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Multiple Champion and 2CV Racing Legend Pete Sparrow, won both races as the short but entertaining season came to a close at Mallory Park.

Lien Davies had led th     e field through on the hectic opening lap, from Alec Graham, Sandro Proietti, Sparrow and James Dartiailh.

But in an immediate reshuffle Graham and Proietti both ousted Davies, with Sparrow down to fifth behind Dartiailh.

The changes continued as a four car break began to appear, with Davies reclaiming the lead for a while, before surrendering to Sparrow on lap six.

“When Alec started to drop back it became a real dog fight, but Pete Sparrow got to the front and went for it,” said Davies.

Nick Roads had joined in with Davies and Graham, but Proietti had hit trouble on lap three and fell well down the order. “I had trouble in qualifying, so was coming back through and when Sandro lost the rear and went off at Gerards, that helped me,” said Roads.

“I had got up to second into the Esses, but was too quick into Gerards, the rear end went loose and I fell off,” Proietti admitted.

Dartiailh had also lost ground, but fought his way back passed Glen Oswin and Mick Storey into fifth, before demoting early leader Graham on lap eight.

Back at the front Sparrow and Roads had managed to break the tow, leaving Davies a solitary third. “I should been able to hang on, but my steering rack was worn and the front wheels wobbled, but I thought I was safe in third,” Davies added.

Dartiailh’s charge had continued however, and he began to reel in Davies and on lap 14 he was through, but couldn’t consolidate his newly earned place. So it was Davies that finally claimed the place into the Hairpin on the last lap, well adrift of leaders Sparrow and Roads.

“I had the pace to stay with Pete but not to overtake him,” Roads added.

Oswin managed to take Graham for fifth on lap 15, while Storey was on his own in seventh. The recovering Proietti, David O’Keeffe and Nigel Hollis rounded off the top 10.

It was Davies to the fore again at the start of the second race, with Sparrow, Proietti, Graham, Nick Crispin and Roads in formation behind. Initially though Storey and Graham had been up there, until Storey had a touch, lost it and dropped to seventh.

But on the second lap Sparrow managed to not only get the lead, but started to make a decisive break as Luca Proietti, Davies, the recovering Graham and Roads all contested second place. “There was quite a bit of contact and Alec tapped Luca and dislodged his wing,” said Davies.

Proietti and Graham briefly got away in second, with Davies trying to hold on, while in fifth Roads and Crispin were duelling too.

As Sparrow’s lead grew, the second place duel allowed Davies to join in again and on lap six he had passed them both.

But Davies’ moment only lasted a lap, as both Proietti and Graham retook took him to continue their private duel.

The fifth place battle managed to close in on Davies, but he fought back to rejoin the second place scrap again, but this time took Roads and Crispin with him.

It was all change again on lap nine though, with Davies falling to sixth, as Crispin had found a way passed both him and Roads.

By the end of lap 10 Sparrow’s lead was over three seconds, but only 0.144 secs split Proietti and Graham.

Davies was out though, which left Crispin and Roads to fight over fourth, promoting Oswin and Storey into the fight for sixth.

“I had gone across the Esses with Nick’s Crispin and Roads and then the car wouldn’t turn in at the Hairpin, so I limped back to the paddock,” Davies explained.

With Sparrow safely on his way to his second win of the day, all eyes were on the fight for second, with Graham back ahead of Proietti from lap 12.

With three laps left Roads had sneaked back ahead of Crispin yet again, as both caught the second place fight. “Nick missed a gear at the Hairpin and we had both been across the Esses. We lost a bit of ground but caught up again,” Roads explained.

Proietti joined the casualty list, having been ignoring a black and orange flag, which then became black. His wing had been flapping for most of the race after contact from Graham, so it became a three-car battle to settle the podium places.

Sparrow had backed off but still had 2.224 secs in hand, while only 0.643 secs covered the next three, with Graham just holding on from Roads and Crispin.

Oswin was fifth after pipping Storey a lap from home, with Roy Eastwood, Patrick Cobb, debutant Luke Wos and Nigel Hollis completing the top six.

When all the points were totalled it was Alec Graham that was crowned 2020 Champion.

WINGROVE/MWR RACING QUARTET TAKE THE HONOURS

The numbers may have been down on last year, with the European visitors unable to make the trip, but the atmosphere and competitiveness were as strong as ever, despite the weather.

Wingrove/MWR’s Euro Hybrid with Peter Dalkin at the wheel was straight into an early duel with Alex Osborne’s AP Motorsport Mini, but it was Osborne that had a 6.661secs after the opening hour, a lead halved by the appearance of the safety car, when Chris Yates went straight on at Riches in the Blueberry Muffins car.

After Osborne had taken charge, Dalkin was straight into a second duel with Team Toyshed’s Chris Slade.

The rest of the top six was made up of Mini’s too, with Slarky Malarky’s Neil Slark, Team Mini-Uns Ashley Shelswell and Lyford Racing, before Pete Sparow led the Classic 2CV class for Team 2CV Lion, well up on Brian Heerey’s Crisis at Tete Rouge car.

The rain was getting heavier but from the green flag Dalkin was back ahead again into Riches, as Slade closed on Osborne for second.

