeside venue and the Bristolian should be straight on the pace. Robert Lewis fought back from an opening race CV joint breakage to take sixth overall from the tenth row in Race Two at Oulton Park and his Ecoboost-powered Focus should perform well on the lakeside track, the Driving Torque podcaster recently completed a long shift as the pitlane reporter for the BRSCC 24 Hours livestream at Silverstone. Todd Garner was forced to use his Ecoboost Fiesta in Cheshire and that was still the case at Mallory Park, his fortunes didn’t improve that day after engine and clutch issues struck so he would be happy just to see the chequered flag but the car and driver combination is quick when it’s running right. Iain Blackley earned his first class award in Cheshire with second in Race One and the Puma Turbo pilot had his third venue to learn in as many meetings. Tyler England took two Class B wins along with reaching the overall podium second time out in Cheshire and the agile Fiesta should punch above its weight again at Mallory Park. Oliver Bullion took the class pole for the third successive year at Oulton Park before gearbox woes struck during Race One but the Fiesta should be a thorn in the side of England’s slightly older car in Leicestershire. Mike Thurley has got the speed to win the class in his Zakspeed Mk1 Escort but the former oval racer hasn’t quite brought home the top award in 2025, yet! Chris Baker could upstage them all on his return to the series after an engine rebuild for the high-revving Mk3 Escort, with the Hampshire man having taken six class victories during 2024. Arch-Ford enthusiast Martin Reynolds wheeled out the Craig Owen-built Mk1 Escort that he bought back recently. Wayne Crabtree's Gulf-liveried Escort was closely matched with Tony Paxman’s similar powder blue Mk1 at Oulton Park and Gary Johnson’s extremely pretty Mk1 Escort is more than capable of matching them. A late entry that was sure to put the cat among the pigeons came from Malcolm Harding and he would share the Paxman Mk1 Escort. Teenager James Owen has proved to be a star in the making on the short oval scene in Classic Hot Rods and he was due to make his circuit racing debut in the Mick ‘Duffy’ Collard tribute Mk2 Escort used by his father Daz Owen in the past. Jason Stone hoped to have finally cracked the engine issue that has led to two unfortunate failures in as many meetings for the Mk2 Escort that he debuted towards the end of 2024. John Ward’s Focus could well be closer to the pacesetters on a circuit where maintaining momentum is vital. Ex-Autograsser Mike McKenzie started his fourth meeting with the Modified Fords as he continued to gain experience aboard his Fiesta. Touring Car mechanic Darryl Taplin's intended move up to Class B in his new two-litre Fiesta didn't come to fruition after engine trouble in pre-event testing. Stephen Primett rocketed to the Class C pole position and first race victory at Oulton Park before an uncharacteristic spin for the Mk1 Escort meant he was matched for class wins in 2025 by Dave Barrett’s ever-present Fiesta, with the pair gunning for honours again at Mallory Park. Gary Littlewood made his seasonal debut with his quick 1600cc Fiesta and he would aim to get among Primett and Barrett at the pointy end of the class. 2024 overall podium finisher Lloyd Jamieson is accustomed to much more powerful machinery but he would make his Class C debut in a Mk2 Fiesta XR2, the Scot's CVH-powered XR Challenge car will take some adjusting to from his four-wheel-drive Escort Maxi Cosworth powerhouse.
The Modified Ford Series gathered at Mallory Park in Leicestershire for a packed weekend of four races on the 17th and 18th of May, the first time the collective had visited the waterside circuit since 2021.
