Modified Ford Series Snetterton 20th & 21st July 2024
FIELD ON FIRE IN SNETTERTON SIZZLER
The Modified Ford Series contested their latest pair of races at a bright and hot Snetterton in Norfolk over the weekend of the 20th and 21st of July.
Dave Cockell tasted glory in all three outings at Donington Park despite a failing clutch on his Class SA Escort Cosworth but would face two very rapid turbocharged RSRs standing in the way of his quest for honours in Norfolk. Tommy Field’s BDT-powered Mk1 Escort RSR pushed Cockell all the way during the dry first race at Silverstone in March but a misted windscreen hampered his chances in the rain on Sunday. Jack Gadd made his return to the series after his last action-packed appearance at the circuit in 2023 aboard his new-for-2024 Escort Mk1 RSR YB Turbo and was getting back up to speed with the car having suffered an unfortunate fire at Spa-Francorchamps earlier in the year. Lloyd Jamieson's Escort Maxi Cosworth made the long journey down from Scotland after the combo’s best performance yet last time out at Donington Park with a fifth and a pair of superb second places. Martin Reynolds can be expected to go well at his local circuit as he fielded the awesome Chevrolet V8-engined Sierra Thundersaloon from his collection. Event sponsor Piers Warwick's Mk1 Escort Turbo would be doing well to grab a trophy this weekend with the firepower entered in the class but to finish first, first you have to finish. Malcolm Wise’ Escort Cosworth completed the class entry and the long straights should suit the turbocar. Steve Scott-Dunwoodie acheived some strong results against tough opposition with his Sierra RS500 at Donington Park and would start as favourite for Class A honours in Norfolk. Brian Lilley aired his Escort Cosworth for the first time this season and Paul Restall brought out his refettled Sapphire Cosworth to make his first start with the Modified Fords for a couple of years, The Focus ST of Stefan Marsh won the class in the wet at Castle Combe and could well claim some more silverware in Norfolk. Adam Underhill suffered a torrid debut for his Focus Turbo at Castle Combe and hoped to gather more meaningful mileage at Snetterton. Mick Head's immaculate Escort Cosworth RWD picked up some more class trophies at Donington Park after running with a sequential gearbox for the first time. Mat Brennan only had to beat himself to triumph in Class SB as the Mk2 Escort was the sole entrant this weekend. Piers Grange would aim to keep his place at the head of Class B+ but he would have to keep his eye on the Minton family’s fellow Mk2 Escort, which was out for the first time in the class. The famous former Thundersaloon Mk2 now boasts 2.6-litre Smith & Jones power in place of the previous Cosworth BDX unit and Dan Minton would be sharing the car with his father Steve. Grange hasn't stood still with the development of his machine and the PRG Trailers car now features a paddleshift gearchange. Paul Nevill hoped to make it past Riches with his very smart RS2000 after being involved in a couple of first-lap incidents at the corner in 2021 and 2023. Neil Argrave's last visit to Snetterton with the series featured a charge from the tail of the grid to a finish inside the top ten with the Warrior-engined Mk2 Escort and he aimed for a similar result this time. Wayne Crabtree's spotless Mk1 Escort didn’t get to race at Donington Park with gearbox problems so hoped for a better meeting in Norfolk. Todd Garner's Mk7 Fiesta was aiming for top front-wheel-drive honours this weekend after his Donington Park gearbox woes were sorted but Robert Lewis’ Focus Ecoboost intended to have something to say about Garner’s leading front-wheel-drive ambitions and would also be behind a microphone reporting from the pitlane during the three-hour Citroen C1 enduro that followed the conclusion of his racing. Neil Jessop's Zakspeed Mk2 Escort had a great battle with Chris Baker for Class B honours at Donington Park after qualifying on the class pole but alternator trouble struck to end his day early after Race Two. Baker's Mk3 Escort had matched Jessop for pace at the last event in Leicestershire and took the second race class win before driveshaft problems put him out of Race Three. Mike Thurley’s Mk1 Escort had a bruising Donington Park but would aim to harass the heavy-hitters Baker and Jessop on his local track. Tyler England took a maiden class win with his Fiesta at Donington Park as he continues to make a habit of collecting silverware. Oliver Bullion’s Fiesta ST had to get his elbows out to hold on to his Class B second place in the Donington Park finale and would be grateful for a shower of rain at the weekend after his four class victories during 2024 came in inclement conditions. Jay Hinton's Focus has been plagued with clutch issues and also suffered a cracked engine block at Donington Park to further test his enthusiasm but the ever-smiling Croydon man was back for another go, whilst