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The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998 |
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The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998 |
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mail your news to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk
BARC WESTFIELD SPORTSCAR SERIES Small victories Having already taken victory in a one-off outing at Castle Combe, Russell Small returned to follow in Peter Daglish’s footsteps with a double victory at Snetterton in the new works Aero race 190M. Although Small was on pole for the first race, he lost out initially to both Chris Davison and Simon Pryke, who shared a couple of early exchanges. But it was Davison ahead as they came through Coram, with Small into second on lap two, as Nick Flowers started to pressurise Pryke. There were a couple of swaps and changes for third, but Flowers nosed ahead again from lap four, just. Small began to threaten Davison’s lead and got ahead on the fifth lap, while Pryke pushed himself to the limit in his quest to retake Flowers, taking to the grass exiting Russell. Behind them Martin Gartside was unable to relax, as both Seamus Harding and Harry Gordon-Finlayson were champing at the bit. Davison darted back in front on lap seven, but was unable to shake off Small and had to give best again two laps but this time for good. “I wasn’t risking too much, but at least Russell dragged me to a new lap record,” said Davison. Pryke managed to reclaim third briefly, but ran wide at Riches and had to settle for third behind Flowers. “I was lucky to be on the gird after my oil filter split in qualifying,” said Flowers. “Nick had too much grunt for me, I had trouble getting a tow, although I was quicker in some places,” added Pryke. Harding and Gartside had a sort out too, which allowed Gordon-Finlayson to pass them both. “We were slipstreaming and exchanged places, then both went off at the Bombhole, but there was no contact,” Harding explained. “I had to drive off so I didn’t hit Seamus, I outbraked him but there was no room,” Gartside replied. Of the two Gartside recovered the quicker and reclaimed fifth from Gordon-Finlayson and closing Harding. RESULT RACE 1 1 Russell Small 16 laps in 21m01.197s (89.14mph); 2 Chris Davison 21m02.620s; 3 Nick Flowers; 4 Simon Pryke; 5 Martin Gartside; 6 Harry Gordon-Finlayson; 7 Seamus Harding. Fastest lap: Davison 1m17.393s (90.79mph). Davison again made the best of race two, and as is the first race he paired off with Small, with Pryke and Flowers battling for third and Harding holding an early advantage over Gartside and Gordon-Finlayson. The top four all changed places on the second lap, but although Small tried to extend his newly gained advantage, Davison stuck like glue. But having retaken Flowers Pryke did manage to briefly consolidate third. Once Gartside had found a way into fifth he did manage to escape and even closed on the third place scrap towards the end. On lap eight it was all change again though at the top of the leaderboard, Davison in front and Flowers in third. Both duels continued to rage until the very end, just to prove that it’s the quality of racing more than the number of cars that make a race. Despite Davison’s best efforts, Small finally made the decisive move at the Esses on the penultimate lap, while Pryke made third his own from Sear on lap 12, despite the presence of Flowers in his wheeltracks, right to the flag. “It has a lot of top speed and Advent set it up just right for me. It was an enjoyable battle,” said Small. “Well I thought I would have a crack at him this time,” Davison replied after securing the Series Trophy. “It was tough but clean and I wasn’t giving up,” said third placed Pryke. “Each time I got Simon, the next thing I knew he was back again,” added Flowers after just missing out on the podium. Gartside ran out of time in his quest to close the gap still further, “I had no battle so just got my head down and concentrated. But both wing stays broke with vibration,” he said. Gordon-Finlayson had seemed set for sixth but the pressure from Harding finally told. “I lost it at Sear and then missed a few gears,” he explained. “Well I spent so much time battling with Harry that Martin got away this time,” said Harding. RESULT RACE 2 1 Small 16 laps in 21m03.264s (89.00mph); 2 Davison 21m04.353s; 3 Simon Pryke; 4 Nick Flowers; 5 Martin Gartside; 6 Seamus Harding; 7 Harry Gordon-Finlayson. Fastest lap: Davison 1m17.253s (90.64mph).