The sole Class SA entry this weekend belonged to Jon and Warren Farazmand, the father and son pairing sharing an immaculate 2.3-litre Ecoboost-powered RSR. Jon was making his racing return after a 20-year hiatus and ex-National Hot Rod racer Warren would also race his Peugeot 206 CC silhouette on the same bill. The superbly-presented machine was fresh from winning the Retro Rides Weekender ‘Car of the Year 2025’ at Goodwood Motor Circuit one week prior to the Mallory Park meeting. David Matthias was entered in the superb Robb Gravett replica RS500 but would be using his brother Scott's Sapphire instead after a gearbox issue became apparent in the build up. Matthias would still be tough to beat for Class A honours, possibly overall too in the car that had recently seen use at his sibling's wedding! Colin Claxton completed the pair of entries as he chased reliability from his turbocharged Mk1 Escort. There should be little to separate the two Duratec-powered RSRs of Mini Challenge JCW hotshoe Tom Ovenden and BTCC podium finisher Lea Wood from Class SB, with both among the favourites for overall glory. Daz Owen’s RSR suffered from gearbox issues in Cheshire but managed a top-five result first time out and ran in an initial third in the follow up before its early exit, the car recently was adorned with 1966 World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst’s signature. Mat Brennan may well find his Mk2 Escort outgunned by the spaceframed machinery around it in the class but to finish first, first you have to finish. Series coordinator Paul Nevill was involved in two hard-fought contests at Oulton Park as he came away with a Class B+ win and a second overall so the RS2000 pilot would fancy his chances in Leicestershire. The popular Millington-engined Mk2 Cortina of Josh Payton took its bow for 2025 at the lakeside venue and the Bristolian should be straight on the pace. Robert Lewis fought back from an opening race CV joint breakage to take sixth overall from the tenth row in Race Two at Oulton Park and his Ecoboost-powered Focus should perform well on the lakeside track, the Driving Torque podcaster recently completed a long shift as the pitlane reporter for the BRSCC 24 Hours livestream at Silverstone. Todd Garner was forced to use his Ecoboost Fiesta in Cheshire and that was still the case at Mallory Park, his fortunes didn’t improve that day after engine and clutch issues struck so he would be happy just to see the chequered flag but the car and driver combination is quick when it’s running right. Iain Blackley earned his first class award in Cheshire with second in Race One and the Puma Turbo pilot had his third venue to learn in as many meetings. Tyler England took two Class B wins along with reaching the overall podium second time out in Cheshire and the agile Fiesta should punch above its weight again at Mallory Park. Oliver Bullion took the class pole for the third successive year at Oulton Park before gearbox woes struck during Race One but the Fiesta should be a thorn in the side of England’s slightly older car in Leicestershire. Mike Thurley has got the speed to win the class in his Zakspeed Mk1 Escort but the former oval racer hasn’t quite brought home the top award in 2025, yet! Chris Baker could upstage them all on his return to the series after an engine rebuild for the high-revving Mk3 Escort, with the Hampshire man having taken six class victories during 2024. Arch-Ford enthusiast Martin Reynolds wheeled out the Craig Owen-built Mk1 Escort that he bought back recently. Wayne Crabtree's Gulf-liveried Escort was closely matched with Tony Paxman’s similar powder blue Mk1 at Oulton Park and Gary Johnson’s extremely pretty Mk1 Escort is more than capable of matching them. A late entry that was sure to put the cat among the pigeons came from Malcolm Harding and he would share the Paxman Mk1 Escort. Teenager James Owen has proved to be a star in the making on the short oval scene in Classic Hot Rods and he was due to make his circuit racing debut in the Mick ‘Duffy’ Collard tribute Mk2 Escort used by his father Daz Owen in the past. Jason Stone hoped to have finally cracked the engine issue that has led to two unfortunate failures in as many meetings for the Mk2 Escort that he debuted towards the end of 2024. John Ward’s Focus could well be closer to the pacesetters on a circuit where maintaining momentum is vital. Ex-Autograsser Mike McKenzie started his fourth meeting with the Modified Fords as he continued to gain experience aboard his Fiesta. Touring Car mechanic Darryl Taplin's intended move up to Class B in his new two-litre Fiesta didn't come to fruition after engine trouble in pre-event testing. Stephen Primett rocketed to the Class C pole position and first race victory at Oulton Park before an uncharacteristic spin for the Mk1 Escort meant he was matched for class wins in 2025 by Dave Barrett’s ever-present Fiesta, with the pair gunning for honours again at Mallory Park. Gary Littlewood made his seasonal debut with his quick 1600cc Fiesta and he would aim to get among Primett and Barrett at the pointy end of the class. 2024 overall podium finisher Lloyd Jamieson is accustomed to much more powerful machinery but he would make his Class C debut in a Mk2 Fiesta XR2, the Scot's CVH-powered XR Challenge car will take some adjusting to from his four-wheel-drive Escort Maxi Cosworth powerhouse.
