|
Another early morning start for the intrepid racers in the Le Mans Euro and Road Saloon series. The Bank Holiday seemed to do the Road Saloons race entry no favours, and at least three cars are still out of action
after Cadwell Park. However, the Euro Saloons showed its biggest entry of the season with 8 cars present in Class A alone and two newcomers in Class D, Matt Hales in the V6 Vectra and ex-Auto Italia driver Nev
Simpson in the Alfetta GTV.
Qualifying:
As the cars lined up in the assembly area, it started to rain lightly, not enough to need wet tyres, but just enough to take the edge of grip and in
places the circuit was a little slippery. As expected the two Nissan Primeras set the pace with Peter Challis having the edge on Derek Hale, but Phil Libby's Sapphire Cosworth was in close attendance. A newcomer,
Richard Hawken in another ex-BTCC car, a Vauxhall Cavalier, qualified in 4th with Matt Hales bringing the Vectra to an impressive 5th in his first race. Tony Soper was having problems in the Alfa GTV, oil leaking
out adding to the slippery conditions which caught a number of the competitors out during the session, but with the wide open spaces of Snetterton, all incidents occurred without damage
The Road Saloons were
predictably left at the back of the pack, the two long straights putting a premium on the power of the Euro Saloons, and the extra braking available on slick tyres. Steve McIntyre headed the pack, just 0.2 seconds
off the back of the Euro Saloons grid, with Richard Hill and Neil Threadgill a little way back. Chris Broad only managed one lap, his problems from Cadwell Park seemingly not resolved.
The Race:
The rain held off during the morning and the race took place on a dry track. The starter held off the green light as late as possible to ensure a good clean start and then the pack was off. Peter Challis went
straight into the lead, a position he was to hold all the way, but behind him Derek Hale and Phil Libby were swapping places in the race for 2nd, a contest which ended on lap 6 when Phil pulled out of the race due
to overheating. There was a three way contest for 4th (to become 3rd after Phil retired) between Richard Hawken, Tony Soper and Pete Simpson's Lancia Integrale with much swapping of places, finishing with Tony 3rd,
Pete gaining 4th on the last lap and Richard 5th. Matt Hale's race was lonely once Nev Simpson retired but he finished in an excellent 6th and winner of Class D. At the back of the Euro Saloons, Mark Skeggs' Ferrari
308GT4 and Trevor Nicosia's Lancia kappa battled for six laps until finally Mark was able to break free.
The Road Saloons entry was further diminished when Richard Hill pulled over on the approach to Riches
on the first lap. Steve McIntyre tried to hold on to the back of the Skeggs/Nicosia contest but started to fall away by lap 3, going on to take the Road Saloons win.
The championship positions are much the
same with Tony Soper, Pete Simpson and Trevor Nicosia maintaining 1st, 2nd and 3rd, but good results have brought Derek Hale and Peter Challis back into close contention.
Simon Taylor still leads the Road
Saloons series from Simon Jackson and John Shoesmith, but their absence from this race has allowed Steve McIntyre to move up the rankings.
Report by Trevor Nicosia, Car 10
|
