Modified Ford Series Season Review 2023
The Modified Ford Series came into 2023 aiming to build on the success of the first two full seasons of racing with even bigger grids and visits to new venues, including a trip into Europe to the magnificent Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. A revision to the class structure saw the 4x4 cars moved into Class SA and the 1.6 Ecoboost-powered cars placed into Class B+. The freedom in the rules meant that as long as the car was manufactured before 2013 then a home could be found for it.
Silverstone GP 18th March 2023 - Meeting sponsored by Crossways Garage (Bromley) Ltd
The first races of the year took place on the Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone in March. Simon Light marked his debut on the Grand Prix layout with pole position aboard his 5-litre Capri, 2.193 seconds clear of Steve Scott-Dunwoodie's rapid RS500 Sierra. Scott-Dunwoodie leapt into the lead at the start from a fast-starting Kester Cook, polesitter Light and debutant Josh Payton. Rory Jose had also got away well and breezed past Payton down the Hangar Straight. However, the Focus slewed very wide at Stowe before spearing across the circuit and tearing off a wheel against the tyres but Jose was able to jump out unharmed. Light was up to second by the end of lap one and soon reeled in the leading Sierra, the Capri momentarily took the lead as they started lap three but Scott-Dunwoodie fought back at Copse. Their scrapping had brought James Allen onto their tails and the Focus got ahead of the Capri heading down the Wellington Straight before lunging past Scott-Dunwoodie into Brooklands from a long way back to take the lead. Light also passed the RS500 through Woodcote as they completed the third tour and wouldn't let the leading Focus escape. After harassing Allen for a couple of laps, Light made his decisive move for the lead through Woodcote with six minutes to go and escaped to a 12.281-second victory from Allen's Class A-winning car. Lloyd Jamieson took third on his Escort Maxi Cosworth 4x4's debut. Laki Christoforou topped Class B+ in seventh, Harry Hardy's Puma won Class B with fourteenth, Gary Littlewood headed Class C in twentieth and Mat Brennan was the sole Class SB finisher in 35th. A passing shower had left a wet surface for Race Two and the field would be without opening race victor Light. A Safety Car start was deemed necessary and Allen headed the queue after Light's no-show. The Focus stayed out front during the nine minutes of green flag running to record a 1.589-second winning margin from Class B+ winner Kester Cook, who recorded the fastest lap last time around to close the gap. The Fiesta had passed Scott-Dunwoodie and Jamieson in the early stages before gaining second when the Mk2 Escort Turbo of Craig Rainer toured into retirement after challenging Allen for the race lead. Josh Payton took a fantastic third on his maiden race weekend, the Bristolian's Cortina had moved into second on lap three before Cook dived back ahead on the final lap. Aaron Lali's Fiesta took the Class B win in ninth, Gary Littlewood withstood a last-lap challenge from Alex Boam to take a Class C double, Piers Warwick's Mk1 Escort Turbo took the Class SA spoils and the Mk2 Escort of Mat Brennan again won Class SB.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
The first races of the year took place on the Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone in March. Simon Light marked his debut on the Grand Prix layout with pole position aboard his 5-litre Capri, 2.193 seconds clear of Steve Scott-Dunwoodie's rapid RS500 Sierra. Scott-Dunwoodie leapt into the lead at the start from a fast-starting Kester Cook, polesitter Light and debutant Josh Payton. Rory Jose had also got away well and breezed past Payton down the Hangar Straight. However, the Focus slewed very wide at Stowe before spearing across the circuit and tearing off a wheel against the tyres but Jose was able to jump out unharmed. Light was up to second by the end of lap one and soon reeled in the leading Sierra, the Capri momentarily took the lead as they started lap three but Scott-Dunwoodie fought back at Copse. Their scrapping had brought James Allen onto their tails and the Focus got ahead of the Capri heading down the Wellington Straight before lunging past Scott-Dunwoodie into Brooklands from a long way back to take the lead. Light also passed the RS500 through Woodcote as they completed the third tour and wouldn't let the leading Focus escape. After harassing Allen for a couple of laps, Light made his decisive move for the lead through Woodcote with six minutes to go and escaped to a 12.281-second victory from Allen's Class A-winning car. Lloyd Jamieson took third on his Escort Maxi Cosworth 4x4's debut. Laki Christoforou topped Class B+ in seventh, Harry Hardy's Puma won Class B with fourteenth, Gary Littlewood headed Class C in twentieth and Mat Brennan was the sole Class SB finisher in 35th. A passing shower had left a wet surface for Race Two and the field would be without opening race victor Light. A Safety Car start was deemed necessary and Allen headed the queue after Light's no-show. The Focus stayed out front during the nine minutes of green flag running to record a 1.589-second winning margin from Class B+ winner Kester Cook, who recorded the fastest lap last time around to close the gap. The Fiesta had passed Scott-Dunwoodie and Jamieson in the early stages before gaining second when the Mk2 Escort Turbo of Craig Rainer toured into retirement after challenging Allen for the race lead. Josh Payton took a fantastic third on his maiden race weekend, the Bristolian's Cortina had moved into second on lap three before Cook dived back ahead on the final lap. Aaron Lali's Fiesta took the Class B win in ninth, Gary Littlewood withstood a last-lap challenge from Alex Boam to take a Class C double, Piers Warwick's Mk1 Escort Turbo took the Class SA spoils and the Mk2 Escort of Mat Brennan again won Class SB.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
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Snetterton 8th/9th April 2023 - Meeting sponsored by Simpson Race Exhausts
Easter weekend saw the series supporting TCR UK’s season opener at Snetterton. James Allen's Focus RS grabbed pole position with his last lap of the session to topple Steve Scott-Dunwoodie's flame-spitting Sierra RS500 by just 0.175 seconds. Scott-Dunwoodie powered into the lead at the start of Race One from Allen but only briefly as the Focus looped into a spin on cold tyres at Riches. Unfortunately, Paul Nevill's RS2000 collided with the rotating Allen and Mike Thurley's Mk1 Escort was also involved as the race was brought to a halt. The restart would be held over twelve minutes and Scott-Dunwoodie again hit the front at the start from David Matthias and Neil Jessop. The two Cosworths remained at the head of the field thereafter, with Scott-Dunwoodie's Class A RS500 besting Matthias' Sapphire by 4.263 seconds. Josh Payton took his second podium finish in third and took the Class B+ win too, whilst initial third place runner Jessop faded to sixth with a misfire aboard his Mk2 Escort but still took the Class B win. Lloyd Jamieson secured the Class SA honours in fifth and Alex Boam triumphed in Class C despite a spin on spilt coolant. Scott-Dunwoodie led Race Two all the way until the last lap when the RS500 went out smokily to hand the win to Matthias' Sapphire from Payton's Class B+ Mk2 Cortina in a best-ever second by 1.312 seconds. James Allen stole third from Class SA winner Jamieson on the run to the line after starting from 26th but the story of the race surely belonged to Jack Gadd. The Mk1 Escort RSR had missed the opening race whilst a qualifying misfire was traced and would start from 28th. Gadd made up 21 places to be sat in seventh at the completion of lap one and was closing in on leader Scott-Dunwoodie when a fourth-lap spin at Riches dropped him from second back to seventh. The Millington-powered RSR was quickly back into fourth and was going after the top three once more when a penultimate lap puncture put the car out. Jessop came home fifth for his second Class B win of the weekend and came out on top of a race-long duel with the larger-engined Mk2 Escort of Martin Reynolds. Class C again went to Alex Boam whilst several lower-placed starters came through to top-ten finishes. As well as Allen in third, Neil Argrave took seventh in his Mk2 Escort, Olly Allen's Fiesta came home in ninth and Mike Thurley's Mk1 Escort completed the top ten.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
