SCOTT and SCOT SHARE SNETTERTON SPOILS

[diz]

SCOTT and SCOT SHARE SNETTERTON SPOILS

Bank Holiday Sunday at Snetterton saw some lap record breaking racing in the Webcon UK Club Formula Ford in association with Richard Egger Insurance pair of championship races.
The Snetterton lap record had stood to Peter Dempsey since 2005 at 1m 14.8 sec. After 25 minutes of qualifying, the top three on the grid had all bettered this mark.
David Grady lined up third in his Unitec Motorsport Van Diemen RF02 on 1m 14.506 sec. In second spot was the Cliff Dempsey Racing / Lamberhurst Corporation / ScanDoc / Baines of Ripon / Es Ray GSR08 piloted by Scott Malvern on 1m 14.063 sec. Annihilating them both though was the QServ / Paramed uk Van Diemen RF92 of Knockhill based Rory Butcher. The young Scot flew round Snetterton's 1.952 miles in a staggering 1m 13.747 sec at an average speed of 95.28 mph.

As the field lined up for the first of the two races, Grady was missing, having encountered engine problems on the Green Flag lap. An engine change would see him back out for the second race. From the start, Butcher and Malvern pulled out a lead from the squabbling pack behind. Having officially broken the lap record on lap five, it all went wrong for Rory on lap seven when his gear box failed and he had to watch from the sidelines as Scott made the season score two to one in his favour. Ian Gough in his Gough Racing / Oldfields Autos of Southport Ray GRS07 and Matt Shawyer, in his Gulf liveried Century Motorsport Van Diemen RF90 took the final podium spots. The top six was rounded out by Adam Quartermaine, Team West Tec Van Diemen RF99, Matthew Parr, Unitec Motorsport / Future Webs Van Diemen RF01 and Benji Hetherington EOS Productions / Century Motorsport Ray GSR08.

For the second race, Grady with his replacement engine and Butcher with a Century Motorsport sportingly loaned and Medina Sport fitted gearbox would line up at the rear of the grid. After just one lap, Butcher had carved through the field to run 8th, with Grady 10th. These positions had improved to 3rd and 6th, when the Safety Car was called out on lap six. A half spin by another car [unidentified by the marshals] caused an avoidance collision at Riches between Cormac O'Neill's Cliff Dempsey Racing / Moston Ray GSR08 and Dave Connor's Team West Tec Van Diemen RF03. When the race resumed. Butcher was on a charge and quickly saw of Gough to take 2nd, a move repeated by Grady three laps later, demoting Merseysider Gough to fourth. Over the closing laps, Rory was all over Scott like a rash and eventually he took the lead on the penultimate lap to score a very popular win. Butcher further lowered his lap record to 1m 14.210 sec. Behind Malvern, David Grady took a satisfying podium spot after his earlier problems. Gough, Parr and a smokey Shawyer [he pulled off after the flag] completed the top six.

In the concurrent National Pre90 Cup, Andrew Xavier took a pair of wins in his 08 Direct Van Diemen RF87 from racing debutant Josh Barnett in his Saab City Van Diemen RF88. Josh was very impressive all day and kept Xavier honest, even taking the satisfaction of fastest race lap in race two.

The Webcon UK Club Formula Ford Championship now moves to Wales on 16th / 17th May, when Pembrey is the venue for rounds 5 and 6. Hopefully some Castle Combe regulars will make the short journey over the border to sample National level Formula Ford.

Don't forget, Castle Combe drivers can get another outing in National Club Formula Ford when the championship visits their Wiltshire homeland over the weekend 8th / 9th August.
Don't be shy guys, come and join us. Most of us don't even bite.

[FFfan]

For the second race, Grady with his replacement engine and Butcher with a Century Motorsport sportingly loaned and Medina Sport fitted gearbox would line up at the rear of the grid. After just one lap, Butcher had carved through the field to run 8th, with Grady 10th. These positions had improved to 3rd and 6th, when the Safety Car was called out on lap six. A half spin by Martin Galpin's AK Plant Hire / number66.net Swift SC94 caused an avoidance collision at Riches between Cormac O'Neill's Cliff Dempsey Racing / Moston Ray GSR08 and Dave Connor's Team West Tec Van Diemen RF03. When the race resumed. Butcher was on a charge and quickly saw of Gough to take 2nd, a move repeated by Grady three laps later, demoting Merseysider Gough to fourth. Over the closing laps, Rory was all over Scott like a rash and eventually he took the lead on the penultimate lap to score a very popular win. Butcher further lowered his lap record to 1m 14.210 sec. Behind Malvern, David Grady took a satisfying podium spot after his earlier problems. Gough, Parr and a smokey Shawyer [he pulled off after the flag] completed the top six.

Malvern was 5 seconds ahead of 2nd placed Gough with Butcher a further 2 seconds back when the safety car was deployed ironically due to an incident involving Malvern's team mate. Malvern looked like he had a double in the bag but with the bunching up and Rory's much fresher tyres he was able to put in some blistering laps. Malvern then went wide on Shawyers dropped oil (no flag) on the penultimate lap which allowed Butcher through. But all credit to Rory for driving a great race after his earlier problems (& to the Medina boys who got him sorted) and no one, including Scott (Malvern) who was the first to congratulate him begrudged him his win after his earlier misfortunes. Grady also did brilliantly. Just shows you that anything can happen in motorsport!