Qualifying
Group One (Classes SA/A/SB/B+): The Class SB RSR of Lea Wood secured the likely pole position by a slim 0.079 seconds from the similar car of Tom Ovenden with his final lap of the session. Wood had set the early pace until Ovenden went to the top of the times just after the halfway mark. The Kent youngster moved the goalposts again two laps later but the ex-BTCC man stole the pole with his last effort as the session end neared. Paul Nevill's RS2000 was fastest of the Class B+ cars in third, with David Matthias' borrowed Class A-topping Sapphire Cosworth 0.471 seconds slower in fourth. Fifth-fastest Todd Garner was second of the Class B+ contenders with his Fiesta and was 0.351 seconds up on the third-placed Class B+ Mk2 Cortina of circuit newcomer Josh Payton in sixth overall. Daz and James Owen swapped cars on the day, with the teenager taking over his father's RSR and the circuit racing novice qualified the car third of the Class SB cars in seventh but a clutch problem reared its head during the fifteen minutes. Robert Lewis just pipped his B+ classmate Iain Blackley by 0.078 seconds with his Ecoboost Focus but the Scotsman's Puma Turbo was in the wars with a broken clutch. Mat Brennan's Vauxhall-engined Mk2 Escort from Class SB was the last car in the top ten of the opening group, whilst racing returnee Jon Farazmand's Class SA RSR Turbo completed the eleven cars in the session but the overall grid positions for Race One would only become clear once Group Two had qualified.
Group One qualifying results: click here
Group One (Classes SA/A/SB/B+): The Class SB RSR of Lea Wood secured the likely pole position by a slim 0.079 seconds from the similar car of Tom Ovenden with his final lap of the session. Wood had set the early pace until Ovenden went to the top of the times just after the halfway mark. The Kent youngster moved the goalposts again two laps later but the ex-BTCC man stole the pole with his last effort as the session end neared. Paul Nevill's RS2000 was fastest of the Class B+ cars in third, with David Matthias' borrowed Class A-topping Sapphire Cosworth 0.471 seconds slower in fourth. Fifth-fastest Todd Garner was second of the Class B+ contenders with his Fiesta and was 0.351 seconds up on the third-placed Class B+ Mk2 Cortina of circuit newcomer Josh Payton in sixth overall. Daz and James Owen swapped cars on the day, with the teenager taking over his father's RSR and the circuit racing novice qualified the car third of the Class SB cars in seventh but a clutch problem reared its head during the fifteen minutes. Robert Lewis just pipped his B+ classmate Iain Blackley by 0.078 seconds with his Ecoboost Focus but the Scotsman's Puma Turbo was in the wars with a broken clutch. Mat Brennan's Vauxhall-engined Mk2 Escort from Class SB was the last car in the top ten of the opening group, whilst racing returnee Jon Farazmand's Class SA RSR Turbo completed the eleven cars in the session but the overall grid positions for Race One would only become clear once Group Two had qualified.