Easter weekend saw the series supporting TCR UK’s season opener at Snetterton. James Allen's Focus RS grabbed pole position with his last lap of the session to topple Steve Scott-Dunwoodie's flame-spitting Sierra RS500 by just 0.175 seconds. Scott-Dunwoodie powered into the lead at the start of Race One from Allen but only briefly as the Focus looped into a spin on cold tyres at Riches. Unfortunately, Paul Nevill's RS2000 collided with the rotating Allen and Mike Thurley's Mk1 Escort was also involved as the race was brought to a halt. The restart would be held over twelve minutes and Scott-Dunwoodie again hit the front at the start from David Matthias and Neil Jessop. The two Cosworths remained at the head of the field thereafter, with Scott-Dunwoodie's Class A RS500 besting Matthias' Sapphire by 4.263 seconds. Josh Payton took his second podium finish in third and took the Class B+ win too, whilst initial third place runner Jessop faded to sixth with a misfire aboard his Mk2 Escort but still took the Class B win. Lloyd Jamieson secured the Class SA honours in fifth and Alex Boam triumphed in Class C despite a spin on spilt coolant. Scott-Dunwoodie led Race Two all the way until the last lap when the RS500 went out smokily to hand the win to Matthias' Sapphire from Payton's Class B+ Mk2 Cortina in a best-ever second by 1.312 seconds. James Allen stole third from Class SA winner Jamieson on the run to the line after starting from 26th but the story of the race surely belonged to Jack Gadd. The Mk1 Escort RSR had missed the opening race whilst a qualifying misfire was traced and would start from 28th. Gadd made up 21 places to be sat in seventh at the completion of lap one and was closing in on leader Scott-Dunwoodie when a fourth-lap spin at Riches dropped him from second back to seventh. The Millington-powered RSR was quickly back into fourth and was going after the top three once more when a penultimate lap puncture put the car out. Jessop came home fifth for his second Class B win of the weekend and came out on top of a race-long duel with the larger-engined Mk2 Escort of Martin Reynolds. Class C again went to Alex Boam whilst several lower-placed starters came through to top-ten finishes. As well as Allen in third, Neil Argrave took seventh in his Mk2 Escort, Olly Allen's Fiesta came home in ninth and Mike Thurley's Mk1 Escort completed the top ten.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
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Brands Hatch GP 30th April 2023 - Meeting sponsored by James Allen Interiors
A huge turnout of competitors headed to Kent for the next event on the superb Grand Prix layout at Brands Hatch. The entry lost Adrian Hall's wild turbocharged Honda-powered Mk2 Escort after its diff expired before qualifying so 45 cars set a time, James Allen bested Simon Light's V8 Capri to snare his second pole position of 2023 by 0.196 seconds. Light's Capri made the early running in Race One until poleman Allen dived ahead into Clearways at the end of lap two. The Focus immediately started to open a gap but would soon be forced into retirement with a suspension issue on lap four which left Light clearly in front of Rod Birley's Escort WRC. Birley started to steadily bring the gap down to the leading Class SA car but would suddenly fall behind the duelling Malcolm Harding and Piers Grange Mk2 Escorts plus Kester Cook's Fiesta on lap seven. An early chequered flag was shown with Lloyd Jamieson's Escort Maxi Cosworth stranded in the gravel at Stirlings, which rewarded Light with a 7.120-second victory from the Class B+ victor Harding and his battle partner Grange. Cook held off Birley to the end for fourth despite a large power deficit. Neil Jessop took a lonely Class B win with eighth and Class C went to Nick Proudlock in fifteenth. Once Light had seen off the early attention of Harding's Escort in Race Two on the opening lap, the Capri V8 was able to open a few seconds' advantage as the twenty minutes wore on. Harding didn't let Light completely disappear over the horizon and held a couple of seconds' margin from Grange in third, who had got ahead of Cook's Fiesta for the place on lap two. As the race entered its final quarter, Grange started to come back at Harding and the Castrol Escort went out smokily on the penultimate tour. At the head of the field, Light had begun to struggle with a misfire on left-handers and Grange was now taking chunks out of the coupe's lead. As they exited Stirlings for the final time, the Capri spluttered once more and Grange steamed ahead towards Clearways. Light's V8 picked up again as Grange passed and was right on the Class B+ Escort's tail as they took the flag separated by just 0.147 seconds. Cook took a great third after fending off Birley's Escort WRC for a large chunk of the race until Birley retired late on. The Class B-winning Mk2 Escort of Jessop took fourth, whilst Proudlock took his second Class C win of the day in eleventh. Two noteworthy charges into the top ten came from James Allen and Paul Nevill, the former had reached seventh overall from 36th inside five laps before retiring with a repeat of his Race One suspension woes and his fellow eighteenth-row starter Nevill came through to finish tenth in his RS2000.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
A huge turnout of competitors headed to Kent for the next event on the superb Grand Prix layout at Brands Hatch. The entry lost Adrian Hall's wild turbocharged Honda-powered Mk2 Escort after its diff expired before qualifying so 45 cars set a time, James Allen bested Simon Light's V8 Capri to snare his second pole position of 2023 by 0.196 seconds. Light's Capri made the early running in Race One until poleman Allen dived ahead into Clearways at the end of lap two. The Focus immediately started to open a gap but would soon be forced into retirement with a suspension issue on lap four which left Light clearly in front of Rod Birley's Escort WRC. Birley started to steadily bring the gap down to the leading Class SA car but would suddenly fall behind the duelling Malcolm Harding and Piers Grange Mk2 Escorts plus Kester Cook's Fiesta on lap seven. An early chequered flag was shown with Lloyd Jamieson's Escort Maxi Cosworth stranded in the gravel at Stirlings, which rewarded Light with a 7.120-second victory from the Class B+ victor Harding and his battle partner Grange. Cook held off Birley to the end for fourth despite a large power deficit. Neil Jessop took a lonely Class B win with eighth and Class C went to Nick Proudlock in fifteenth. Once Light had seen off the early attention of Harding's Escort in Race Two on the opening lap, the Capri V8 was able to open a few seconds' advantage as the twenty minutes wore on. Harding didn't let Light completely disappear over the horizon and held a couple of seconds' margin from Grange in third, who had got ahead of Cook's Fiesta for the place on lap two. As the race entered its final quarter, Grange started to come back at Harding and the Castrol Escort went out smokily on the penultimate tour. At the head of the field, Light had begun to struggle with a misfire on left-handers and Grange was now taking chunks out of the coupe's lead. As they exited Stirlings for the final time, the Capri spluttered once more and Grange steamed ahead towards Clearways. Light's V8 picked up again as Grange passed and was right on the Class B+ Escort's tail as they took the flag separated by just 0.147 seconds. Cook took a great third after fending off Birley's Escort WRC for a large chunk of the race until Birley retired late on. The Class B-winning Mk2 Escort of Jessop took fourth, whilst Proudlock took his second Class C win of the day in eleventh. Two noteworthy charges into the top ten came from James Allen and Paul Nevill, the former had reached seventh overall from 36th inside five laps before retiring with a repeat of his Race One suspension woes and his fellow eighteenth-row starter Nevill came through to finish tenth in his RS2000.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
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Spa-Francorchamps 2nd-4th June 2023 - Meeting sponsored by Scalextric
