BRSCC RACEDAY – OULTON PARK 25TH MAY 2009

A celebrity driver joined the Power Torque Caterham Superlight R300’s. BTCC driver Paul O’Neill was performing a Track Test for Motorsports News. In the first R300 race he challenged winner Jonathon Walker early on but lost pace and had to settle for third behind Matthew Draper. Championship leader James Sharrock retired after losing a section of his exhaust. O’Neill initially led the second R300 encounter but soon faded allowing Draper to take the honours.

So many drivers were entered in the Drivers Republic Caterham Roadsports A category they required an extra race. Robert Springate comfortably took the first of these from Roelant de Waard. The latter went on to take his maiden victory in the final event of the day. When others crashed on The Avenue on lap 2 he was left with a large advantage. In between Raphael Fiorentino just held on to take the second encounter after Mike Steadman had reeled him in. Steadman had been delayed battling with Toby Dicker.

There was also a large turn out in Roadsports Class B. Tony Farrell led most of race 1 but was pipped by Gordon Sawyer. These two rejoined their battle in race 2 and Paul Brannan briefly joined in the fun but lost his nose-panel in a grassy moment when it began to drizzle at Knickerbrook. The precipitation also claimed Farrell who had a “moment” on the penultimate lap handing Sawyer win number 2.

Youngster Daniel Denis had built up an advantage of almost 10 seconds by the end of the first of two Avon Tyres Caterham Superlight R400 races. Behind him four of his rivals fought over second place until Grahame Tilley broke clear to claim the spot. Next time out Denis lost the win to Simon Young by a tenth of second while Tilley retired.

In the Creative LED Solutions Post ‘89 NWFF1600 contest Simon Kinsey cruised to his second victory of the season. Behind him Mike Bennett became embroiled in an epic battle with Neil Patten. Despite a sterling defensive effort, Bennett had to concede the runner-up spot in the closing stages.

Meanwhile there was a dramatic four car battle at the head of the Pre ’90 field between Nigel Thompson, Ian Parkington, Stuart Jones and Justin Dawkins. A collision on lap 4 accounted for Thompson and Dawkins leaving Jones to keep Parkington at bay and take the chequered flag.

All cars in NWFF1600 are sporting stickers promoting the Factor50 charity with the aim of promoting awareness of Malignant Melanomas. Oulton marshal Paul Sutcliffe is behind this initiative having suffered from this form of skin cancer himself. As those involved with motorsport spend so much time outside (marshals especially) this campaign has a great deal of relevance. Find out more at : www.factor50.org.uk

The full results for the meeting can be found at: www.tsl-timing.com/brscc/2009/92231.pdf

Finally, a big thank you to the Red Cross gentleman who assisted this correspondent in getting up the three flights of stairs to the Media Centre!

Dave Williams