Published by Peter Scherer, September 29th, 2009
Daglish does the Double Peter Daglish made a winning return to the series, when he took the wheel of the new works Aerorace 190M at. Despite Chris Davison’s determined efforts, Daglish was a double winner as the car got quicker and quicker through the weekend. It was Davison that grabbed the early advantage in race one, over Simon Pryke and Daglish. But Andrew Spencer was third into Sunny, as Nick Flowers, Michael Ellis and Seamus Harding sorted themselves out behind. As the top six started to break away Spencer snatched second at Tower on lap two, but Davison was getting further away still. Daglish was back to third at the Complex, with Pryke in fourth and Ellis ahead of Flowers for fifth. Harding led the next group of five running nose to tail from Quentin Laithwaite, Martin Gartside. Harry Gordon-Finlayson and debutant Mark Pasquill. Davison started to come under pressure from Spencer, but on lap four it was Daglish in second again at Tower. It was just as close in fourth, as Ellis nosed ahead of Pryke and Flowers closed in too. But Ellis headed pitwards shortly afterwards, “the thermostat housing broke after I had been over the grass at Sunny,” he explained. Laithwaite was also in trouble with a spin at Tower. So it became three for the lead and three for second, while the rest ran almost line astern for seventh. It was Spencer pushing the hardest though, taking Daglish on lap six and Davison a lap later for the lead. But Daglish continued his attack, taking Davison at Clervaux before going for the lead. He had nosed ahead at the Complex on lap seven but was all crossed up and Spencer went back ahead, as Davison dropped back in third. Into Tower a lap later Daglish did make it through under braking and soon made it decisive. Both Spencer and Davison became spread out in second and third. “I just couldn’t match the power that Peter had, I have got a good new engine though,” said Spencer. “I lost out outbraking myself at Sunny. The tyres went off and got very sideways,” Davison added. Pryke and Flowers continued their nose to tail duel over fourth and even closed on Davison towards the end. “It was very hard work and I was out of shape sliding at the Hairpin a lot. I was disappointed to lose out so much to Andy and Chris though,” said Pryke. “I thought I could get Simon, but had no opportunity. He was all over the place made no real mistakes,” Flowers replied. Harding fought off Gartside’s effort for sixth, “Martin was a bit ragged, but it was a phenomenal race,” said Harding. “Since my rebuild I had terrible vibration and it kept pulling left under braking,” Gartside replied. Laithwaite reclaimed eighth from lap seven, while Small and Finlayson headed the new boy Pasquill despite colliding at the Complex on the fifth lap. RESULT
RACE TWO Davison made the best get away again, heading Daglish, Pryke, Spencer, Flowers, Gartside and Harding through Clervaux. Daglish made his first attack at the Complex, but Davison just held on, while Spencer started to fall back as he came under attack from Pryke. Into Tower it was side by aside again with Davison still holding on, which allowed Spencer to close again. Flowers and Ellis were on their own in fifth and sixth and Laithwaite made it past Gartside for seventh into Tower on lap three, as Harding fell back. Daglish finally got a run on Davison on the fourth lap to lead into Tower, before steadily building his winning margin up to 9.8secs. “We made some changes for the second race and obviously got it right. I would love to race one of these next season,” said Daglish. Davison was left in a solitary second, “I just couldn’t live with that power,” he added. The third place battle went right to the flag, with Pryke a constant thorn in Spencer’s side. His challenge at Clervaux on lap seven sent him through the gravel, but he was soon back to challenge again as Spencer held his line. Pryke briefly nosed ahead at Tower, but Spencer came back. They swapped a couple more times before Spencer held on from the Complex with three laps to go. “New tyres transformed the car and it was a good clean race with Andrew,” said Pryke. Flowers retained a racelong fifth, “Simon had new tyres and I couldn’t catch him except when they battled together,” he said. Ellis was a solo eighth and Harding made it back to seventh from lap eight. “I was racing where I normally finish, so didn’t make much progress,” he said. With Finlayson out after 10 laps, Small followed Harding home despite fears over his gearbox, which left Gartside in ninth, Laithwaite 10th after a spin at the Complex and Pasquill 11th.