The series ventured into Europe for the first time with a weekend at the stunning Belgian Grand Prix track in early June. Dave Cockell's mighty Escort Cosworth sped round a massive 8.219 seconds faster than anyone to comfortably claim pole position, with James Allen joining the lightning-fast 4WD machine on the front row. Cockell blasted into the lead at the start of the first 30-minute race, whilst fellow front row man Allen lost out to Piers Grange, Laki Christoforou and Josh Payton at La Source. The Focus had retaken the Cortina down the hill to Eau Rouge before the former Time Attack machine drew alongside Grange's Escort up the Kemmel Straight but Allen was squeezed towards the grass. Grange then attempted to go up the inside of Christoforou for second at Les Combes but the move didn't pay off and Allen was able to nick third on the outside. When the Millington-powered Mk2 Escort ran wide at Bruxelles, Allen pounced to move into second. The Focus then reeled in Cockell up front when the Escort Cosworth's 2.2-litre engine started to lose water out of the cylinder head and the Midlander took the lead as they crossed the line to start lap two after a busy opening lap for Allen. Cockell didn't back down from the Focus and retook the lead at the top of Raidillon on lap three despite running reduced boost in an attempt to retain water. Allen's Focus took the lead again after diving inside at La Source for the fourth time. Grange had also joined them and had followed Allen past Cockell at La Source before holding his nerve at the bottom of Eau Rouge to take the lead. Cockell also drew alongside Allen up the Kemmel Straight but was held off. A few corners later, a slip from Grange at Pouhon allowed Allen to hit the front once more. The Mk2 Escort and Cockell would fall away from Allen over the following couple of laps before the Escort Cosworth got ahead of Grange into Eau Rouge on lap seven. Cockell was soon back with the leading Focus and grabbed the lead as they accelerated out of La Source for the ninth time, Allen's cause not helped by some rough gearchanges. Alas, the Focus would grind to a halt on lap ten after shedding an auxiliary belt as Cockell eased to victory by 26.311 seconds. Grange took Class B+ in second place but had continued to slip back towards Christoforou in third. The power steering-free Payton and Paul Nevill took fourth and fifth and had swapped places on lap five when Nevill locked up into Stavelot. In the classes, Tony Paxman's Mk1 Escort took Class B in sixth, Alex Boam sealed Class C in fifteenth and last classified finisher Mat Brennan wrapped up Class SB. Dutch entrant Marnix De Witt won the Invitation class with his SHP Wildcat 'Sierra'. Opening race victor Cockell withdrew before the second bout after his head gasket issue and had also discovered a chipped tooth on fourth gear. In theory that elevated Allen onto pole position after the qualifying order decided the Race Two grid also but he too wouldn't take the start so Grange had the front row to himself. The Mk2 Escort retained the lead into the La Source hairpin for the first time, whilst Payton drove around the outside of Christoforou for second. Nevill also got up the inside of the red Escort at the hairpin but would get little further as he toured down the hill into retirement. Christoforou's greater straightline speed took him back into second at Payton's expense as they climbed towards Les Combes on the opening lap. Payton would soon exit proceedings after a puncture deposited the Cortina in the Les Fagnes gravel. Grange ended the first tour with a bit over a second in hand from Christoforou but the silver Escort wouldn't make it past Les Combes on lap two to hand the lead to Christoforou. The Safety Car was required whilst the errant Mk2 was recovered and Christoforou headed David Guthrie's Fiesta, Paxman's Mk1 Escort and Sam Daffin's Fiesta in the queue at the restart. Daffin made short work of passing Paxman down the hill to Eau Rouge when the field got going again but the leading Escort and Guthrie had made a break ahead of them. The next time round, Guthrie's Fiesta lost pace on the Kemmel Straight and Daffin breezed past into second. Paxman was also quickly past Guthrie, whose straightline struggles continued on the next two laps as he fell behind Sean Reynolds and Marco Ricci's Fiesta ST240s to seventh. The Boamerang Fiesta's woes had given Christoforou a big lead but Daffin had his hands full with Paxman for second, the Escort all over the Fiesta out the back of the circuit. The battle would be neutralised when a second Safety Car intervention was called for when the Fiestas of Reynolds and Ricci clashed at the Bus Stop chicane on lap eight, which left Reynolds' car prostrate in the middle of the circuit with damaged steering. There would be no time for anymore racing laps so Christoforou bagged the win but there was still time for more drama at the chequered flag. With the Safety Car pulling off to allow the field to pass the chequer, an eager Paxman briefly got his nose ahead of Daffin for second as they headed towards the line and the Escort would be penalised five seconds consequently. Daffin and Guthrie completed an all-Class B+ podium as a result, with Paxman shuffled down to seventh on corrected time. The Mk1 Escort driver's penalty also cost him the Class B win as Oliver Bullion's Fiesta was classified fourth. Alex Boam completed a Class C double in eighth and Mat Brennan's Vauxhall-engined Mk2 Escort did likewise in Class SB.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
The series ventured into Europe for the first time with a weekend at the stunning Belgian Grand Prix track in early June. Dave Cockell's mighty Escort Cosworth sped round a massive 8.219 seconds faster than anyone to comfortably claim pole position, with James Allen joining the lightning-fast 4WD machine on the front row. Cockell blasted into the lead at the start of the first 30-minute race, whilst fellow front row man Allen lost out to Piers Grange, Laki Christoforou and Josh Payton at La Source. The Focus had retaken the Cortina down the hill to Eau Rouge before the former Time Attack machine drew alongside Grange's Escort up the Kemmel Straight but Allen was squeezed towards the grass. Grange then attempted to go up the inside of Christoforou for second at Les Combes but the move didn't pay off and Allen was able to nick third on the outside. When the Millington-powered Mk2 Escort ran wide at Bruxelles, Allen pounced to move into second. The Focus then reeled in Cockell up front when the Escort Cosworth's 2.2-litre engine started to lose water out of the cylinder head and the Midlander took the lead as they crossed the line to start lap two after a busy opening lap for Allen. Cockell didn't back down from the Focus and retook the lead at the top of Raidillon on lap three despite running reduced boost in an attempt to retain water. Allen's Focus took the lead again after diving inside at La Source for the fourth time. Grange had also joined them and had followed Allen past Cockell at La Source before holding his nerve at the bottom of Eau Rouge to take the lead. Cockell also drew alongside Allen up the Kemmel Straight but was held off. A few corners later, a slip from Grange at Pouhon allowed Allen to hit the front once more. The Mk2 Escort and Cockell would fall away from Allen over the following couple of laps before the Escort Cosworth got ahead of Grange into Eau Rouge on lap seven. Cockell was soon back with the leading Focus and grabbed the lead as they accelerated out of La Source for the ninth time, Allen's cause not helped by some rough gearchanges. Alas, the Focus would grind to a halt on lap ten after shedding an auxiliary belt as Cockell eased to victory by 26.311 seconds. Grange took Class B+ in second place but had continued to slip back towards Christoforou in third. The power steering-free Payton and Paul Nevill took fourth and fifth and had swapped places on lap five when Nevill locked up into Stavelot. In the classes, Tony Paxman's Mk1 Escort took Class B in sixth, Alex Boam sealed Class C in fifteenth and last classified finisher Mat Brennan wrapped up Class SB. Dutch entrant Marnix De Witt won the Invitation class with his SHP Wildcat 'Sierra'. Opening race victor Cockell withdrew before the second bout after his head gasket issue and had also discovered a chipped tooth on fourth gear. In theory that elevated Allen onto pole position after the qualifying order decided the Race Two grid also but he too wouldn't take the start so Grange had the front row to himself. The Mk2 Escort retained the lead into the La Source hairpin for the first time, whilst Payton drove around the outside of Christoforou for second. Nevill also got up the inside of the red Escort at the hairpin but would get little further as he toured down the hill into retirement. Christoforou's greater straightline speed took him back into second at Payton's expense as they climbed