ROCKINGHAM AT THE READY


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Formula Jedi provides the single-seater action at Rockingham this weekend. Photo: www.ajbphotographic.co.uk

Our ever busy Midlands Centre is back at Rockingham for the second time in two weeks this weekend for a 16-race meeting featuring single-seaters, saloons and sportscars.

One of four series guesting on the schedule at Rockingham is the Quaife Intermarque Championship and they are the first race of the day, just before lunch tomorrow. Reigning champion Matt Simpson drove his Vauxhall Tigra to victory in rounds one and two at Brands Hatch last month, so the smart money would be on Matt to stretch his lead further.

The Teekay Couplings Production GTi Championship got their season off to a very positive start at Snetterton over Easter and a very healthy twenty-six car grid will line up tomorrow on the International Super Sportscar Long circuit. Simon Hill and Simon Gusterson shared the spoils at Snett sharing first and second places. While the Simons are the early pace setters there is plenty of quality in the field to challenge them.

Single-seater action at Rockingham comes in the shape of the uber quick Formula Jedis. Dan Clowes is the early leader but former champion Andrew Dunn signalled his intent with a race win at Silverstone last month and there are plenty of other experienced drivers who will have their chance to shine as the season progresses. At the other end of the experience spectrum is 16-year old karting graduate Ryan Harper-Ellam, who will make his Jedi debut tomorrow.

It has been a long winter for everyone connected with the Dunlop TVR Challenge as Rockingham will host their first two rounds of the season. The TVR chaps don’t like to come out until the sun shines and it looks like they won’t be disappointed this weekend. Nineteen of the powerful cars will line-up on the grid and the main battle looks to be between champion Dean Cook, who has changed to a Sargaris this season, and Tim Davis who has bought Dean’s winning Tuscan.

The Arrowpak Saloon & Sportscars are down on entry numbers this weekend so they will qualify and race together with the Pipe Center/Geberit Ford Racing Series. Mike Biggers took two Arrowpak wins at Silverstone last month in his Nissan Skyline while Davd Matthias’ Escort Cosworth won both Ford Racing Series races at the same meeting. Both drivers will be hoping to repeat their braces this weekend.

Making their first appearance at a BRSCC meeting are MSVR’s Trackday Trophy and Team Trophy, both of which are very well supported and will have a forty-five minute and sixty minute race respectively. There are plenty of potential winners in the Trackday field, including last time victors Andy Chapman and Leon Bridgway. In the Team Trophy, the favourite will be the Bacon Butty Racing Porsche 968, driven by Andrew Ball and Rich Hughes.

While all other races will be on the International Super Sportscar Long circuit, Rockingham’s favourite sons, the Pickup Truck Championship, will contest two thirty-five lap races on the Oval circuit. Birmingham’s Nic Grindrod was the big winner at Brands Hatch last month winning rounds one and two, so he will arrive at Rockingham full of confidence. However, there are plenty of drivers in the fifteen car field who have tasted victory on the Rockingham Oval before, including Paul Tompkins, David O’Regan, Phil White and Antony Hawkins.

For the entry lists, Final Instructions and timetable visit ROCKINGHAM RACE WEEKEND


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