Paul Solbe’s similar car returned to action at Donington Park. A nervy Chris Smith put in his first entry of 2024 with his leaf-sprung Mk1 Escort after returning from injury and Colin Claxton's Castrol-liveried Mk1 Escort was competing at its home circuit. BRSCC ClubSport Trophy regular Nick Watling made his Modified Ford Series debut aboard a smart 2.2-litre Mk6 Fiesta Zetec as he sought more track time in the car. Novices Adam Saint and Mike McKenzie took their first steps in the series at the last round aboard their Fiesta STs and continue to gather experience. Seven-time 2024 class winner Dave Barrett headlined a competitive Class C field at Snetterton with his Fiesta. Gary Littlewood’s rapid Fiesta could well be the pacesetter over the weekend and he hoped for a repeat of his Silverstone double victory instead of his early retirement from Castle Combe. Justin Fuller looked on for a class win on his return to action at Donington Park before the pacey Puma was forced out with a crank pulley issue. Darryl Taplin came to his home circuit on the crest of a wave after bagging his first class victory at Donington Park with the DT Racing Fiesta and aimed to grab a trophy or two. Kevan Hadfield’s ever-reliable Puma completed its 50th straight race without mechanical dramas last time out at Donington Park and he would be racing against both of his sons this weekend, as Mark Hadfield made his seasonal debut with his Gulf-liveried Fiesta and joined brother Shaun’s Puma on the entry list. Having been forced to withdraw his unfinished Class B Mk3 Fiesta project from the opening events of the year, Marc Mitchell wheeled out a just-completed Mk4 Fiesta in which he would take his series bow at the weekend and the car was resplendent in the 2011 works Ford WRC livery.
Qualifying: Another impressive entry of 42 cars was received, matching the Donington Park total, but unfortunately Tony Paxman was forced to withdraw late in the day after a long-term medical problem reared its head again so 41 cars would attempt to qualify. The flying Tommy Field Mk1 Escort RSR from Class SA scorched to pole position by 3.265 seconds from the misfiring Class A Sierra RS500 of Steve Scott-Dunwoodie. Piers Grange topped Class B+ with the third fastest overall time and headed row two from initial pacesetter Jack Gadd’s YB-engined RSR Mk1 Escort from Class SA, whose session was cut short by a shed boost pipe. Series head Paul Nevill set the fifth fastest time and impressively was only 0.389 seconds from class B+ fast-man Grange on the row ahead as he took a second off his personal best at the circuit. Lloyd Jamieson put his Escort Maxi Cosworth 4x4 third fastest in Class SA and joined Nevill on the third row in sixth. In a comparatively lowly seventh could be found Dave Cockell’s immensely powerful Escort Cosworth after being hamstrung by a loose intercooler pipe and the serial race winner would be expected to progress from there, Martin Reynolds’ mighty ex-Piers Grange/Neil Argrave Sierra V8 lined up alongside in eighth. Brian Lilley was an excellent ninth with his two-wheel-drive Escort Cosworth from Class A, whilst Robert Lewis was third fastest in Class B+ and would be the first front-wheel-drive car on the grid as he completed the top ten with his Ecoboost Focus. Tyler England took a whopping nine seconds off the quickest time from his previous visit to Snetterton with his Fiesta to top Class B in an impressive twelfth overall, he had 0.328 seconds and a car in between himself and the second fastest Mike Thurley Mk1 Escort Zakspeed on the row behind. Paul Restall would start third of the Class A cars despite only doing a single timed lap after his Sapphire Cosworth’s boost pipe popped off and he was the spacer between the two Class B leaders. Oliver Bullion set the third fastest Class B time in eighteenth, one spot and 0.811 seconds up on fourth qualifier Jay Hinton. Class favourites Neil Jessop didn’t complete any timed laps with more alternator issues and Chris Baker cut a frustrated figure as he toiled to start from seventh in class and 28th overall after struggling throughout the session. In Class C, Gary Littlewood placed his Fiesta in a highly respectable 21st overall to comfortably take the class pole by a healthy 2.728 seconds from local man Darryl Taplin. Justin Fuller's Puma qualified within a second of Taplin's Fiesta and had just over half a second in hand from regular class winner Dave Barrett’s Fiesta in fourth. There would be a group of three rapid Mk2 Escorts starting at the tail of the field, with Neil Argrave’s Warrior-engined example hobbled by a misfire that a change of plug leads sorted so would go from 37th, Neil Jessop’s new alternator turned out to be faulty so he reverted to the troublesome Donington Park unit for Race One but that wasn’t charging greatly either as he went from 40th and Dan Minton failed to set a lap time after a misfire beset the former Thundersaloon so would line up last in 41st.