towards Les Combes on the opening lap. Payton would soon exit proceedings after a puncture deposited the Cortina in the Les Fagnes gravel. Grange ended the first tour with a bit over a second in hand from Christoforou but the silver Escort wouldn't make it past Les Combes on lap two to hand the lead to Christoforou. The Safety Car was required whilst the errant Mk2 was recovered and Christoforou headed David Guthrie's Fiesta, Paxman's Mk1 Escort and Sam Daffin's Fiesta in the queue at the restart. Daffin made short work of passing Paxman down the hill to Eau Rouge when the field got going again but the leading Escort and Guthrie had made a break ahead of them. The next time round, Guthrie's Fiesta lost pace on the Kemmel Straight and Daffin breezed past into second. Paxman was also quickly past Guthrie, whose straightline struggles continued on the next two laps as he fell behind Sean Reynolds and Marco Ricci's Fiesta ST240s to seventh. The Boamerang Fiesta's woes had given Christoforou a big lead but Daffin had his hands full with Paxman for second, the Escort all over the Fiesta out the back of the circuit. The battle would be neutralised when a second Safety Car intervention was called for when the Fiestas of Reynolds and Ricci clashed at the Bus Stop chicane on lap eight, which left Reynolds' car prostrate in the middle of the circuit with damaged steering. There would be no time for anymore racing laps so Christoforou bagged the win but there was still time for more drama at the chequered flag. With the Safety Car pulling off to allow the field to pass the chequer, an eager Paxman briefly got his nose ahead of Daffin for second as they headed towards the line and the Escort would be penalised five seconds consequently. Daffin and Guthrie completed an all-Class B+ podium as a result, with Paxman shuffled down to seventh on corrected time. The Mk1 Escort driver's penalty also cost him the Class B win as Oliver Bullion's Fiesta was classified fourth. Alex Boam completed a Class C double in eighth and Mat Brennan's Vauxhall-engined Mk2 Escort did likewise in Class SB.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
*Pic from Cadwell Park meeting in 2022
Anglesey 24th/25th June 2023 - Meeting sponsored by MTS Motorsport
The series returned to the UK from its Belgian trip with a visit to the picturesque Anglesey circuit on the Irish Sea coast. The fleet 2.6-litre Mk2 Escort of Piers Grange raced to pole position by 1.044 seconds from David Matthias' Sapphire Cosworth at the end of an interrupted qualifying session. The polesitting Class B+ Escort took the initiative into Target from the start of a sunny Race One and raced clear to a 3.570-second victory from Ashley Shelswell's V6 Sierra that won Class A, who had jumped ahead of front-row starter David Matthias' Sapphire Cosworth when the race got underway. David Guthrie and Kester Cook's Ecoboost Fiestas both got ahead of Paul Nevill for fourth and fifth, with the RS2000 completing the top six. Gary Johnson's immaculate Mk1 Escort took the Class B win after a stuck throttle removed longtime leader Chris Baker from contention on the last lap. Alex Boam fought through from the back of the grid after missing qualifying to grab the Class C victory. The expected rain hadn't arrived when the field took to the track for Race Two and Grange doubled up his victory tally for the weekend once he'd seen off the threat from Shelswell at The Banking on lap one. Shelswell came home 7.791 seconds behind the Mk2 Escort in second to take Class A and Paul Nevill came through to the final podium spot after early place holder Matthias went out on lap four. The RS2000 had to work his way past the defensive Cook and Guthrie Fiestas to do so, Guthrie was the first to pass Cook after the Fiesta skated wide at The Hairpin before Nevill also got ahead on the following lap. Nevill completed his drive to the podium with an eighth-lap pass on Guthrie into the last corner. Baker's Mk3 Escort bagged the Class B win after passing Johnson's Mk1 Escort on lap three, whilst Boam took a dominant victory in Class C. Heavy rain fell between the second and third races but the track surface was drying fast, which made tyre choice a bit of a conundrum. Grange headed the field off the start once more but the slick-shod Escort had slipped to fourth by Church as Guthrie's grooved-tyred Fiesta had burst through to take the lead from Shelswell and Cook, Jamie White's Fiesta ST240 had also knocked the poleman back another spot before lap one was done. Guthrie continued to lead until lap three when the Sierra of Shelswell came through, his slick tyres now the best option. Grange's slicks had also begun to work and the Escort took third place from Cook on lap three before chasing down the six-second gap to Guthrie inside two laps. Grange moved into second on the International loop and set his sights on catching the leader Shelswell, the charging Mk2 cut more than half of his four-second deficit in one lap. The inevitable move came at the end of lap seven, with Grange moving clear to take the flag by 2.412 seconds from Class A winner Shelswell and complete a victory treble over the weekend. Guthrie took a great third in his Boamerang Racing car, whilst Nevill completed a final-lap pass on Cook's Fiesta to take fourth. In Class B, Baker's Mk3 Escort took its second win of the day and Jimmy Neophytou's Mk1 Fiesta took the Class C spoils after early leader Boam went out at mid-distance.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here, Race Three - click here
Anglesey 24th/25th June 2023 - Meeting sponsored by MTS Motorsport
The series returned to the UK from its Belgian trip with a visit to the picturesque Anglesey circuit on the Irish Sea coast. The fleet 2.6-litre Mk2 Escort of Piers Grange raced to pole position by 1.044 seconds from David Matthias' Sapphire Cosworth at the end of an interrupted qualifying session. The polesitting Class B+ Escort took the initiative into Target from the start of a sunny Race One and raced clear to a 3.570-second victory from Ashley Shelswell's V6 Sierra that won Class A, who had jumped ahead of front-row starter David Matthias' Sapphire Cosworth when the race got underway. David Guthrie and Kester Cook's Ecoboost Fiestas both got ahead of Paul Nevill for fourth and fifth, with the RS2000 completing the top six. Gary Johnson's immaculate Mk1 Escort took the Class B win after a stuck throttle removed longtime leader Chris Baker from contention on the last lap. Alex Boam fought through from the back of the grid after missing qualifying to grab the Class C victory. The expected rain hadn't arrived when the field took to the track for Race Two and Grange doubled up his victory tally for the weekend once he'd seen off the threat from Shelswell at The Banking on lap one. Shelswell came home 7.791 seconds behind the Mk2 Escort in second to take Class A and Paul Nevill came through to the final podium spot after early place holder Matthias went out on lap four. The RS2000 had to work his way past the defensive Cook and Guthrie Fiestas to do so, Guthrie was the first to pass Cook after the Fiesta skated wide at The Hairpin before Nevill also got ahead on the following lap. Nevill completed his drive to the podium with an eighth-lap pass on Guthrie into the last corner. Baker's Mk3 Escort bagged the Class B win after passing Johnson's Mk1 Escort on lap three, whilst Boam took a dominant victory in Class C. Heavy rain fell between the second and third races but the track surface was drying fast, which made tyre choice a bit of a conundrum. Grange headed the field off the start once more but the slick-shod Escort had slipped to fourth by Church as Guthrie's grooved-tyred Fiesta had burst through to take the lead from Shelswell and Cook, Jamie White's Fiesta ST240 had also knocked the poleman back another spot before lap one was done. Guthrie continued to lead until lap three when the Sierra of Shelswell came through, his slick tyres now the best option. Grange's slicks had also begun to work and the Escort took third place from Cook on lap three before chasing down the six-second gap to Guthrie inside two laps. Grange moved into second on the International loop and set his sights on catching the leader Shelswell, the charging Mk2 cut more than half of his four-second deficit in one lap. The inevitable move came at the end of lap seven, with Grange moving clear to take the flag by 2.412 seconds from Class A winner Shelswell and complete a victory treble over the weekend. Guthrie took a great third in his Boamerang Racing car, whilst Nevill completed a final-lap pass on Cook's Fiesta to take fourth. In Class B, Baker's Mk3 Escort took its second win of the day and Jimmy Neophytou's Mk1 Fiesta took the Class C spoils after early leader Boam went out at mid-distance.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here, Race Three - click here
