MAZDAS ENTERTAIN CASTLE COMBE CROWDS

Anthony Nield won his MX-5 SuperCup race at Combe on Monday. Photo: Jon Elsey

After a nine year break, the South Western Centre ran an action packed ten-race programme on Whit Monday.

Having only mustered six cars for the inaugural race at Combe two years ago, the MX5 Super Cup provided healthy competition for twenty-niine Mk3s in two races over the 1.85 mile Wiltshire circuit.

Race one saw Alan Henderson win from ninth on the grid, with Paul Sheard second from fifth and Anthony Nield third from eleventh in an exciting six-car battle for honours. Race two saw Nield take the flag after fifteen laps from Liam Murphy with Simon Goddard a close third by less than a second. It was Nield's first ever race win and a credit to the tutelage he has received from paul Sheard.

The four MX-5 Mk1 races proved great entertainment and variety with Brian Chandler and Sam Smith taking close wins in the A group, while Kevin Dengate and Steve Andrew claimed the B group honours.

The highlight of the day for many proved to be the 24 car handicap enduro in the memory of former Honda test driver Dave Allen. The ‘Dave Allen Trophy’ saw Hondas battle with Mazdas, Minis and an Ariel Atom for top honours. After the handicap had been applied Roy Stevenson’s MX-5 Mk1 came out on top with Dan Ludlow’s Honda Civic second and the Kevin Dengate/ Tom Roche MX-150R in third.

Supporting the BRSCC championships, three of Castle Combes core series provided additional racing for the good bank holiday crowd. Barry Squibb took a hard fought win in the Sports and GT championship with former saloon champion Ilsa Cox second and Nick Holden third

FF1600 action saw Michael Moyers win from Adam Higgins and Roger Orgee with Felix Fisher and Ed Moore in close attendance. A 36 car grid for the Combe saloon Championship saw Tony Hutchings’ Audi TT see off many challengers with Garry Prebble, John Barnard and Tony Dolley making up the top four.

Finally, the BRSCC South Western Centre is immensely grateful to the many people who made this return possible; the marshals, over 150 in number with many returning faces were excellent, our friends at Castle Combe Circuit, CCRC and BRSCC HQ staff, whose help on the day and pre event was immense – we couldn’t have done it without you!!

You can see all the race results, qualifying times and lap analysis at Castle Combe results

Our next event is July 18/19 with Caterham’s providing the top billing!!

Please come and join us!

Ian Danaher
Treasurer & Competition Secretary
BRSCC South Western Centre