PAUL PLANT IS ALFA CHAMPION
25 year old Paul Plant was confirmed as the youngest ever winner of the BRSCC Alfashop Alfa Romeo Championship at Silverstone (GP circuit) last Sunday. He also became the first champion not to win a class, having switched from Class D 33 to Class E 156 mid season before finally having a run in a Class B 156. However, he had totted up enough points to make his position unassailable by runner up Tim Lewis and third placed Mel Healey.
The 25 minute race at Silverstone was part of the support package for the Britcar 500 and was also run for the Kevin Griffiths Trophy. A surprised Roger Evans (GTV 3.8) managed to snatch pole position from Tim Lewis's supercharged Alfasud Sprint but Tim wasted no time at the start in establishing himself at the head of the 32 car field. Roger never gave up the chase, though, and was a mere 5.23" behind at the finish. In the process, both drivers had smashed the previous Alfa lap record by some 5 seconds. Chris Snowdon finished a lonely third while Paul Plant took the Class B win by finishing an excellent 4th overall ahead of the Alfetta GT 2.5 of Nev Simpson. For much of the race there had been a splendid contest between Nev, Chris Oxborough (supercharged 75 3.0) and Christina Holley (75 24v), the latter well into the groove after a 2 hour stint in the Britcar with a Porsche the previous evening. Fading tyres dropped Chris and Christina back behind Gareth Haywood (1562.5) and Keith Waite (75 3.0) before the finish. Class C went to Dave Messenger's 75 in the absence of two GTVs that had had problems in qualifying while Neil Smith led Mel Healey home in D, both in 16v 33s. Class E was its usual busy self and produced a new winner in Gethin Llewellyn (156) who headed Graham Heels (147) and another 156, that of Paul Buckley. There was also a classic Alfa invitation class for the first time which went to the very rapid Alfasud Sprint of Mike Watson from the Alfetta GTV of Will Morton. Tim Lewis was presented with the Kevin Griffiths Trophy by Kevin's brother Simon and daughter Abby. Championship Class Winners for 2009 are: Class A: Tim Lewis (supercharged Alfasud Sprint) Class B: Gareth Haywood (156 2.5) Class C: Shaun Hazlewood (GTV 3.0) Class D: Mel Healey (33 1.7 16v) Class E: Paul Buckley (156 2.0) For more information on the Championship visit : www.alfaracer.com |