Qualifying Results: Click here
The Modified Ford Series contested their latest pair of races at a bright and hot Snetterton in Norfolk over the weekend of the 20th and 21st of July.
Dave Cockell tasted glory in all three outings at Donington Park despite a failing clutch on his Class SA Escort Cosworth but would face two very rapid turbocharged RSRs standing in the way of his quest for honours in Norfolk. Tommy Field’s BDT-powered Mk1 Escort RSR pushed Cockell all the way during the dry first race at Silverstone in March but a misted windscreen hampered his chances in the rain on Sunday. Jack Gadd made his return to the series after his last action-packed appearance at the circuit in 2023 aboard his new-for-2024 Escort Mk1 RSR YB Turbo and was getting back up to speed with the car having suffered an unfortunate fire at Spa-Francorchamps earlier in the year. Lloyd Jamieson's Escort Maxi Cosworth made the long journey down from Scotland after the combo’s best performance yet last time out at Donington Park with a fifth and a pair of superb second places. Martin Reynolds can be expected to go well at his local circuit as he fielded the awesome Chevrolet V8-engined Sierra Thundersaloon from his collection. Event sponsor Piers Warwick's Mk1 Escort Turbo would be doing well to grab a trophy this weekend with the firepower entered in the class but to finish first, first you have to finish. Malcolm Wise’ Escort Cosworth completed the class entry and the long straights should suit the turbocar. Steve Scott-Dunwoodie acheived some strong results against tough opposition with his Sierra RS500 at Donington Park and would start as favourite for Class A honours in Norfolk. Brian Lilley aired his Escort Cosworth for the first time this season and Paul Restall brought out his refettled Sapphire Cosworth to make his first start with the Modified Fords for a couple of years, The Focus ST of Stefan Marsh won the class in the wet at Castle Combe and could well claim some more silverware in Norfolk. Adam Underhill suffered a torrid debut for his Focus Turbo at Castle Combe and hoped to gather more meaningful mileage at Snetterton. Mick Head's immaculate Escort Cosworth RWD picked up some more class trophies at Donington Park after running with a sequential gearbox for the first time. Mat Brennan only had to beat himself to triumph in Class SB as the Mk2 Escort was the sole entrant this weekend. Piers Grange would aim to keep his place at the head of Class B+ but he would have to keep his eye on the Minton family’s fellow Mk2 Escort, which was out for the first time in the class. The famous former Thundersaloon Mk2 now boasts 2.6-litre Smith & Jones power in place of the previous Cosworth BDX unit and Dan Minton would be sharing the car with his father Steve. Grange hasn't stood still with the development of his machine and the PRG Trailers car now features a paddleshift gearchange. Paul Nevill hoped to make it past Riches with his very smart RS2000 after being involved in a couple of first-lap incidents at the corner in 2021 and 2023. Neil Argrave's last visit to Snetterton with the series featured a charge from the tail of the grid to a finish inside the top ten with the Warrior-engined Mk2 Escort and he aimed for a similar result this time. Wayne Crabtree's spotless Mk1 Escort didn’t get to race at Donington Park