Group One qualifying results: click here
Group Two (Classes B/C): There was a delayed start to Group Two’s qualifying session after a serious incident in the preceding session. The fifteen minutes would contain the cars from classes B and C, plus the shared Class SA RSR of Warren Farazmand. Mike Thurley was the first to set a meaningful laptime with his Castrol-liveried Mk1 Escort but that time was soon beaten by Farazmand's RSR. The Class SA car's time at the top lasted barely forty seconds before Tyler England's Fiesta replaced it at the top of the classification but Thurley wasn't done yet and was back on top a couple of minutes later to lead the way just after the halfway point. The Escort improved further two laps later but England ultimately set a time that wouldn't be beaten in the dying minutes. Thurley was 0.299 seconds down on his fellow Class B competitor in second and Oulton Park class poleman Oliver Bullion was third fastest with his Fiesta, 1.210 seconds off the Escort. Farazmand's RSR was fourth fastest by a narrow 0.146 seconds from Wayne Crabtree's Class B Mk1 Escort. Gary Johnson's Mk1 Escort was sporting a new front splitter this weekend and the bronze machine went round in the sixth quickest time. Daz Owen wasn't far behind with the Mk2 Escort originally down for his son James to drive and the Midlander was only 0.128 seconds from the Mk1 ahead. The other Class A entry of Colin Claxton was in this group and the turbocharged Mk1 Escort set the eighth-best time, whilst Class C pacesetter Stephen Primett was just 0.125 seconds slower with his 1600cc BDA Mk1 Escort in ninth. Jason Stone's third new engine helped him to sixth fastest in Class B and he rounded out the top ten, whilst Dave Barrett was within a second of Primett in eleventh as the Fiesta set the second swiftest time of the Class C cars. One of the favourites for Class B honours had a disastrous session as Chris Baker's crank pulley came off the Mk3 Escort's newly rebuilt engine. When replacement parts were fitted in the paddock, the oil pressure was showing to be low and the motor didn’t sound happy so Baker pulled out. Also departing after qualifying would be Tony Paxman's Mk1 Escort after it sheared a stub axle, Paxman had been due to share the car with Malcolm Harding but a problem with the latter's crash helmet put the kibosh on that plan. Martin Reynolds pulled out after completing a limited number of laps when a propshaft vibration on his Mk1 Escort manifested itself. Lloyd Jamieson had a trying morning after his Class C Fiesta was pulled at scrutineering for having a counterfeit seatbelt harness fitted that he'd bought in good faith on eBay. The Scot sourced replacement belts from the Owen team so the XR2 could take part in the session but the car was running too rich and vibrating badly courtesy of a buckled wheel.
Group Two qualifying results: click here
Group Two qualifying results: click here
Combined Times: The amalgamation of the fastest times from each qualifying session formed the grid for the weekend's opening race. The top six cars from Group One filled the first three rows on the grid and the next six cars all came from Group Two, with the fastest Class SB car of Lea Wood taking the overall pole and Class B+ fastest man Paul Nevill headed row two from the quickest Class A car of David Matthias. The top six on the grid was completed by the Class B+ cars of Todd Garner and Josh Payton. Tyler England topped Class B in seventh overall and was joined by classmate Mike Thurley on row four, with Daz Owen and Oliver Bullion shoring up the top ten. Warren Farazmand was to take the start of Race One aboard the Class SA RSR he shared with his father and would do so from the inside of the sixth row, whilst the Class C-leading Mk1 Escort of Stephen Primett started from seventeenth and was a row ahead of class rival Dave Barrett.