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Oulton Park 15th July 2023 - Meeting sponsored by PRG Trailers
The popular Cheshire venue was next up for the series and would be held on a day of mixed weather conditions. 2022 CTCRC Classic Thunder champion Jason Davies made his first appearance of 2023 and headed the damp qualifying session by 2.530 seconds from Anglesey triple winner Piers Grange. The Mk2 Escort was no match for Davies' Class A Sapphire Cosworth away from the rolling start so the bewinged turbocar led the field into Old Hall. That was last the field would see of Davies as he scorched clear to a 26.218-second victory. Third-row qualifier James Allen had climbed to fourth on lap one before removing Kester Cook from third on lap two, the Focus then went on to chase down the Piers Grange Class B+ Escort six seconds up the road and took the place on lap six. Paul Nevill came through from tenth on the grid to take fourth, with the RS2000 taking the spot when David Matthias had a moment at Old Hall for the seventh time. Cook's Fiesta had been sat in fourth until his day ended with a blown turbo on the sixth lap. Piers Warwick's Mk1 Escort won Class SA after early leader Joe Oates' retirement, Chris Baker screamed to another Class B triumph with his Mk3 Escort and Alex Boam notched up more Class C glory with his Fiesta. A passing shower threatened to make the conditions tricky for Race Two but Davies didn't flinch to take an even more dominant victory in the Sapphire Cosworth, seeing off his nearest challenger by 34.580 seconds. Allen took his second runner-up spot of the day in his Focus RS but had David Matthias close in on him in the later stages as the Sapphire Cosworth took the third podium step. Nevill's RS2000 took the Class B+ silverware in fifth after a race-long tussle with fourth-placed Ashley Shelswell's Sierra. John Sheridan's Fiesta ST prevailed in Class B after top qualifier Oliver Bullion went out on the opening lap and long-time leader Baker took the dry sump belt off his engine in a gravelly excursion at Druids. Boam won Class C once more, ahead of a squabbling Jimmy Neophytou and Dave Barrett, whilst the Nissan Turbo-powered Mk1 Escort of Warwick also took a double victory in Class SA.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
The popular Cheshire venue was next up for the series and would be held on a day of mixed weather conditions. 2022 CTCRC Classic Thunder champion Jason Davies made his first appearance of 2023 and headed the damp qualifying session by 2.530 seconds from Anglesey triple winner Piers Grange. The Mk2 Escort was no match for Davies' Class A Sapphire Cosworth away from the rolling start so the bewinged turbocar led the field into Old Hall. That was last the field would see of Davies as he scorched clear to a 26.218-second victory. Third-row qualifier James Allen had climbed to fourth on lap one before removing Kester Cook from third on lap two, the Focus then went on to chase down the Piers Grange Class B+ Escort six seconds up the road and took the place on lap six. Paul Nevill came through from tenth on the grid to take fourth, with the RS2000 taking the spot when David Matthias had a moment at Old Hall for the seventh time. Cook's Fiesta had been sat in fourth until his day ended with a blown turbo on the sixth lap. Piers Warwick's Mk1 Escort won Class SA after early leader Joe Oates' retirement, Chris Baker screamed to another Class B triumph with his Mk3 Escort and Alex Boam notched up more Class C glory with his Fiesta. A passing shower threatened to make the conditions tricky for Race Two but Davies didn't flinch to take an even more dominant victory in the Sapphire Cosworth, seeing off his nearest challenger by 34.580 seconds. Allen took his second runner-up spot of the day in his Focus RS but had David Matthias close in on him in the later stages as the Sapphire Cosworth took the third podium step. Nevill's RS2000 took the Class B+ silverware in fifth after a race-long tussle with fourth-placed Ashley Shelswell's Sierra. John Sheridan's Fiesta ST prevailed in Class B after top qualifier Oliver Bullion went out on the opening lap and long-time leader Baker took the dry sump belt off his engine in a gravelly excursion at Druids. Boam won Class C once more, ahead of a squabbling Jimmy Neophytou and Dave Barrett, whilst the Nissan Turbo-powered Mk1 Escort of Warwick also took a double victory in Class SA.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
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Cadwell Park 12th/13th August 2023 - Meeting sponsored by Drummond Distribution
The mini-Nurburgring in the Lincolnshire Wolds played host to the series’ next competitive action during the summer holidays. David Matthias grabbed pole position from Ashley Shelswell by 0.655 seconds but fifth-placed qualifier AJ Owen was unable to start either race with a blown turbo on his Sierra RS Cosworth. After making a first-lap pass on polesitter Matthias into the Gooseneck and surviving the uncertain conditions brought on by a passing shower, the V6 Sierra of Shelswell sped to the opening race victory by 21.744 seconds from Matthias’ Sapphire Cosworth. David Guthrie took the third step on the podium and the Class B+ spoils after the two previous incumbents fell by the wayside, James Allen's Focus with splitter damage and Paul Nevill's RS2000 also failed to reach the flag having pulled off at Hall Bends with stub axle failure. Guthrie’s Boamerang stablemate Alex Boam banished the memory of his 2022 startline crash with the Class C win in fifth, one spot behind the Class B-winning Mk3 Escort of Chris Baker - which pipped the Fiesta on the run to the line. A fine drive came from AJ Howe in the turbocharged Focus Estate, who charged from twentieth on the grid to sixth by the flag after suffering a small engine bay fire in qualifying. Matthias bravely drove around the outside of Shelswell at Coppice to take the lead at the start of Race Two. However, the Race One winner couldn’t be shaken off by the leading Sapphire and a close race looked in prospect until a second-lap retirement for the XR4i eased Matthias’ path to his second victory of 2023. David Guthrie’s Ecoboost Fiesta doubled up on Class B+ wins with a great second place, 12.724 seconds down, whilst Chris Baker sealed his maiden overall podium placing in third and bagged his second Class B victory of the weekend in the rorty Mk3 Escort. AJ Howe improved on his sixth on Saturday with fourth place whilst Alex Boam topped Class C once more in fifth. The larger-engined sister Boamerang Fiesta of Sam Shimwell from Class B completed the top six. James Allen started at the rear of the field and had reached third overall on lap three before his charge ended prematurely with a repeat of his splitter detaching.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
The mini-Nurburgring in the Lincolnshire Wolds played host to the series’ next competitive action during the summer holidays. David Matthias grabbed pole position from Ashley Shelswell by 0.655 seconds but fifth-placed qualifier AJ Owen was unable to start either race with a blown turbo on his Sierra RS Cosworth. After making a first-lap pass on polesitter Matthias into the Gooseneck and surviving the uncertain conditions brought on by a passing shower, the V6 Sierra of Shelswell sped to the opening race victory by 21.744 seconds from Matthias’ Sapphire Cosworth. David Guthrie took the third step on the podium and the Class B+ spoils after the two previous incumbents fell by the wayside, James Allen's Focus with splitter damage and Paul Nevill's RS2000 also failed to reach the flag having pulled off at Hall Bends with stub axle failure. Guthrie’s Boamerang stablemate Alex Boam banished the memory of his 2022 startline crash with the Class C win in fifth, one spot behind the Class B-winning Mk3 Escort of Chris Baker - which pipped the Fiesta on the run to the line. A fine drive came from AJ Howe in the turbocharged Focus Estate, who charged from twentieth on the grid to sixth by the flag after suffering a small engine bay fire in qualifying. Matthias bravely drove around the outside of Shelswell at Coppice to take the lead at the start of Race Two. However, the Race One winner couldn’t be shaken off by the leading Sapphire and a close race looked in prospect until a second-lap retirement for the XR4i eased Matthias’ path to his second victory of 2023. David Guthrie’s Ecoboost Fiesta doubled up on Class B+ wins with a great second place, 12.724 seconds down, whilst Chris Baker sealed his maiden overall podium placing in third and bagged his second Class B victory of the weekend in the rorty Mk3 Escort. AJ Howe improved on his sixth on Saturday with fourth place whilst Alex Boam topped Class C once more in fifth. The larger-engined sister Boamerang Fiesta of Sam Shimwell from Class B completed the top six. James Allen started at the rear of the field and had reached third overall on lap three before his charge ended prematurely with a repeat of his splitter detaching.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