with gearbox problems so hoped for a better meeting in Norfolk. Todd Garner's Mk7 Fiesta was aiming for top front-wheel-drive honours this weekend after his Donington Park gearbox woes were sorted but Robert Lewis’ Focus Ecoboost intended to have something to say about Garner’s leading front-wheel-drive ambitions and would also be behind a microphone reporting from the pitlane during the three-hour Citroen C1 enduro that followed the conclusion of his racing. Neil Jessop's Zakspeed Mk2 Escort had a great battle with Chris Baker for Class B honours at Donington Park after qualifying on the class pole but alternator trouble struck to end his day early after Race Two. Baker's Mk3 Escort had matched Jessop for pace at the last event in Leicestershire and took the second race class win before driveshaft problems put him out of Race Three. Mike Thurley’s Mk1 Escort had a bruising Donington Park but would aim to harass the heavy-hitters Baker and Jessop on his local track. Tyler England took a maiden class win with his Fiesta at Donington Park as he continues to make a habit of collecting silverware. Oliver Bullion’s Fiesta ST had to get his elbows out to hold on to his Class B second place in the Donington Park finale and would be grateful for a shower of rain at the weekend after his four class victories during 2024 came in inclement conditions. Jay Hinton's Focus has been plagued with clutch issues and also suffered a cracked engine block at Donington Park to further test his enthusiasm but the ever-smiling Croydon man was back for another go, whilst Paul Solbe’s similar car returned to action at Donington Park. A nervy Chris Smith put in his first entry of 2024 with his leaf-sprung Mk1 Escort after returning from injury and Colin Claxton's Castrol-liveried Mk1 Escort was competing at its home circuit. BRSCC ClubSport Trophy regular Nick Watling made his Modified Ford Series debut aboard a smart 2.2-litre Mk6 Fiesta Zetec as he sought more track time in the car. Novices Adam Saint and Mike McKenzie took their first steps in the series at the last round aboard their Fiesta STs and continue to gather experience. Seven-time 2024 class winner Dave Barrett headlined a competitive Class C field at Snetterton with his Fiesta. Gary Littlewood’s rapid Fiesta could well be the pacesetter over the weekend and he hoped for a repeat of his Silverstone double victory instead of his early retirement from Castle Combe. Justin Fuller looked on for a class win on his return to action at Donington Park before the pacey Puma was forced out with a crank pulley issue. Darryl Taplin came to his home circuit on the crest of a wave after bagging his first class victory at Donington Park with the DT Racing Fiesta and aimed to grab a trophy or two. Kevan Hadfield’s ever-reliable Puma completed its 50th straight race without mechanical dramas last time out at Donington Park and he would be racing against both of his sons this weekend, as Mark Hadfield made his seasonal debut with his Gulf-liveried Fiesta and joined brother Shaun’s Puma on the entry list. Having been forced to withdraw his unfinished Class B Mk3 Fiesta project from the opening events of the year, Marc Mitchell wheeled out a just-completed Mk4 Fiesta in which he would take his series bow at the weekend and the car was resplendent in the 2011 works Ford WRC livery.