Race One grid: click here
Race One: The opening race on Saturday afternoon would unfortunately count for nothing after an enormous accident befell Todd Garner at the end of lap two. The Fiesta was spat from the tussle behind the third-placed David Matthias at the exit of Devils Elbow after Garner ran a little wide thinking Josh Payton's Cortina was on the inside of him, the back stepped out on the marbles before the car flicked the other way across the gravel trap and Garner clattered heavily into the tyre wall. The car then cartwheeled through the air but the rollcage did what it was designed to do and protected Garner admirably, with the shaken driver able to step out of the badly damaged car unaided after landing the right way up. The race was immediately stopped and not restarted due to the significant barrier damage. A number of cars were peppered with flying gravel as they passed the scene, with Payton’s Cortina windscreen demolished along with Mike Thurley's on his Escort. Tyler England also suffered a badly chipped windscreen on his Fiesta, as did Wayne Crabtree's Mk1 Escort too, but Warren Farazmand's RSR suffered most from the flying debris and came back to the paddock on the end of a tow rope with a holed intercooler plus a stone had fired off the kill switch. The RSR was also another with windscreen damage and the formerly immaculate RSR’s paintwork was considerably pebbledashed. Farazmand had gone well from the start after he went between Crabtree and Daz Owen as the race got underway before demoting Oliver Bullion exiting Gerards. England's Fiesta was soon despatched down the inside into the Esses and Thurley quickly followed at the hairpin and he was in the thick of the large gaggle behind Matthias that also contained the Class B+ and Class B lead fights. The result was declared after one lap on the timing system but no awards were to be handed out after the series' organising commitee decided against counting it as a race. For the record, Tom Ovenden had taken the lead from polesitter Lea Wood down to Gerards for the first time and the pair looked set for a close race as they scampered away from the field together.
Race One results: click here
Race One grid: click here
Race One: The opening race on Saturday afternoon would unfortunately count for nothing after an enormous accident befell Todd Garner at the end of lap two. The Fiesta was spat from the tussle behind the third-placed David Matthias at the exit of Devils Elbow after Garner ran a little wide thinking Josh Payton's Cortina was on the inside of him, the back stepped out on the marbles before the car flicked the other way across the gravel trap and Garner clattered heavily into the tyre wall. The car then cartwheeled through the air but the rollcage did what it was designed to do and protected Garner admirably, with the shaken driver able to step out of the badly damaged car unaided after landing the right way up. The race was immediately stopped and not restarted due to the significant barrier damage. A number of cars were peppered with flying gravel as they passed the scene, with Payton’s Cortina windscreen demolished along with Mike Thurley's on his Escort. Tyler England also suffered a badly chipped windscreen on his Fiesta, as did Wayne Crabtree's Mk1 Escort too, but Warren Farazmand's RSR suffered most from the flying debris and came back to the paddock on the end of a tow rope with a holed intercooler plus a stone had fired off the kill switch. The RSR was also another with windscreen damage and the formerly immaculate RSR’s paintwork was considerably pebbledashed. Farazmand had gone well from the start after he went between Crabtree and Daz Owen as the race got underway before demoting Oliver Bullion exiting Gerards. England's Fiesta was soon despatched down the inside into the Esses and Thurley quickly followed at the hairpin and he was in the thick of the large gaggle behind Matthias that also contained the Class B+ and Class B lead fights. The result was declared after one lap on the timing system but no awards were to be handed out after the series' organising commitee decided against counting it as a race. For the record, Tom Ovenden had taken the lead from polesitter Lea Wood down to Gerards for the first time and the pair looked set for a close race as they scampered away from the field together.