RESULT
Published by Peter Scherer, August 25th, 2009
A Small win in a Westfield Croft Chris Davison and debutant Russell Small shared the victory spoils in two intensely fought races, in which the weather definitely had a part to play. Davison shot away from pole to lead the first race from Nick Flowers, Roger Green and Chris Gould. Green was debuting the new Aero 190M and was soon into his stride, picking off both Davison and Flowers before the end of the opening lap. As Davison did his best to hang onto Green, Simon Pryke darted through on the inside of Flowers at Camp on the second lap to snatch third, even though both exited on the grass, which allowed Gould and Will Chappell to close. Flowers pulled off shortly afterwards his clutch having gone after the minor excursion at Camp. Chappell worked his way past Gould for fourth, while Russell Small headed Nick Grout, Brian Small and Martin Gartside in a five car train for sixth. Davison shot back ahead on lap four, but Green fought back and a number of further exchanges followed. But on the seventh lap Green missed a gear onto Avon Rise and gave Davison the chance to break. But behind them the battle continued to rage with Chappell just edging out Pryke and Gould on lap five, before Pryke regained the advantage a lap later. Their battle continued as Gould waited in the wings, Russell Small was left on his own in sixth, while Brian Small, Seamus Harding and Gartside all fought over seventh with Matthew Jones doing his best to join them, after Grout had spun out. “I braked too late into Quarry and lost the back end,” he explained. A couple of laps later Brian Small was out of the running after a tap from Gartside spun him at Camp. “It had been a good race until then, but no chance of catching up,” he said. A few laps Gartside had gone too having crashed out at Quarry and lost two wheels! While Davison cruised through the remaining laps to claim victory by over nine seconds, Green was left even more secure in second. “That was good. I felt I had it under control once I was ahead, then put in some good laps and when Roger lost the tow it was just enough,” he said. “Yes that battle was for real, we swapped twice on some laps. I just couldn’t get back after missing a gear even though I tried hard,” Green replied. But the fight for third went down to the wire with Chappell leading onto the last lap. Pryke had a nose ahead at Camp on the last lap and they touched. Chappell’s front wheel collapsed and he hit the luckless Gould, who was sent hurtling into the barriers. Pryke held the place and although Chappell was fourth on the road, he was excluded for having his exhaust loose and not pitting. “It was a good start then got mixed up with Nick, had a few changes and the caught up with Chris and Will,” Pryke concluded. “My chassis is damaged, a wishbone and the front corner. I was inside Simon and he shut the door, I couldn’t then avoid hitting Chris,” said Chappell. Russell Small was also a late retirement which left Harding to battle to the flag with Jones before securing fourth. “Exhausting but pleasurable and I think someone challenged me at every corner,” said Harding. Jon Chappell and the recovering Brian Small completed the finishers. RESULT RACE 1
Fastest lap: Davison 1m15.529s (88.17mph).
RACE TWO To say the track was wet was an understatement, with standing water everywhere just staying on the track was a feat in itself. Davison led from pole followed by Green, Russell Small, Flowers, Pryke, Jones, Brian Small and Harding. But Davison was soon making a break as Green struggled for grip and was soon overhauled by Russell Small. Grout also shot through order to fifth, aided by the first of Pryke’s sequence of spins and similar pirouette from Brian Small. “Old Paddock 360 and another one somewhere else,” said Brian. But Russell Small was flying and Davison’s lead was soon wiped out at the ex Jedi and Formula Palmer Audi racer shot ahead into the Esses on the fifth lap. Green held onto third, but after making fourth Flowers spun, “I went into Quarry just a bit too quick,”he said. Grout followed suit which promoted Harding, who had the recovering Pryke and Flowers hunting him down. Pryke went by for fourth on the next lap and began to close on Green, while back at the front Davison closed again on Small’s lead as the rain got even heavier. But Pryke let the red mist get the better of him and had a double 360 spin on the start of finish line and dropped him back to eighth. Over the closing laps it was nose to tail for the lead but Small held it just, “I think it was when I came around Camp and saw Roger fighting for control I realised I could win. I was told to back off though when the rain came down again,” said Small. “I thought I could get Russell back at the end as I seemed to have more speed on the straights. But it was too greasy and he had the extra power,” Davison replied. “Once I lost out at the Esses to Russell I went from understeer to oversteer and back juggling for control, it was OK to drift until you touched a white line,” said Green after holding onto third. Grout surged back to pick off Harding for fourth with two laps to go, but took Camp on the last lap almost out of control, which resulted in a spin after the flag. “So I spun lost some places when they made mistakes, until Seamus and I started to catch Roger. Then I hit a puddle on the last corner and tried my hardest to hold on,” said Grout. Harding just missed out by a coat of paint, “after I had a half spin I just waited to see what happened and maybe got a bit quicker,” he said. Flowers made it back to sixth, Jones was seventh, “good first lap, spun at the Esses, spun again and again,” he reckoned. Pryke finally took the flag eighth, with Brian Small and Jon Chappell following him home. RESULT RACE 2
Fastest lap: Davison 1m36.822s (68.78mph).