Qualifying: Another impressive entry of 42 cars was received, matching the Donington Park total, but unfortunately Tony Paxman was forced to withdraw late in the day after a long-term medical problem reared its head again so 41 cars would attempt to qualify. The flying Tommy Field Mk1 Escort RSR from Class SA scorched to pole position by 3.265 seconds from the misfiring Class A Sierra RS500 of Steve Scott-Dunwoodie. Piers Grange topped Class B+ with the third fastest overall time and headed row two from initial pacesetter Jack Gadd’s YB-engined RSR Mk1 Escort from Class SA, whose session was cut short by a shed boost pipe. Series head Paul Nevill set the fifth fastest time and impressively was only 0.389 seconds from class B+ fast-man Grange on the row ahead as he took a second off his personal best at the circuit. Lloyd Jamieson put his Escort Maxi Cosworth 4x4 third fastest in Class SA and joined Nevill on the third row in sixth. In a comparatively lowly seventh could be found Dave Cockell’s immensely powerful Escort Cosworth after being hamstrung by a loose intercooler pipe and the serial race winner would be expected to progress from there, Martin Reynolds’ mighty ex-Piers Grange/Neil Argrave Sierra V8 lined up alongside in eighth. Brian Lilley was an excellent ninth with his two-wheel-drive Escort Cosworth from Class A, whilst Robert Lewis was third fastest in Class B+ and would be the first front-wheel-drive car on the grid as he completed the top ten with his Ecoboost Focus. Tyler England took a whopping nine seconds off the quickest time from his previous visit to Snetterton with his Fiesta to top Class B in an impressive twelfth overall, he had 0.328 seconds and a car in between himself and the second fastest Mike Thurley Mk1 Escort Zakspeed on the row behind. Paul Restall would start third of the Class A cars despite only doing a single timed lap after his Sapphire Cosworth’s boost pipe popped off and he was the spacer between the two Class B leaders. Oliver Bullion set the third fastest Class B time in eighteenth, one spot and 0.811 seconds up on fourth qualifier Jay Hinton. Class favourites Neil Jessop didn’t complete any timed laps with more alternator issues and Chris Baker cut a frustrated figure as he toiled to start from seventh in class and 28th overall after struggling throughout the session. In Class C, Gary Littlewood placed his Fiesta in a highly respectable 21st overall to comfortably take the class pole by a healthy 2.728 seconds from local man Darryl Taplin. Justin Fuller's Puma qualified within a second of Taplin's Fiesta and had just over half a second in hand from regular class winner Dave Barrett’s Fiesta in fourth. There would be a group of three rapid Mk2 Escorts starting at the tail of the field, with Neil Argrave’s Warrior-engined example hobbled by a misfire that a change of plug leads sorted so would go from 37th, Neil Jessop’s new alternator turned out to be faulty so he reverted to the troublesome Donington Park unit for Race One but that wasn’t charging greatly either as he went from 40th and Dan Minton failed to set a lap time after a misfire beset the former Thundersaloon so would line up last in 41st.
Qualifying Results: Click here
Race One: The field completed two green flag laps before being unleashed for their first fifteen minutes of racing, with some of the entries not having completed the minimum three circulations in qualifying. Poleman Tommy Field held off Steve Scott-Dunwoodie and Jack Gadd into Riches from Piers Grange, Lloyd Jamieson, Paul Nevill and a cautious Dave Cockell. Gadd's RSR Turbo dived into second down the inside of Scott-Dunwoodie's RS500 at the Wilson hairpin during lap one and chased down Field's BDT-motivated RSR on lap two after searing round in 1 minute 57.639 seconds for the race's fastest lap. Gadd was in a postion to look inside the leader into Riches starting lap three as smoke started to emanate from Field's RSR after the BDT's breather was filling up with oil and spilling onto his windscreen. However, the second-placed RSR had to follow a slowing Colin Claxton Mk1 Escort through a yellow flag zone at Coram, for Wayne Crabtree's stranded Mk1 Escort, to stretch Field's advantage to 2.937 seconds after lap four. Gadd started to make inroads again into Field's advantage and had brought the gap down to 1.769 seconds next time around but heard a bang as his boost pipe came off as in qualifying so had to ease off with the resultant loss of power to cross the line 13.158 seconds down on the victorious Field at the early chequer. Cockell picked his way through the top six on the opening lap after staying out of trouble at the start, taking Jamieson for sixth on the run down to Agostini, moving past Nevill for fifth up to Hamilton and then breezing past Class B+ leader Grange for fourth along the pit straight at the end of the opening lap. The Escort Cosworth ultimately powered up to third at the expense of