Race One results: click here
Race Two: The second outing for the Modified Fords was scheduled to take place towards the end of Saturday's track action but the damage to the barriers after Todd Garner’s incident forced a rejig to the timetable that saw the second outing for the series moved to mid-Sunday morning. The fastest lap times from the first bout would sort the start order for Race Two, irrespective of finishing the opener. A driver would only start from the rear of the field if they failed to set a lap time during the preceding encounter. The process would be repeated for the following pair of races on Sunday. The top two switched sides of the grid from where they had started the aborted Race One, with Tom Ovenden going from pole position and Lea Wood went from his outside aboard their RSRs. Paul Nevill headed row two with his Class B+ RS2000 from David Matthias' Class A Sapphire, whilst the Cortina of Josh Payton had the leading Class B Mk1 Escort of Mike Thurley beside it. Payton's 'Avin the Crack' team had sourced and replaced the saloon's windscreen along with Thurley's overnight. An all-Class B fourth row was to be led away by top qualifier Tyler England and Wayne Crabtree, whilst Robert Lewis and Jason Stone completed the top ten starters after Oliver Bullion withdrew and Jon Farazmand was due to take over the shared RSR from his son Warren before the car was damaged on Saturday. The poleman led away at the rolling start as the two Class SB RSRs raced clear but Ovenden couldn't escape from Wood, who took the lead in traffic at the five-minute mark on the Stebbe Straight after driving around the outside of Gerards to get a run on Ovenden. However, the section was under the control of yellow flags for a stranded car and the move would cost Wood a five place grid drop in the following race. Wood built a two-second gap from Ovenden after the red RSR was held up at Gerards but the second-placed car soon closed back in, setting a up move around the outside of the hairpin to take the lead through Devils Elbow with a little under five minutes to go. Ovenden lapped up to fifth place to win by an inflated 27.914 seconds after Wood fell back when his Duratec engine started to miss while cornering, which fortunately turned out to be low fuel. Josh Payton took the Class B+ lead on lap three at the hairpin and chased down the Class A car of David Matthias, the Cortina harried Matthias for a good few laps before taking third down to the Esses when the Sapphire started to cough inside the final three minutes with decreasing fuel pressure. The early Class B+ leader Paul Nevill almost caught Matthias on the line too after the Cosworth's fuel tank came close to running dry. As well as the Class B+ lead changing on lap three, so too did the Class B top order as initial leader Mike Thurley was passed by Tyler England on the inside under braking for the hairpin, the Fiesta racing with a taped up windscreen and England driving with his visor down. The Fiesta pulled away to begin with but the Zakspeed Mk1 came back at England in the later stages and was a slender 0.790 seconds behind at the flag. Wayne Crabtree had made a great start and was level-pegging with Thurley down to Gerards for the class lead but he was escorted wide by the similar Mk1 and slipped behind England to third, where he stayed. Robert Lewis had an early battle with Crabtree on his way to ninth and third in Class B+ but was forced to perform a driveshaft change post-race, an over-tightened clip on the CV boot had caused the grease to come out. Stephen Primett led Class C throughout but he was struggling at the hairpin after an alternator wire came loose and cost the BDA some revs. Primett had a race-long dice with Gary Johnson’s Class B Mk1 Escort, Johnson had started the curtailed Race One from the back after a flat battery brought on by a failed alternator caused a panic in the build up and the bronze machine pipped the Class C winner for a top ten finish after diving ahead into Gerards. Class C runner up Dave Barrett finished 23.532 seconds behind the victorious Escort and led home Gary Littlewood's later Fiesta in third, which crossed the line another 13.659 seconds adrift of Barrett. Iain Blackley and James Owen were able to rejoin proceedings after repairing their clutch issues and joined Daz Owen and Martin Reynolds' Mk2 Escorts from the back of the grid. The youngster climbed the highest to take third in Class SB in twelfth, with Blackley's Puma taking fourteenth. Reynolds had used the Mk2 Escort in the previous day's CMMCS Super Saloon races but would have an alarming retirement when a sheared bolt in the steering sent him straight on at Gerards for the fourth time after reaching twelfth but luckily he didn’t hit anything. After planning to miss the Saturday races due to competing in the same CMMCS races as Reynolds, Colin Claxton would also miss the Sunday outings after a clutch issue hobbled the Mk1 Escort Turbo. Daz Owen's Mk2 Escort exited the fray after its brake pedal went long and he wasn't sure if he would start Race Three if some pedal pressure couldn't be restored. Lloyd Jamieson’s Fiesta had been improved overnight but the Scotsman decided to call it a day after the car proved to be a step too far from the pace.