Published by Peter Scherer, July 21st, 2009
Spencer and Davidson duel to the death (of Spencer’ s engine) Andrew Spencer and Chris Davison both made their returns after missing the Mallory Park trip, Spencer had been looking for a race winning double, but after two terrific duels with Davison his engine let go in the second race leaving Davison in the clear. The rivalry began during qualifying with Spencer just taking pole from Davison, by 0.460secs. Simon Pryke was third, albeit over 1.4secs off the lead pair. Ex Kit Car man Matthew Jones completed the second row, with Martin Gartside and double Mallory winner Chris Gould on the third. From the start Davison snatched the lead, with Pryke flying through into second at Paddock. Spencer and Jones were next up, but it was Pryke still on the attack. Into Druids he had the lead, but Davison was back in front at Surtees and led the pack through at the end of the opening lap. Pryke lost out to Spencer and Jones and Nick Flowers moved in to challenge too, while at the back Nick Grout was playing catch up, after a spin at Clark Curve. Spencer was all over Davison into Druids on lap three, while Jones had to battle hard to fend off the dueling Pryke and Flowers. His defence was breached through Clark Curve, with both storming past for the run to Paddock. A lap later Spencer made his move and squeezed through to lead on the inside of Paddock. Further down the order Will Chappell shot up to sixth, after demoting Gartside and father Jon. But after running wide at Graham Hill Bend Spencer lost momentum and Davison surged ahead again onto Cooper Straight. Jones also began to fall back from the duelling Pryke and Flowers, to come under threat from Will Chappell, Gould and Gartside. Spencer surged back to the fore a lap later on the outside at Paddock, while Pryke and Flowers had a couple of exchanges too. But it was wheel for the next few laps, until Spencer made a break. But at the flag it was only 0.218secs in Spencer’s favour. “I had to push hard all the way, I could get the lead but had difficulty defending,” said Spencer. “I will need to bully him a bit more, and I kept compromising myself at Paddock too,” Davison added. Pryke won the battle for third after his racelong duel with Flowers, which was being caught by Gould in the closing laps. “Well I led and then Chris closed me down, then Matt Jones got me a few laps later and Nick too. It felt underpowered but at least I got Nick back and a podium, “said Pryke. Gould caught Flowers napping at Paddock with a lap to go, while Jones spun down to eighth on lap 15 and then again at Paddock on the last lap. “I got stuck when Will and Matt were battling and there was no space. Once I got a clear track I closed and just got fourth from Nick,” said Gould. “I thought I was safe then Chris caught up while I was busy chasing Simon, “Flowers added. Will Chappell pulled out with brake problems leaving Gartside a solitary sixth. “It was the same problem as Mallory, the brake line on the rear again,” said Will. “I had been happy in qualifying, but only got a good lap at the end of the race. I got stuck in fourth gear from Druids to Cooper Straight early on and lost three places and was left playing catch up,” said Gartside. Seamus Harding came with his customary strong finish to secure seventh, “I had a new gearbox but got held up a bit, but my tyres were perfect for the later laps when everyone else’s were going off,” he explained. Jones finally took eighth. “New tyres made all the difference as I never thought I was that fast, but we didn’t change the tyre pressure’s for the dry race and they went sky high,” said Jones. Brian Small. Harry Gordon-Finlayson and the recovering Grout completed the finishers, with Mark Callahan and Jon Chappell retiring. “I had started with a semi bald tyre on the back and hadn’t noticed,” Small explained. “My clutch went, I thought it was the gearbox,” said Chappell Snr. “I ran out petrol,” Callahan admitted. We topped up what we used from qualifying which was 10 laps, but the race was 22,” he added.