Lydden Hill 28th August 2023 - Meeting sponsored by SHP Motorsport Engineering
The Modified Fords spent the August bank holiday at the one-mile-long circuit near Dover during the venue’s ‘Custom Cup’ promotion, with the entry split into three groups and each group would contest two races. The field's qualifying times would be used to form each competitor's group and veteran Rod Birley's Escort WRC topped the session by 0.619 seconds to go into Group A. Luke Bennett's V8 Eurocar was second fastest so went into Group B, whilst Paul Nevill was third fastest to head Group C and the process would be repeated down the order to make up the three grids. The first race for Groups A&B found top qualifiers Birley and Bennett sharing the front row and the polesitting Escort WRC led the field in the early stages, whilst Bennett lost second to Neil Argrave's Mk2 Escort at the North Bend on lap one. A stop was called after four laps when Oliver Bullion's Fiesta ST found the gravel at the Devil's Elbow. Birley continued where he had left off before the red flag and sped away to victory by 5.642 seconds from Argrave, who had taken a good look around the outside of Birley at Pilgrims at the restart. The Class B+-winning Mk2 Escort became quite oversteery during the race and Argrave had a big moment approaching the Devil's Elbow for the last time but just staved off Bennett's V8 Eurocar to the line. Mike Thurley won Class B in fourth but would take no further part in the day's racing after clutch failure on his Mk1 Escort. Alex Boam took Class C in sixth overall, ahead of Jimmy Neophytou. The Groups B&C front row of Bennett and Nevill had qualified just 0.119 seconds apart so a close race looked to be in the offing. Bennett blasted into the lead from the start but quickly came under pressure from Nevill's RS2000, who hit the front down dropping down to Paddock Bend as they ended lap one. The Escort pulled inexorably away thereafter to seal a 7.719-second victory from Class SA victor Bennett despite his gear lever breaking in the later stages. A promised battle between Thurley and Chris Baker's Mk3 Escort didn't come to pass with the Mk1's clutch woes so Baker led Class B until his tyres started to go away from him. The Mk3 Escort had already slipped back to sixth when Chris Smith passed Baker for the class lead heading up to the North Bend for the last-but-one time and the RS1600i quickly pulled off with a broken driveshaft. Smith was being caught rapidly by Tim Mizen's Fiesta after an earlier slip but when Mizen slowed for the chequered flag being waved to the closely-following Nevill, it sealed the class win for the Mk1 Escort. In a great third overall came the Fiesta of Class C victor Boam, ahead of Dan Cowan's Ecoboost Fiesta and Alan Breck's V8 Capri in fourth and fifth. The toll taken during the first two encounters had removed Argrave's Mk2 Escort, after a leaking head gasket was found. Baker's Mk3 Escort and rallycrosser Dan Swayland's Mk1 Escort, which had snapped its cambelt, from the grid and joined Thurley's clutchless Escort on the sidelines for the Groups A&C bout. The two opening race winners would share the front row of the grid and Birley stamped his authority on the encounter from the start to move away to a 13.126-second triumph from Class B+ winner Nevill in second. Smith's Mk1 Escort backed up his earlier Class B win with another triumph and took a podium placing this time out in third. Dave Barrett's MTS Motorsport Fiesta had the consolation of winning Class C after losing a late battle with Paul Solbe's Focus.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One (Groups A&B) - click here, Race Two (Groups B&C) - click here, Race Three (Groups A&C) - click here
The Modified Fords spent the August bank holiday at the one-mile-long circuit near Dover during the venue’s ‘Custom Cup’ promotion, with the entry split into three groups and each group would contest two races. The field's qualifying times would be used to form each competitor's group and veteran Rod Birley's Escort WRC topped the session by 0.619 seconds to go into Group A. Luke Bennett's V8 Eurocar was second fastest so went into Group B, whilst Paul Nevill was third fastest to head Group C and the process would be repeated down the order to make up the three grids. The first race for Groups A&B found top qualifiers Birley and Bennett sharing the front row and the polesitting Escort WRC led the field in the early stages, whilst Bennett lost second to Neil Argrave's Mk2 Escort at the North Bend on lap one. A stop was called after four laps when Oliver Bullion's Fiesta ST found the gravel at the Devil's Elbow. Birley continued where he had left off before the red flag and sped away to victory by 5.642 seconds from Argrave, who had taken a good look around the outside of Birley at Pilgrims at the restart. The Class B+-winning Mk2 Escort became quite oversteery during the race and Argrave had a big moment approaching the Devil's Elbow for the last time but just staved off Bennett's V8 Eurocar to the line. Mike Thurley won Class B in fourth but would take no further part in the day's racing after clutch failure on his Mk1 Escort. Alex Boam took Class C in sixth overall, ahead of Jimmy Neophytou. The Groups B&C front row of Bennett and Nevill had qualified just 0.119 seconds apart so a close race looked to be in the offing. Bennett blasted into the lead from the start but quickly came under pressure from Nevill's RS2000, who hit the front down dropping down to Paddock Bend as they ended lap one. The Escort pulled inexorably away thereafter to seal a 7.719-second victory from Class SA victor Bennett despite his gear lever breaking in the later stages. A promised battle between Thurley and Chris Baker's Mk3 Escort didn't come to pass with the Mk1's clutch woes so Baker led Class B until his tyres started to go away from him. The Mk3 Escort had already slipped back to sixth when Chris Smith passed Baker for the class lead heading up to the North Bend for the last-but-one time and the RS1600i quickly pulled off with a broken driveshaft. Smith was being caught rapidly by Tim Mizen's Fiesta after an earlier slip but when Mizen slowed for the chequered flag being waved to the closely-following Nevill, it sealed the class win for the Mk1 Escort. In a great third overall came the Fiesta of Class C victor Boam, ahead of Dan Cowan's Ecoboost Fiesta and Alan Breck's V8 Capri in fourth and fifth. The toll taken during the first two encounters had removed Argrave's Mk2 Escort, after a leaking head gasket was found. Baker's Mk3 Escort and rallycrosser Dan Swayland's Mk1 Escort, which had snapped its cambelt, from the grid and joined Thurley's clutchless Escort on the sidelines for the Groups A&C bout. The two opening race winners would share the front row of the grid and Birley stamped his authority on the encounter from the start to move away to a 13.126-second triumph from Class B+ winner Nevill in second. Smith's Mk1 Escort backed up his earlier Class B win with another triumph and took a podium placing this time out in third. Dave Barrett's MTS Motorsport Fiesta had the consolation of winning Class C after losing a late battle with Paul Solbe's Focus.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One (Groups A&B) - click here, Race Two (Groups B&C) - click here, Race Three (Groups A&C) - click here
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Brands Hatch Indy (Ford Power Live) 17th September 2023 - Meeting sponsored by Performance Car Specialist
Brands Hatch’s annual Ford Power Live show had the Modified Ford Series as the centrepiece of the racing action. The series fielded two grids, with the more powerful Class SA, A, SB and B+ cars forming Group A and Classes B and C making up Group B.