Race Two results: click here
Race Two results: click here
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Race Three: The third fifteen-minute stanza took place on Sunday afternoon. Earlier winner Tom Ovenden started his RSR from pole courtesy of the race's fastest lap, with Class A leading light David Matthias alongside after Lea Wood was pushed back five places to seventh. An exclusively Class B+ second row hosted Josh Payton's Mk2 Cortina and Paul Nevill's RS2000, whilst the Class B monopoly on row three saw Tyler England and Mike Thurley start together. The penalised Wood was next up and the RSR was joined on fourth row by Wayne Crabtree's Mk1 Escort. James Owen's RSR earned a top ten starting position as its pace grew along with the youngster's experience and the Robert Lewis Focus shored up the top ten. Stephen Primett started as the top Class C car in fifteenth, two spots ahead of nearest rival Dave Barrett. Tom Ovenden made hay whilst Lea Wood worked his way through the pack and led comfortably until the penultimate lap when his exhaust manifold gave up to hand the win to Wood’s similar car. Wood ended lap one in fifth and lunged past Paul Nevill into Gerards for fourth place on lap two before brushing aside Josh Payton later in the lap at the Esses to go third. David Matthias also fell victim to the RSR at the Esses on lap three, with the Class B+ leading Cortina also passing the Sapphire at the end of the lap around the outside of Devils Elbow. Ovenden's demise promoted Payton to second overall and the Class B+ winner crossed the line 20.706 seconds down on the triumphant Wood. Nevill fought back to third overall after an airborne moment on the grass at Gerards on lap three, the Class B+ runner up having entered the sweep too hot when he missed his braking point. There was a great early scrap in Class B as Mike Thurley narrowly led from Wayne Crabtree and Tyler England. Crabtree had taken the long way around the first corner to grab second from England at the start but the Fiesta found a lot of grip on the outside of Gerards to reclaim second on lap four, with the recovering Nevill also taking the Mk1 Escort before the end of the lap. England tried a repeat of his Crabtree move on Thurley for the class lead next time around but Nevill had a run on the pair of them and the RS2000 took two places in one go into the Esses. England made another attempt on the following lap before finally making a move stick at the Shaws Hairpin to claim the class win in fourth overall. The Sapphire Cosworth of Matthias ran in an early second place but eventually fell to fifth behind Nevill and Class B victor England after a vibration became apparent on the nearside. Class B runner up Thurley held off third-placed Crabtree by just over half a second in sixth and seventh overall, whilst James Owen took second in Class SB with eighth after battling to the head of a long line of cars after starting from the back of the field. Jason Stone was pleased to record another finish in ninth with his Mk2 Escort from Class B after breaking away from the third Class B+ car of Iain Blackley in tenth. Stephen Primett wrapped up his second Class C win of the day after being involved in a big early scrap that was led by Stone's Escort plus Blackley, Gary Johnson and both Owens. Daz Owen ultimately wouldn't see the finish line after a gearbox issue struck his Mk2 Escort. Dave Barrett comfortably finished second in Class C with his Fiesta once he’d pulled away from Gary Littlewood, who had a power steering fluid leak. Mat Brennan secured third in Class SB with his Mk2 Escort. In addition to Ovenden and Owen, Robert Lewis was the only other non-classified finisher after he felt a vibration in the drivetrain on the nearside front but it turned out that his replacement driveshaft had failed so more surgery was required before the final race of the weekend.