RESULT RACE 1
Fastest lap: Davison 53.867s (80.10mph).
RACE TWO Spencer had gear selection problems on the way to the start of race two, and was left chasing Davison in an early break. Pryke flew off into the gravel at Paddock on the second lap, which left Jones, Flowers and Will Chappell battling for third. Spencer led into Paddock on lap three, but Davison soon reclaimed the place, as once again it was wheel to wheel. Chappell got past Flowers, but found Jones defence somewhat more unpredictable at times. Gould was also on the move after his customary poor start, taking the fast starting Grout into Druids on lap six. There were numerous exchanges between Davison and Spencer over the next few laps, until Spencer past the pits on lap 12 sounding very sick indeed. Davison was left in the clear to win, while Spencer pulled off in a cloud of smoke. “That was such a shame, I was really enjoying that race with Andrew,” said Davison. Chappell finally got past Jones into Paddock on lap nine, with Flowers poised to follow, But once again Gould was closing in too. Into Druids for the fifth time Gould sneaked past Flowers, only to go sideways at Clark Curve and hand the place back. But he came back once more taking Flowers and Chappell for a solid second from Paddock on lap 15. It was then Flowers turn to challenge Chappell, and after a couple of laps pressure it was all change at Paddock and Flowers had the place with two laps remaining. “I had a good start but couldn’t get past Matt again. I felt I was the quickest of the group I was in, but nice to get my first podium of the year,” said Flowers. Chappell retained fourth from Jones and Harding ousted Grout for sixth on lap 14, despite closing up again at the flag. “I could have had second but got distracted by the warning flag and lost out to Chris and Nick,” said Chappell. “I made a few mistakes again and saw Nick coming back at the end. I must do better in the first half,” admitted Harding. For Grout there was a mixture of pleasure and disappointment. “I pushed a bit too hard and then nearly went off chasing Seamus,” he explained. Gartside held onto eighth after a later battle with a determined Small. Gordon-Finlayson and Callahan completed the finishers, after Jon Chappell failed to make the start. “I struggled again but don’t’ know why, and was so slow in the tight bits,” said Gartside. Small admitted to having eyes almost close during a brave move on Gartside around the outside of Paddock, but for Callahan another disappointment, having to pit with a possible fuel leak.
RESULT RACE 2
Fastest lap: Spencer 53.998s (79.91mph).
Published by Peter Scherer, June 9th, 2009
1997 champion Chris Gould made up for his disappointing Rockingham, with a hard fought double victory. After qualifying there was only 0.002secs separating Gould and Brian Small on the front row of the grid, closely followed by Nick Flowers and Will Chappell. Brian Dean headed row three from Rockingham victor Simon Pryke, with Jon Chappell next alongside newcomer Harry Gordon Finlayson. Seamus Harding, Mark Callahan, Matthew Jones and Nick Grout followed with Martin Gartside on his own at the back with a chronic misfire. With Gould making his customary poor get away, Small had the lead from the start, but the whole field charged into the Esses as one. Flowers made it to the front as they turned into Shaws Hairpin. Small, Gould, Will Chappell, Dean, Finlayson, Jones and Jon Chappell followed as they flew through Devils Elbow, but there was already chaos as cars clashed at Gerards. Callahan decided to head for the pits to check his damage but everyone else continued. “Nick Grout went off with me to, I am sure it was oil,” he said. Gould made it into second at Gerards and Pryke started to move through the order, but still had Jones pressing for fifth into the Esses. Gartside was also up to seventh, having taken Jon Chappell, Harding and Grout. Flowers began to pull clear by the end of the third lap, but third place Chappell Jnr began to tow a five car train increasingly closer to third placed Small. Dean and Finlayson clashed at Gerards, and although Dean continued at the back of the field, Finlayson headed for the pits as his oil pump belt came off in the gravel. Pryke was on the move again a lap later taking Chappell Jnr into Gerards for fourth, but behind them there was little to choose between Jones, Jon Chappell and Gartside, while Harding was doing his best to join them. Flowers may have had been in the clear but Small responded to the pressure from Pryke and they both latched onto Gould’s tail. Gartside eased past Will Chappell and Jones on consecutive laps to hold fifth from lap eight and Harding ousted Jon Chappell for eighth into the Esses. But Will’s race was