Group A
The fire-breathing Mk1 Escort RSR Turbo of Tommy Field tore to pole position by 2.118 seconds from ex-BTCC racer Lea Wood's normally aspirated RSR. The RSRs settled into the top two positions during the early stages, once Wood had seen off the energetic attention of Josh Payton's Mk2 Cortina at Paddock Hill Bend and Druids on lap one. However, a failing fuel pump relay on leader Field's car saw Wood go through into the lead on the eleventh lap as the turbocharged RSR pace faded and ultimately caused the car's retirement. Ex-BTCC racer Wood sped away to take a comfortable win in his Class SB RSR from Payton, who lost out to Steve Goldsmith on lap three but the Class B+ winner was able to retake him on the fourteenth lap after the Ecoboost Anglia's tyres went off. Class A went to Brian Lilley's Sierra RS500 in seventh, one spot ahead of James Allen's Focus that had started from the pitlane, whilst Piers Warwick's Mk1 Escort Turbo took the Class SA spoils. Wood and Payton formed the front row for Race Two from Goldsmith and Kester Cook's Fiesta on row two, whilst the repaired RSR of Field sat back in twentieth on the grid. Wood fended off Payton into Paddock Hill Bend and headed the Cortina and Cook's Fiesta at the end of lap one but a remarkable Field had already blazed up to fourth, having reached the top ten by Druids for the first time! Field would be second by the end of lap two before grabbing the lead from Wood as the third lap came to a close. A red flag brought the race to a halt a lap later for James Allen's stranded Focus and Field's Class SA RSR sped away from pole at the restart to take an 11.401-second triumph. Wood's Class SB-topping RSR took an equally comfortable second place from Payton's Cortina in third, who doubled up on Class B+ victories. Cook held off Goldsmith's 'Angleboost' for fourth after a race-long duel, whilst Wayne Crabtree and Paul Nevill had a virtual dead-heat over the line for sixth. Crabtree's Mk1 Escort had come through from starting at the back of the original grid to nick sixth place by 0.001 seconds. The Lilley Sierra took its second Class A win of the day in eighth.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
Brands Hatch’s annual Ford Power Live show had the Modified Ford Series as the centrepiece of the racing action. The series fielded two grids, with the more powerful Class SA, A, SB and B+ cars forming Group A and Classes B and C making up Group B.
Group A
The fire-breathing Mk1 Escort RSR Turbo of Tommy Field tore to pole position by 2.118 seconds from ex-BTCC racer Lea Wood's normally aspirated RSR. The RSRs settled into the top two positions during the early stages, once Wood had seen off the energetic attention of Josh Payton's Mk2 Cortina at Paddock Hill Bend and Druids on lap one. However, a failing fuel pump relay on leader Field's car saw Wood go through into the lead on the eleventh lap as the turbocharged RSR pace faded and ultimately caused the car's retirement. Ex-BTCC racer Wood sped away to take a comfortable win in his Class SB RSR from Payton, who lost out to Steve Goldsmith on lap three but the Class B+ winner was able to retake him on the fourteenth lap after the Ecoboost Anglia's tyres went off. Class A went to Brian Lilley's Sierra RS500 in seventh, one spot ahead of James Allen's Focus that had started from the pitlane, whilst Piers Warwick's Mk1 Escort Turbo took the Class SA spoils. Wood and Payton formed the front row for Race Two from Goldsmith and Kester Cook's Fiesta on row two, whilst the repaired RSR of Field sat back in twentieth on the grid. Wood fended off Payton into Paddock Hill Bend and headed the Cortina and Cook's Fiesta at the end of lap one but a remarkable Field had already blazed up to fourth, having reached the top ten by Druids for the first time! Field would be second by the end of lap two before grabbing the lead from Wood as the third lap came to a close. A red flag brought the race to a halt a lap later for James Allen's stranded Focus and Field's Class SA RSR sped away from pole at the restart to take an 11.401-second triumph. Wood's Class SB-topping RSR took an equally comfortable second place from Payton's Cortina in third, who doubled up on Class B+ victories. Cook held off Goldsmith's 'Angleboost' for fourth after a race-long duel, whilst Wayne Crabtree and Paul Nevill had a virtual dead-heat over the line for sixth. Crabtree's Mk1 Escort had come through from starting at the back of the original grid to nick sixth place by 0.001 seconds. The Lilley Sierra took its second Class A win of the day in eighth.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
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Group B
Mike Thurley's Zakspeed-replica Mk1 Escort went round 0.626 seconds quicker than Chris Baker's front-wheel-drive Mk3 Escort to grab pole position among the smaller-engined split. A pre-race downpour sent the field scrabbling for their wet tyres and Baker bolted at the start to make a decent break but would only get as far as Surtees before spinning and dropping back to 21st. Poleman Thurley briefly went back in front but snapped sideways through Clark Curve, which meant that Richard Sanders' Fiesta ST led at the end of lap one from Andy Pipe. Pipe's Mk1 Escort then repeated Baker's Surtees off to elevate Oliver Bullion's Fiesta into second place. The Fiesta pair scampered away from the field until a late-race Safety Car brought the pack back together as time for just three more laps remained at the restart. Bullion was crawling all over Sanders at the resumption and passed the similar Fiesta along the Cooper Straight before opening a 2.176-second winning margin. The tricky conditions had allowed the smaller capacity cars to shine and Class C winner Gary Littlewood took third overall from classmate Jimmy Neophytou's Mk1 Fiesta in fourth. The wet opening race had mixed up the start order for Race Two, with some expected front-runners out of position on the grid. Baker's Mk3 Escort would start in eighth, top qualifier Thurley from twelfth and fifth qualifier Gary Johnson from twentieth. Race One winner Bullion established himself out front on lap one as Thurley tore through the order to sit in second. The Mk1 Escort quickly grabbed the lead from the Fiesta at Surtees on lap two and set off towards what looked like a straightforward victory. However, Baker had reached second place on lap four and gradually whittled the leader's advantage away to the point that he was sat on the Zakspeed Mk1's bootlid on the final lap but Thurley held his nerve to win. After losing out to the more powerful Escorts, Bullion held onto third but was under huge pressure to the end from the spectacular Class C victor Tom Burgess' Datapost Fiesta. The duelling pair were almost caught on the last lap by Aaron Tucker's Sierra and Gary Johnson's Mk1 Escort.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
Mike Thurley's Zakspeed-replica Mk1 Escort went round 0.626 seconds quicker than Chris Baker's front-wheel-drive Mk3 Escort to grab pole position among the smaller-engined split. A pre-race downpour sent the field scrabbling for their wet tyres and Baker bolted at the start to make a decent break but would only get as far as Surtees before spinning and dropping back to 21st. Poleman Thurley briefly went back in front but snapped sideways through Clark Curve, which meant that Richard Sanders' Fiesta ST led at the end of lap one from Andy Pipe. Pipe's Mk1 Escort then repeated Baker's Surtees off to elevate Oliver Bullion's Fiesta into second place. The Fiesta pair scampered away from the field until a late-race Safety Car brought the pack back together as time for just three more laps remained at the restart. Bullion was crawling all over Sanders at the resumption and passed the similar Fiesta along the Cooper Straight before opening a 2.176-second winning margin. The tricky conditions had allowed the smaller capacity cars to shine and Class C winner Gary Littlewood took third overall from classmate Jimmy Neophytou's Mk1 Fiesta in fourth. The wet opening race had mixed up the start order for Race Two, with some expected front-runners out of position on the grid. Baker's Mk3 Escort would start in eighth, top qualifier Thurley from twelfth and fifth qualifier Gary Johnson from twentieth. Race One winner Bullion established himself out front on lap one as Thurley tore through the order to sit in second. The Mk1 Escort quickly grabbed the lead from the Fiesta at Surtees on lap two and set off towards what looked like a straightforward victory. However, Baker had reached second place on lap four and gradually whittled the leader's advantage away to the point that he was sat on the Zakspeed Mk1's bootlid on the final lap but Thurley held his nerve to win. After losing out to the more powerful Escorts, Bullion held onto third but was under huge pressure to the end from the spectacular Class C victor Tom Burgess' Datapost Fiesta. The duelling pair were almost caught on the last lap by Aaron Tucker's Sierra and Gary Johnson's Mk1 Escort.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