Scott-Dunwoodie's Class A leading car after outdragging the Sierra out of Agostini on lap two but had no answer for the rapid RSRs at the front which continued to draw away and Cockell trailed Gadd by 6.396 seconds at the flag. Scott-Dunwoodie crossed the line in fourth for victory in Class A and only had 1.358-second margin over Class B+ winner Grange's Mk2 Escort in fifth. Jamieson bested Nevill in their scrap for sixth after the RS2000 had gone inside the Escort Maxi Cosworth at the Wilson hairpin for the first time. Martin Reynolds was the fifth Class SA car home in eighth with the V8 Sierra after having an early battle with Brian Lilley and going on to chase down Jamieson. Dan Minton flew up from the back of the grid to ninth, having gained twenty places to finish the opening lap in 21st. He then bagged another nine cars on lap two to sit twelfth before breaking into the top ten on the third lap in ninth but a fourth-lap off-track moment at Wilson temporarily dropped the Mk2 Escort outside of the top ten but he was back in his final finishing position of ninth within a lap to claim third in Class B+, some 8.706 seconds behind Reynolds to make it two Thundersaloons inside the top ten and Minton had put in some great lap times to get there. Brian Lilley secured third in Class A as he completed the first ten cars home but his result came at a price as the diff seized on his Escort Cosworth to end his weekend prematurely. Neil Jessop came through from the rear of the grid for the Class B victory in eleventh overall, after battling past class polesitter Tyler England on the fifth tour. The lightweight Mk2 Escort had tailed the Class B+ sister cars of Minton and Neil Argrave up to 23rd overall on the opening lap before taking five further cars on lap two, he then saw off another four cars on the third time around to move into second in the class and reeled the youngster in to take the class lead into Agostini. The runner-up Fiesta had passed Todd Garner and Robert Lewis to be the leading front-wheel-drive car in the early stages before Garner's later Mk7 model from Class B+ repassed England to take the unofficial class honours. Chris Baker gained some ground after a trying qualifying to grab third from Mike Thurley as the Escorts charged past the pits ending lap four. Gary Littlewood and Justin Fuller were nose to tail for much of the race but the yellow Mk6 Fiesta held on for the Class C spoils, early second place holder Darryl Taplin stopped at Murrays with a wheel hanging off the Fiesta after the front-left bottom joint fell apart with five minutes left and brought out the chequered flag three minutes early. Mat Brennan recovered from qualifying electrical issues aboard his Mk2 Escort to reach the finish and claim the Class SB award in thirtieth. Neil Argrave had gone with Minton on lap one to cross the timing line in 22nd but had a wild spin approaching Murrays just in front of Lewis' Focus Turbo, which narrowly missed the rotating Escort, on lap three but he clawed his way back from twentieth to fourteenth and fifth in Class B+ behind Garner's Fiesta, who was looking forward to having his ABS sensor replaced overnight after struggling with locking brakes all day. Wayne Crabtree's Mk1 Escort had broken the nearside-rear halfshaft on lap two, which then broke the brake calliper bracket to leave the wheel barely hanging on and led to some grinding and welding on Sunday morning, whilst on the same lap Paul Restall's propshaft broke on his Sapphire Cosworth at Murrays and the flailing piece punched a hole in the floor! Adam Underhill was missing from the grid after another alternator let him down on his turbocharged Focus to end his weekend early.
Race One Results: Click here
Race One Results: Click here
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Race Two: Race Two got underway in a similar fashion to the opening encounter with Tommy Field's Mk1 Escort RSR leading into Riches and pulling a 0.927-second gap by the end of the first lap. Chief pursuer Jack Gadd came back at Field with his YB Turbo-powered RSR during lap two and took a look into Riches for the third time but Field blazed round in 1 minute 56.773 seconds to set the race’s fastest lap on three to open a margin once more as the two Class SA cars sped away. Gadd had to ease his pace after the car got hotter as the race wore on and a torn rear tyre made the handling go awry so Field's BDT-motivated machine took the spoils by a decent 6.958 seconds as the SHP-built spaceframes scored a 1-2 finish. Dave Cockell tried as hard as he dared in third overall but couldn’t keep pace with the RSR rocketships ahead despite going under the two-minute mark himself and gave himself a scare along the way when he dropped a wheel off the road and thought he had a puncture on the Class SA Escort Cosworth as a result. Class A winner Steve Scott-Dunwoodie took another fourth place finish but came under pressure from Class B+ victor Piers