run as he headed back to the paddock with no brakes. Harding’s charge continued and he had a couple of laps wheel to wheel with Jones, until they made contact on lap 12 and Jones spun exiting Shaws. As Jones headed for retirement Flowers began to slow too and toured into the pits with a blown headgasket. “I had a run on Seamus after taking the Esses side by side, but we made contact as I was squeezed and hit the back of his car. I pitted as I was losing coolant,” Jones explained. Gould was left in front from Small, but Gartside had nipped ahead of Pryke for third at Devils Elbow. It was all change again a lap later when Gould and Small spun at Gerards. “Chris and I both lost it at the same spot on some oil. We were on the grass and I was left nose into the tyre wall,” Small explained. Pryke grabbed the advantage over Gartside, but Gould recovered in time to hold third. While Gartside did his best to unseat Pryke, their duel allowed Gould to close again, taking second into the Esses on lap 18 as Gartside made an aborted attempt on the lead. For the next five laps it was nose to tail for all three, until Gould made his move down the Stebbe Straight to claim the narrowest of victories over Pryke. “I don’t too many races like that. I went so far off I thought I would hit the barrier, but kept the speed and went through the gravel,” said Gould. “I am happy with second. I don’t know what happened at the start I was well down and people were spinning. Martin gave me a hard time though,” said Pryke. “It was do or die with Simon. I tried to take him on four consecutive laps, then Chris split us and I waited to see if anything happened,” said Gartside. Harding was left to secure a solitary fourth and Small’s recovery took him past Dean for fifth on the last lap. “I just tried to stay out of trouble near the back and then three went off at Gerards. I then just worked my way up,” said Harding. Grout was a close seventh with Jon Chappell eight after tailing off towards the end. “I was battling with Seamus and Matt until they hit each other. I had to stop and just lost momentum from there,” said Jon. RESULT RACE 1
no other finishers. Fastest lap: Small 52.188s (93.12mph).
RACE TWO The grid for the second race was based on the second best times and gave Flowers a pole he was unable to take up. So Gould was alone on the front row, followed by Will Chappell and Dean. Pryke was alone on row three as Small was sidelined with a split fuel tank, but the rest all made it out. Gould was unable to make the most of his pole position again, as Dean led the field through Gerards. “I got away Ok but then fumbled second, it’s a mental thing and just makes it hard for myself,” Gould explained. Will and Jon Chappell followed from Pryke, with Gould fighting back in fifth. Into Gerards for the third time Jon Chappell ran wide and dropped to fifth, as Gould took the opportunity to dart ahead of Pryke for third too. Dean was under pressure though from both Will Chappell and Gould and Chappell made it into the lead exiting Gerards on lap four, as the top four ran nose tail. Gould made his move on lap five taking Dean through Gerards, before getting a run on Chappell into the Esses. Callahan had another spin at Gerards after contact with Harding, who then found himself into fourth as Jon Chappell retired. “I had a flying start and was really on the boil until I got a fuel leak,” he said. Although Gould had the lead he was unable to shake off Will Chappell over the remaining laps. At the finish they were still only 0.224secs apart. I knew I had the pace as the car felt really good. It would have been interesting if the race had gone full distance,” said Will. Dean had another spin was left playing catch up, leaving Pryke in a fairly solitary third from lap six. “It was Gerards but all on my own,” said Dean. Gartside held fourth from the Esses on lap eight, but Harding came to back to attack again as Jones closed in too. “When Brian Dean spun I came off the power and lost the tow to the leaders, then had a moment myself at Shaws and allowed Martin to close a bit,” Pryke explained. “Fourth is Ok, but I had really bad wheel vibration through Devils Elbow,” Gartside added. Harding was forced to pull off with a broken gearbox two laps from home, leaving Dean’s comeback drive to net him sixth place. Fifth place was satisfying enough for Jones too, “we were having a great three way fight until Seamus had to pull off, but I got blocked a bit at the start,” he said. “Grout and Finlayson kept their duel going to the end for seventh and eighth, leaving Callahan to complete the finishers. “I just missed a spinner at Gerards but great fun,” concluded Grout. RESULT RACE 2
no other finishers. Fastest lap: Gould 52.291s (92.94mph).
