Silverstone Report, by Lee

And so to Silverstone for our final races of the season. The early forecast showed a chance of rain, but fortunately this never happened. Therefore it was a dry track for qualifying, which featured all three groups plus the WRDA competitors. The track was very busy, but most drivers managed to get a reasonable lap time. The awesome V8 Volvo, driven by Craig Dolby, was quickest overall with Reuben Taylor topping the intermarque silhouettes and Alex Sidwell heading the super saloons. In the Tin Tops it was Chris Bassett just edging out Matt Rowling. All the times can be seen here: tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BRSCC/2024/243931qu1sul.pdf

The first group on track were the Ashstone MEP supers and tin tops with Sidwell leading away from Paul Restall, but the white Sierra Cosworth slowed and dropped to the tail of the field. This left Clive Haynesford in second with his potent Mazda RX8 turbo followed by Martin Reynolds (Mk2 Ford Escort) and Paul Watson (BMW E36). On lap five Watson displaced Reynolds to take third and also the lead in class B. Dave Avis was next up leading class C from James Hunt and Jacques Whitehead. Then came Chris Bassett, heading the tin tops, with Rod Birley (BMW E90) in pursuit. Martyn Scott had Matt Rowling for company, until the recovering Restall came past them both.

The second half of the race was fairly static for the front four, but further back both Avis and Bassett ran into gearbox issues. They both struggled to the finish and lost their respective class leads. Into the lead of class C came Jacques Whitehead usurping James Hunt, whilst Matt Rowling took the tin top honours. Neal Gardiner finished runner up in the tin tops, from Matthews and  the ailing Bassett then Sam Haywood (who won T1). Meanwhile Sidwell had a quick spin at Becketts on the penultimate lap, but such was his lead that it made no difference. Haynesford outpaced Watson for third, with Reynolds holding off Whitehead for fourth. Restall got back to sixth and with the results amended he took class A honours. Hunt came home 7th from Birley, Scott and Rowling. Ian Seale took his customary TP class win, finishing behind Avis, Shorney, Skelsey and Cleugh.

The second race saw Sidwell lead away from the fast starting Reynolds, chased by Haynesford and Watson. Lap two and Reynolds was shuffled back to fifth as Restall joined in the battle. Lap 3 and Restall was second, but on the next lap he pulled off exiting Becketts with a puncture. As things settled down Sidwell lead from Haynesford, Watson, Reynolds and Whitehead. The first two positions were secure, but on the last lap Reynolds found a way past Watson to take third and win class B. Whitehead was not far back in fifth, winning class C from Avis and Hunt. Birley took 8th overall, winning class A, followed by Scott (class D winner) and Rowling (tin tops winner). Haywood got the better of Gardner in their battle, Sam again winning T1, with Skelsey 13th from Seale (TP winner), Waller and Cleugh. The other two retirements were Matthews and Shorney.

The BMR driver of the day went to James Hunt, with Martin Reynolds winning the Caesar electrical best prepared car award.

The Hoosier Tyres intermarque silhouettes would start behind the WRDA competitors this time. This meant that Dolby led away in the big Volvo, pursued by Jack Gadd in his RSR Escort turbo. These two set a blistering pace, but it was not long before our intermarque drivers were weaving their way through the slower WRDA cars. By lap three it was Russell Humphrey up to fourth spot followed by Phil Spinks, Keith White, Reuben Taylor and Colin Smith in a fast moving train. Their battle continued race long, as Taylor gradually worked his way past those in front to eventually take the win. Humphrey finished a very close runner up, with Spinks impressively holding off White and Smith. Warren Farazmand had a good run to claim sixth in our group, whilst Cocksedge had his best run in 7th. Baz Johnson had his re-built Pontiac back together, after the Snetterton incident and enjoyed mixing it with the WRDA bunch in the mid-field. Jon Price completed the intermarque finishers, following the retirement of Stephen Phillips and Paul Knight. Both Mick Robertson and Volker Timm were non-starters.

Race two saw the first 7 finishers reversed for the starting grid. This gave Cocksedge his first pole position. With Dolby non-starting at the head of the field, it meant that Gadd had a fairly easy run to victory. Again it was the progress of the intermarque guys that was impressive. Initially Farazmand led the charge, but then White took up the running. Two laps later and it was Taylor at the front (now lying second overall). Colin Smith was an early casualty, pulling off on lap 3, but the battle continued as Humphrey joined the leading trio. In the end it was Taylor who took the win (also winning the senior class) as White chased him home, losing out by only 0.2 of a second. Farazmand held off Humphrey, until lap 14, in their battle and they were only separated by half a second at the chequered flag. Price had a good run to take fifth, from Timm (managing a race at last) and Johnson. Cocksedge completing our finishers, after the late retirement of Spinks.

In all three categories our drivers put on some good racing, with plenty of battles throughout both fields. January 25th is the next event, which is the awards night at the Village hotel in Maidstone.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *