ROCKINGHAM REVIEW
As it always does Rockingham provided enough thrills and spills to keep everyone entertained at last weekend’s two day BRSCC Midland Centre meeting and for once the weather was kind to the racers and marshals alike.
The spectacular Super Mighty Minis were the first championship in action and Yorkshireman Pat Ford was the main beneficiary of the double header. While title rival and erstwhile leader Elliot Stafford won the opener, a second place and a win in race two was enough for Ford to take the championship lead by a single point from Elliot who came home fourth in the second outing. Scott Kendall showed consistency to take two third places and Dave Rees was runner-up in race two.
Peter Challis set the pace in qualifying for the Arrowpak backed BRSCC Euro Saloon & Sports Car Championship but he and the rest of the grid had to play second fiddle to Reading’s Richard Fearns who took his Ginetta G50 to a brace of race wins. Challis and David Krayem made up the podium in race one. Krayem’s Ginetta went a place better in race two and Derek Hale’s Honda Accord grabbed third.
Honours in the Dunlop TVR Challenge were shared between Hugh Marshall and Martin Crass who recorded a win and runner-up spot a piece. Tuscans dominated the field so it was no surprise that Jamie Golby made it a 1-2-3 for the popular model in each race. Andy Race took two Class B wins, in……you’ve guessed it….a Tuscan!
Richard Mitcham arrived at Rockingham as the clear favourite in the Formula Jedi Championship with seven wins from eight. That faith was repaid as he won Saturday’s encounter by almost six seconds from James Fletcher, with Daniel Cook third. However, engine problems prevented Mitcham from joining in Sunday’s action leaving the way clear for Fletcher to take his second chequered flag of the season. Paul Butcher followed him across the line and Daniel Cook repeated his Saturday podium place.
The double header for the Fuchs Titan Race MR2 series produced a twin triumph for Flitton’s Ian Davies. Steve Hennessy was a very close second behind Davies in each race while Jon Winter and local man Paul Corbridge shared the third place spoils.
The Pickup Trucks thundered around their home oval for two races, each of 35 laps. Birmingham’s Nic Grindrod was the man who came out on top on both occasions but he was pushed every inch of the way in each encounter by Steve Dance. The long journeys of Dave Longhurst (Worthing) and Michael Smith (Hartlepool) were made worthwhile with a third place finish for the pair.
Northampton’s Ade Tuckley enjoyed mixed fortunes at his local track in the Mighty Minis Championship. He took pole position and then victory in the first race but then, along with three other drivers including championship leader Louise Inch, he was disqualified from the second race for failing a ride height check. Plymouth’s Chris Slade was the man to take advantage adding a race win to a second place finish in the first tour. Mark Burnett maintained his title bid with fourth and second places finishes, while Michael Dryden and Kit Stevens each scored a third place finish.
Cardiff’s Jann Mardenborough carried the field before him in the Nippon Challenge putting his Nissan 370Z on pole before winning both races. The podium was repeated in each race with Brain Heitkotter (also in a Nissan 370Z) and Paul Hughes (Honda Integra) second and third.
An impressive grid lined up for both Quaife Intermarque League races which also featured the Tiger Series. Chris Brockhurst and Tommy Field were the respective victors with Jonathan Hoggarth’s Pontiac Grand Prix taking second in each. Glastonbury’s Keith White was third in the first race while Chris Brockhurst had to make do with the final podium step in what was the last race of the busy meeting.
For the full results click ROCKINGHAM RESULTS