Published by Peter Scherer, May 11th, 2009 Pryke powers ahead at Pif Paf With both double champion Andrew Spencer and last years final round winner Chris Davison both back at Rockingham, they were expected to set the pace on the return to the Northamptonshire circuit. But it was Simon Pryke who had the measure of them both, taking victory when Davison retired with a lap to go. Only 0.28secs covered Davison, Will Chappell and Pryke after qualifying, with champion Spencer down in fifth behind Nick Flowers. Although 15 cars qualified, Chris Gould was sidelined with an ECU problem and failed to make the start. As the lights went out it was Davison that led the charge through Turn One to the Deene Hairpin, from Pryke and Flowers. It was a real scramble as they arrived at Yentwood, Davison was ran wide and Pryke got through, before Brian Dean darted into third and then second by Tarzan. Spencer and Mark Callahan were next through, but further back there was a collision when Nic Grout had a half spin and was collected by Brian Small. Pryke got the lead as they came through the Brook Esses and briefly pulled away, but Davison was back ahead of Dean and soon regaining earlier lost ground. Spencer had also made it past Flowers for fourth, while Martin Gartside was charging back into contention, sixth after a poor start. Into Deene for the third time Davison rocketed back into the lead, while third had become a three car scrap. Spencer was all over Dean but was on the grass at Yentwood and briefly fell behind Flowers again, before retaking through Pif Paf. Gartside’s advance was also tempered when Will Chappell came hurtling past. As Davison and Pryke started to make a decisive break, Spencer just nosed ahead of Dean through Turn One, but had both Chappell and Flowers following after they had swapped too going into Tarzan. But at the Brook Esses Dean spun and Spencer was left clear in third as Chappell and Flowers were both delayed, which allowed Gartside to make a successful challenge on Flowers. By lap seven the brief gap Davison had built had been eroded again by Pryke. Will Chappell had closed on Spencer and Flowers was back to challenge Gartside, but brought Jon Chappell with him. Pryke made his move to regain the lead on lap 11, nose to tail and then side by side through Pif Paf before he managed to push his nose in front. But Davison was smoking and as they past the pits to start the penultimate lap he spun on his own oil and was out of the race. Pryke was left in the clear to take his third career win. “After Chris got ahead again I was pleased I could stay with him. Relieved too after some oil leaks in qualifying,” he said. Second place went down to the wire, with Spencer and Will Chappell sharing four exchanges on the last lap, before Chappell’s gearbox had enough at the Brook Esses when he appeared to have secured the place. “It kept jumping out of gear. Coming through from the back I didn’t know what position I was in, where I was quick or how quick and then the gearbox went. “ said will.“ It was all under control of course,” Spencer reckoned as he regained his place. Gartside held off the ever present Flowers for third, “it was hard work keeping Nick behind but very rewarding,” he said. “I just spent too long assessing the race and dropped back. I was determined to pass Martin, but then drove through the oil had to back off,” added fourth placed Flowers. Jon Chappell also backed off when he saw oil on the track, “the throttle had been sticking too and it wouldn’t idle properly,” he said. Dean scrambled his way back into sixth, after taking Callahan on the last lap, “I couldn’t have the embarrassment of coming last,” he reckoned. Debutant Matthew Jones was eighth, with the misfiring Seamus Harding ninth and newcomer Harry Gordon-Finlayson tenth. Following their first lap clash, Small and Grout completed the finishers. RESULT
Fastest lap: Pryke 1m32.539s (75.47mph).
Peter Scherer, April 21st, 2009
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