Grange's Mk2 Escort throughout as his Sierra RS500's rear tyres wilted. Lloyd Jamieson sealed another top-six finish with a solid run to sixth overall. Martin Reynolds blatted past Paul Nevill's RS2000 along the Bentley Straight for the fourth time to escape the ferret-like attention of early Class B leader Neil Jessop's Zakspeed Escort Mk2 and manhandled the power steering-less V8 Sierra over the line in seventh. Neil Argrave charged clear of the Class B scrap before they fell behind Malcolm Wise' Escort Cosworth and reeled in Nevill late on, whose Duratec engine was struggling with suspected fuel surge which caused the engine to bog down exiting corners, to grab second in Class B+ as the pair accelerated out of Oggies for the penultimate time, the two Escorts crossing the line in eighth and ninth. Todd Garner's Fiesta rounded out the top ten with his stopping power restored for fourth in Class B+. Initial Class B leader Jessop enjoyed a great fight with Reynolds in the early laps, with the Zakspeed Mk2 Escort having the upper hand in the twisty bits but the Sierra would rumble back ahead as soon as the road straightened up and for three consecutive laps Jessop would successfully go around the outside of Reynolds at Coram only for the V8 Sierra to blast back through up the start/finish straight. However, Jessop went out when his Duratec motor put a rod through the block down the Bentley Straight on lap five, thus the group caught behind the Wise Escort Cosworth became the fight for the class win and Chris Baker broke through to take the spoils from Saturday runner-up Tyler England. England had fought off the Mk3 Escort at Wilson on the opening lap before Baker screamed past down the Bentley Straight but England briefly got back ahead of Baker at Murrays for the fourth time while they squabbled behind Wise. However, the Mk3 Escort quickly redressed the balance on the following straight and cleared off to win the class by 4.715 seconds. The Fiesta was later caught and passed by Mike Thurley into Riches with a minute and a half left on the clock as the Mk1 Escort came back into contention after sitting fifth in class behind Jay Hinton's Focus on lap one but the Fiesta regained second on the last lap. Hinton crossed the line fourth in class despite losing fifth gear and the Focus cruised over the finish line to score his second finish of the weekend. There was a race of attrition for Class C honours as Dave Barrett's Fiesta and Justin Fuller's Puma both went out on lap one with electrical problems and a suspected head gasket issue respectively, before early class leader Gary Littlewood's Fiesta also departed the action with a broken gear linkage at the end of lap two. Darryl Taplin had robbed some parts from a donor car to make the start and suffered a heartbreaking exit when his Fiesta’s throttle cable snapped whilst leading the class with less than a minute remaining, much to the DT Racing team’s frustration after the many hours they put in overnight to rebuild the front end, so Kevan Hadfield's Puma led home a family 1-2-3 from Shaun's similar car and Mark's Fiesta. The brothers had swapped places during lap two and all three were covered by 3.614 seconds at the flag. Mat Brennan made it to the end for his second Class SB triumph with his Mk2 Escort, whilst Mick Head took home a trophy for second in Class A despite the Escort Cosworth overheating once more after Stefan Marsh, the long-time occupant of second place in Class A, picked up a puncture to force his retirement. Wayne Crabtree's repaired Mk1 Escort rose up from the eighteenth row to come home seventeenth in the end. Steve Minton took over the ex-Thundersaloon Mk2 Escort from son Dan for Race Two and succumbed to a recurrence of the misfire that stopped the car in qualifying, whilst Robert Lewis' Focus went out with a broken driveshaft that caused a nasty vibration on lap two, The overall winner of the race also received the Barn Ruche Trophy, a prestigious cup that has been presented for more than fifty years. The Modified Fords have been selected to award the prize to the Race Two winner by the BRSCC East Anglian Centre during their last couple of visits and the previous recipients have been Dave Cockell in 2022 and David Matthias in 2023, with Tommy Field now adding his name to the list of winners in 2024.
Race Two Results: Click here
Race Two Results: Click here
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Second race Class B victor Chris Baker was selected by event sponsor and Mk1 Escort Turbo racer Piers Warwick as the Scalextric 'Driver of the Day' award winner.
The Modified Ford Series makes its second visit of 2024 to Silverstone on the 18th of August next, this time competing at the northern end of the circuit on the National layout.
The Modified Ford Series makes its second visit of 2024 to Silverstone on the 18th of August next, this time competing at the northern end of the circuit on the National layout.