HIGH SUMMER AT SILVERSTONE
Can Josh Smith secure the Excool OSS title this weekend? Photo: Keith Lowes
Our Midland Centre has been the busiest in the Club for several years now, and after what for them would be considered a relatively quiet fortnight – just a Fun Cup meeting at Donington last Saturday – they return to full 'club' action tomorrow with a two-day meeting on the Silverstone National circuit.
For most of the championships on duty the meeting marks the start of the second half of the season. However, for the Excool backed OSS Championship their three races are the last of the season so we will see the crowning of our first champion of the year – the Bridgwater College prepared Radical PR6 of Josh Smith looks to be the favourite to claim that honour, although Craig Fleming’s Juno will push him all the way.
The Excool OSS won’t be the only champion to be declared this weekend as the Avon Tyres Formula Ford Triple Crown will also fight out its conclusion tomorrow. Oldfield Motorsport’s Stuart Gough has an eleven point lead ahead of James Raven in the Post 89 division, while in the Pre 90s it will take an enormous points swing if Frodsham’s Jamie Jardine is to be denied yet another 1600cc title. Both Gough and Jardine also lead the National Formula Ford standings in their respective classes and points are also on offer in that competition tomorrow.
With six races to go in the battle for the 2014 FJC title, the Championship returns to the scene of the season opener for rounds 11 & 12 – the Silverstone National where Rob Cox was the victor in both races. Rob could certainly do with a repeat performance to get back on terms with new leader Geri Nicosia. When the drivers left Silverstone in April there was a slight concern that Rob, with the experience he had gained in the previous season, might dominate the FJC in the same way that JJ Ross did. Unfortunately for Rob, but good for healthy competition, that hasn’t proven to be the case and now four drivers have now registered wins this year.
Dagenham’s Dan Holland will roll into Silverstone tomorrow in confident mood having won both Jam-Sport Fiesta Class C races at Donington last month. However, he will have to bring his best form if he is to catch Class C leader David Ellesley, who won the season opener here in April. Another winner that weekend was Leicester’s David Grady and he sits thirty points behind Ellesley in the standings, and has proved to be the Ipswich man’s nemesis several times this season.
Keith Chapman looks home and hosed in Class B of the Jam-Sport Fiestas with almost a 100 point gap to second placed Mike Hooper. In Class A for the Si, 2013 champion Ian Scruton has the advantage but he is not out of the woods yet. With six races to run the Gravesend Dendy-Sadlers (Lee & Peter) and Jack Williams all have a realistic chance of reeling Scruton in. Class D, for the Zetec S, looks to be a three-way fight between James Appleby, Ed Cockill and the experienced David Abbott, who is hanging onto the latter pair’s spoilers.
Simon Hill currently leads the ever expanding Teekay Couplings Production GTi Championship, which will bring twenty-four Golfs to Silverstone. Hill has a thirty-two point lead going into the penultimate meeting but will still have to be wary of the challenges offered by the likes of Simon Gusterson, John Mawdsley and Martyn Walsh. Mawdsley in particular is something of a specialist around Silverstone after his successful jaunt at the recent Silverstone Classic.
Guesting at Silverstone this weekend are four very well supported series from the Track Attack Club. You couldn’t squeeze another car onto the joint grid for the Nippon Challenge and Tricolore Trophy. In addition to the joint race, both series will also have separate outings. James Janicki’s Nissan Skyline is favourite in the Nippon Challenge while the Mitchell father and son combination of Andrew and Curtis have that tag in the French themed series.
YourIrishShop.com are the backers of the Toyota MR2 Series, which runs together with the Carbon8 & Activa Consultants Coupe Cup. Paul Corbridge and Arron Pullan look the most likely contenders in the MR2s, while Paul Manyweathers, Adam Lucas and Jon Winter will make predicting a winner in the Coupe Cup a fool’s game.
The weather for the weekend looks like a mix of sunshine and showers on both days. You can check a detailed forecast at SILVERSTONE WEATHER
The timetable, Final Instructions and entry list for all races can be found at SILVERSTONE RACE WEEKEND
Live timing from TSL can be found at SILVERSTONE TIMING