Race Three results: click here
Race Three results: click here
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Race Four: The curtain was brought down on the weekend’s activities with the fourth and final fling late on Sunday afternoon. A slightly depleted field of fourteen surviving cars took to the track after Tom Ovenden and David Matthias packed up after Race Three, as did the overall winner Lea Wood. With three of the top four cars on the grid sheet non-starting, the grid took on a somewhat disjointed look. Third on the grid Josh Payton effectively became the polesitter, with Paul Nevill at the wheel of the second car and he would line up directly behind the Cortina. Tyler England's Class B Fiesta formed up beside the RS2000 on what was now the second row, his Race Three competitors Mike Thurley and Wayne Crabtree formed the following row. The RSR of young James Owen and Jason Stone's Mk2 Escort were next up before another gap appeared beside Iain Blackley's Puma on the official sixth row, with Daz Owen's gearbox trouble keeping his Mk2 Escort out of the race but another driveshaft change for Robert Lewis' Focus was successfully completed prior to the race and he would go from the back. The leader from the start Josh Payton lost a certain win when he pulled out after eight minutes with a fuel pump issue for the rasping Cortina, having opened up a lead of over four seconds. Paul Nevill in second had been put under huge pressure all race by the Class B Fiesta of Tyler England, with the Class B+ RS2000's extra straightline speed repelling the Fiesta's regular advances out of Gerards. As Nevill's wilting tyres gave the series head an increasing dose of understeer, England grabbed the lead at the Esses with four minutes to run and James Owen took away second up to Shaws Hairpin with three minutes remaining. A charging Owen latched onto the tail of England in the closing laps and had a look at the inside down to Gerards for the final time but England held on to claim a richly-deserved maiden overall victory by 0.234 seconds. Teenager Owen had to be content with being a hugely impressive runner up but he did set the fastest lap in his pursuit of the triumphant Fiesta. Owen had passed Crabtree around the outside of Gerards on lap two and also passed Thurley at the end of the lap down the pit straight. The youngster then settled into fourth place but when the leading Cortina went out and the lead pair started slowing each other down so the RSR reeled them in. Owen was almost there when England took the lead and it didn't take the RSR long to close in once up to second. Nevill fought severe understeer as his tyres faded but still claimed the Class B+ spoils in third overall. The closely matched Mk1 Escorts of Mike Thurley and Wayne Crabtree completed the Class B top three once more in fourth and fifth overall, with Thurley having the upper hand by 2.426 seconds this time. Robert Lewis made many moves down to the Esses to secure second in Class B+ from the back of the grid and the Focus just beat Jason Stone’s Mk2 Escort to the line by less than a quarter of a second for sixth place after a late battle. The charge started by taking Mike McKenzie's Fiesta on the outside into Gerards for the first time before continuing on the wide line to pass Dave Barrett's Class C Fiesta at the exit. Mat Brennan's Mk2 Escort was the next prize to be claimed on the run up to the hairpin but on lap three the Focus locked up and tagged the rear of Gary Johnson's Mk1 Escort into the hairpin. Lewis had slipped behind Barrett again in the aftermath but powered past the Fiesta starting the fifth lap after some early engine temperature worries had eased and caught the tussling Iain Blackley and Johnson again. Lewis dived past the turbocharged Puma into the Esses on lap seven before bagging Johnson's Mk1 at the same spot a lap later. The Class C leader Stephen Primett fell victim to the Focus into Gerards for the eleventh time before starting his late contest against Stone with his favoured Esses move on lap fourteen. Stone had been at the head of a six-car train in the early stages before the pack split up a little as the race wore on and Lewis navigated through them all. Primett in eighth completed the set of Class C wins from Barrett, who were the only starters in the split. The third Class B+ car of Blackley and the Mk1 Escort of Johnson completed the top ten as Barrett was the final finisher but he was less than a second from the Class B car ahead. In addition to Payton's frustrating exit, two more competitors wouldn't reach the end as Brennan's Class SB Mk2 Escort had a suspected wheel bearing let go and McKenzie's Class B Fiesta had its left-front tyre blow out comprehensively.
Race Four results: click here
Scalextric 'Driver of the Day': The award was a two-pronged prize this weekend as sixteen-year-old James Owen took the driver award for his outstanding debut weekend, whilst the 'Avin the Crack' squad also took a team prize for collecting and fitting windscreens for those affected by the Race One incident.
Race Four results: click here
Scalextric 'Driver of the Day': The award was a two-pronged prize this weekend as sixteen-year-old James Owen took the driver award for his outstanding debut weekend, whilst the 'Avin the Crack' squad also took a team prize for collecting and fitting windscreens for those affected by the Race One incident.
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The ’away’ weekend for the Modified Ford Series is next on the schedule, with a visit to Mondello Park in the Republic of Ireland for a trio of races over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of June.