TAYLOR ENDS CLARK’S BOXSTER DOMINANCE

What now appears to be standard wet July weather greeted competitors, marshals and officials alike when they arrived at Rockingham last Saturday morning for the two day BRSCC Midland Centre meeting.

After the morning qualifying sessions the Porsche GT3 Cup got race proceedings underway and as expected Oly Mortimer took the victory ahead of Graeme Mundy and Steve Liquorish. The afternoon’s second GT3 Cup race produced the same drivers on the first two podium steps but young Turk Yucel Ozbeck dislodged Liquorish from third.

Northallerton’s John McCullagh won the first Porsche Club race ahead of Mark Sumpter and Ben Demetriou. The second outing resulted in a win for veteran Porsche racer Mark McAleer in his 968, ahead of Sumpter and Peter Morris.

The Caterham Academy Group 2 drivers were pleased to see that conditions had improved on Saturday when they entered the fray just after 2pm. The elements were immaterial to Andy Welch as he repeated his Brands Hatch win, after holding off a stiff challenge from David Robinson. Brad Smith took third spot a further 10 seconds back.

The Group 1 Caterham Academy race produced a new winner in the shape of Windsor’s Charlie King. Championship leader Elliott Norris was second with Brands Hatch victor Charles Bowmont continuing his good form to claim third.

Classes A, B & D of the Competition Car Insurance Dunlop Ford Fiesta Championship were the first to race on Sunday, by which time the rain had returned after a bright start. Scott Baines and John Langridge were first and second, winning Classes B & A respectively, with Nik Barton third. Langridge and Baines swapped positions in race 14 and Ken Bateman replaced Barton on the third podium step.

The ST Class of the Fiesta Championship produced 16 cars for the first of their double headers. Ex Formula Fordster David Grady won by 8 seconds from Harry Cockill with another FF exile Matthew Parr in third. The first two held their positions in the second race but Cockill cut the gap to just 1.351 seconds with Bishop Stortford’s Ashley Sutton coming home in third.

The shock of the meeting occurred in the Design911.com Championship where previously unbeatable Dave Clark had to concede to Gerry Taylor’s Boxster in not just one, but both races! Richard Styrin was third each time and 924 campaigner Steve Brown continued his excellent form with two class wins.

The S&G Response Ford XR’s packed qualifying and two races into Sunday’s schedule. Chester’s Mark Robinson took pole and victory in the first race but the second tour brought him a DNF on lap 9. Peter Lancaster was the one to benefit adding victory to his earlier second place. In the XR3i class, Jason Hennefer claimed two class wins ahead of Danny Leigh and John-Ifan Jones.

The Production GTi Series made their first appearance at a BRSCC meeting at Rockingham, enjoying two races yesterday afternoon. John Colbourne took the chequered flag in the first race from Nick Porter and Andy Knowlton. However, it was Porter who enjoyed the best afternoon with a second race win from John Mawdsley with Colbourne dropping down to third.

Members of the 500 Owners Association enjoyed the opportunity to race their cars over 9 laps. Richard Ellingworth’s Parker Kieft took the honours with Mike Fowler’s Cooper Mk5 second and Darrell Woods’ Staride Mk3 third.

For the offficial results CLICK HERE