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Silverstone International 8th October 2023 - Meeting sponsored by Nearly New Mobility
One of the largest entries of the year congregated at Silverstone for the season finale on the International version of the famous venue. The long-awaited clash between the Escort Cosworth of Dave Cockell and Jason Davies’ Sapphire Cosworth finally occurred at Silverstone and the Welshman drew first blood in qualifying to take pole position from Cockell by 2.304 seconds. The Escort Cosworth got the drop at the start of Race One to lead the field into Abbey but Davies went under Cockell at Village to hit the front for the first time. Cockell powered back ahead down the Hangar Straight to end lap one at the top of the tree but Davies repeated his Village move on lap two and led again. The pair were still close as they charged away from the field but the Sapphire was able to eke out a little daylight until the race reached its closing stages. Having caught traffic in a yellow flag zone at Stowe for the penultimate time, Davies had Cockell back in his wheeltracks as they began the last lap. The Escort Cosworth tried hard to unsettle Davies but a wide exit onto the Hangar Straight cost Cockell his chance to use his extra power so the Sapphire took the flag by 1.454 seconds from the Class SA winner. The fabulous Trakstar replica Sierra RS500 of David Matthias took a lonely third after early challenger Ashley Shelswell's Sierra blew its engine on lap five. Class B+ winner Malcolm Harding had run in fourth after Shelswell's demise aboard his Mk2 Escort but Steve Scott-Dunwoodie powered past on the last lap to nick the place, whilst Piers Grange completed the top six. Among the other classes, Chris Baker took the Class B silverware in fourteenth from Gary Johnson and Alex Boam carded another Class C victory in 23rd. Cockell blasted into the lead once more at the start of Race Two but Davies swiftly hit back into Village. The Sapphire driver got his head down to complete the first lap over a second up the road before opening a lead of over eleven seconds and Davies completed a dominant drive to his second victory of the day by 7.421 seconds after the Welshman eased his pace late on. Cockell would have to be content with the Class SA win in second. Class B+ victor Grange took third after a fierce scrap that had also involved the similar car of Harding plus the Sierra RS500s of Matthias and Scott-Dunwoodie. Scott-Dunwoodie had burst into third place at the start but fell behind Matthias, Harding, Grange and Laki Christoforou at Village for the first time. Matthias settled into third in the early stages until Grange went by on lap ten, having passed Harding's Escort in traffic two laps earlier. Scott-Dunwoodie then moved up to threaten the similar Sierra but would have his hands full with Harding after the RS500's attempt for fourth was blocked, Matthias eventually came home in fourth from Scott-Dunwoodie and Harding as a little over a second covered the trio. Baker and Boam completed Class B and C victory doubles, with the Boamerang Racing Fiesta pilot being crowned overall series champion after taking numerous Class C wins throughout 2023.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
One of the largest entries of the year congregated at Silverstone for the season finale on the International version of the famous venue. The long-awaited clash between the Escort Cosworth of Dave Cockell and Jason Davies’ Sapphire Cosworth finally occurred at Silverstone and the Welshman drew first blood in qualifying to take pole position from Cockell by 2.304 seconds. The Escort Cosworth got the drop at the start of Race One to lead the field into Abbey but Davies went under Cockell at Village to hit the front for the first time. Cockell powered back ahead down the Hangar Straight to end lap one at the top of the tree but Davies repeated his Village move on lap two and led again. The pair were still close as they charged away from the field but the Sapphire was able to eke out a little daylight until the race reached its closing stages. Having caught traffic in a yellow flag zone at Stowe for the penultimate time, Davies had Cockell back in his wheeltracks as they began the last lap. The Escort Cosworth tried hard to unsettle Davies but a wide exit onto the Hangar Straight cost Cockell his chance to use his extra power so the Sapphire took the flag by 1.454 seconds from the Class SA winner. The fabulous Trakstar replica Sierra RS500 of David Matthias took a lonely third after early challenger Ashley Shelswell's Sierra blew its engine on lap five. Class B+ winner Malcolm Harding had run in fourth after Shelswell's demise aboard his Mk2 Escort but Steve Scott-Dunwoodie powered past on the last lap to nick the place, whilst Piers Grange completed the top six. Among the other classes, Chris Baker took the Class B silverware in fourteenth from Gary Johnson and Alex Boam carded another Class C victory in 23rd. Cockell blasted into the lead once more at the start of Race Two but Davies swiftly hit back into Village. The Sapphire driver got his head down to complete the first lap over a second up the road before opening a lead of over eleven seconds and Davies completed a dominant drive to his second victory of the day by 7.421 seconds after the Welshman eased his pace late on. Cockell would have to be content with the Class SA win in second. Class B+ victor Grange took third after a fierce scrap that had also involved the similar car of Harding plus the Sierra RS500s of Matthias and Scott-Dunwoodie. Scott-Dunwoodie had burst into third place at the start but fell behind Matthias, Harding, Grange and Laki Christoforou at Village for the first time. Matthias settled into third in the early stages until Grange went by on lap ten, having passed Harding's Escort in traffic two laps earlier. Scott-Dunwoodie then moved up to threaten the similar Sierra but would have his hands full with Harding after the RS500's attempt for fourth was blocked, Matthias eventually came home in fourth from Scott-Dunwoodie and Harding as a little over a second covered the trio. Baker and Boam completed Class B and C victory doubles, with the Boamerang Racing Fiesta pilot being crowned overall series champion after taking numerous Class C wins throughout 2023.
Full results: Qualifying - click here, Race One - click here, Race Two - click here
*Pic from CTCRC Silverstone meeting in March 2022
The 2024 season opens at Silverstone in March, then heads to Oulton Park in April before the series pays a first visit to Castle Combe in May. A trip north of the border to Knockhill comes next in June, later on in June is an outing on the Donington Park GP circuit and four weeks after that is a weekend at Snetterton. A second visit to Silverstone follows in August before the series forms the feature race action at Brands Hatch’s Ford Power Live show in September and the year is completed in the northern Spanish sun at MSV’s Navarra circuit in October. The early signs are that the series will have its biggest year yet, with the opening three meetings already full with reserves by Christmas 2023.
The 2024 season opens at Silverstone in March, then heads to Oulton Park in April before the series pays a first visit to Castle Combe in May. A trip north of the border to Knockhill comes next in June, later on in June is an outing on the Donington Park GP circuit and four weeks after that is a weekend at Snetterton. A second visit to Silverstone follows in August before the series forms the feature race action at Brands Hatch’s Ford Power Live show in September and the year is completed in the northern Spanish sun at MSV’s Navarra circuit in October. The early signs are that the series will have its biggest year yet, with the opening three meetings already full with reserves by Christmas 2023.
2023 Series Winner: Alex Boam (Class C - Ford Fiesta Mk6 1600cc)
For more details, visit: www.modifiedfords.co.uk |
2024 calendar
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