Further down the order a great scrap was developing between Lien Davies (Team ECAS), Marcus Burnett’s GR Racing and DD Motorsport’s Kris Tovey.

But after the second hour Dalkin was a lap clear of Osborne, despite having a spin at Coram as Slark and Slade continued to duel for third, with Team Mini-Uns closing too.

Team 2CV Lion had climbed to sixth overall, but there were three more Mini’s on the leaderboard before Heerey’s 2CV in second place.

Davies had broken away for ECAS in for third in class too, with James Northfield’s Twin Snails completing the class top four.

Most of the first planned stops came in the third hour, but the MWR Wingrove car was still a lap clear, as the APO, Slarky Malarky and Team Toyshed Mini’s battled for the overall podium.

“It was very slippery, I kept going around the outside of the Hybrid but he powered back ahead on the straights, then the safety car kept closing us up too,” said second placed Osborne.

But some had problems already, “we had to make an early stop when a wheel bearing broke,” said Rosie Racing’s Julie Walford.

“I did three 3hrs and 20mins, had two spins and an excursion, but waited for the safety car before pitting and it didn’t appear,” Davies explained.

Both Blueberry cars had problems too, “at the first corner the car in front braked hard I lifted and spun,” said the Tarts Jessica Owen.

“My first stop was at the yellow flag when the Tarts spun, then a penalty for overtaking when I was just regaining the place taken off me,” added Muffins Chris Yates.

The Mini’s were still starring with APO’s Kieren McDonald second, from Ben Butler’s Slarky Malarky car, Toyshed’s Elliot Stafford and Mini-Uns Ade Tuckley, before in sixth was the leading 2CV for Team 2CV Lion and Alec Graham.

Crisis @ Tete Rouge were still in second, from ECAS and Twin Snails, but with the rain continuing to fall darkness came early.

Into the night Matthew Cobb put together a string of sub 2 minute laps to build the MW /Wingrove lead. With Mark Waghorn and David O’Keefe sharing to, they were seven laps ahead into Sunday morning.

The Mini duel for second had continued but it was Slarky Malarky now ahead of APO, after Lee Poolman encountered a misfire, with Mini-Uns next up and the 2CV Lion squad fifth overall, from Crisis @Tete Rouge and Twin Snails now third in class after a charge from Paul Rowland. “I am bloody good I am, and Alec got a great slide on trying to pass me on the inside at Coram,” said Rowland.

Toyshed had dropped well down though after a problem. “A bolt came out of the bracket for the clutch and it flexed rather than change gear,” Michael Dryden explained.

But as dawn approached Slarky Malarky had a two lap lead with MW Wingrove six laps off second placed APO after a number of overnight problems. “The crank sensor, the throttle cable and lots of other bits,” they explained.

Mini-Uns were still fourth and 2CV Lion fifth, with Crisis @ Tete Rouge still second in the 2CV class from Twin Snails and DD Motorsport.

Just before 7am there were more dramas, as MWR/Wingrove slowed again and headed for the pits and APO were in with a snapped fan belt.

Slarky Malarky’s quartet of Neil and Ian Slark with Ben Butler and Steve Miles continued to lead the way, but despite their problems MWR/Wingrove were back in charge into the 20^th hour.

They had another throttle cable breakage and had to be towed in. So Waghorn replaced Dalkin for a short stint before Cobb brought it to the flag and sealed victory.

Ian Slark handed to Neil for the final Slarky Malarky stint. “This was when we start hearing things,” Ian admitted.

Team Mini-Uns were third after APO had a two lap tow back penalty after running out of fuel, “Ade Tuckley did two night stints, but we weren’t brave enough in the dark,” Mini-Uns Shelswell admitted.

The Lyford quartet of James and Nick with Alan Evans and Tim Harber were fifth, but there was a dramatic finale to the 2CV class and sixth overall.

Sparrow had taken over from O’Keefe at about 7.15am, but just before 10am he pitted with concern over a front wheel. He rejoined but was soon back in changing the front hub assembly. “I still heard a noise maybe a rear bearing, then it went away and I just got on with it. I decided to stop worrying unless a wheel fell off,” he reckoned.

Their problem gave Crisis @Tete Rouge the class lead, with Twin Snails second, but with Heerey at the wheel, they had a late crisis with two hours left, when a front steering arm broke at Coram.

So Sparrow/Graham/O’Keeffe were back in front and claimed another win, but Crisis @Tete Rouge’s Heerey/Nick Roads/Sandro Proietti and Ian Gibbon were still a clear second, with Martin Riman, Aubrey Brocklebank, Northfield and Rowland completing the class podium for Twin Snails.

DD Motorsport’s Nick Crispin/James Dartiailh/Tovey and Sean Sidley completed the top 10 overall for fourth in class, followed by ECAS, GR Racing, Hollis Motorsport and Jelly Snake.

Rally racers had been up to second in class after some sterling work from Freddie Martin-Dye and Dan Willan. “It was going great until it broke, I think I passed every car twice,” said Martin-Dye.

All 21 cars that started took the flag in some form, some as they had started and some rather modified.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Racing was back in style at Cadwell Park, with action throughout the 2CV field before Alec Graham and Luca Proietti shared the victory spoils.

Graham had started from pole and led through Coppice on the opening lap, from Matthew Hollis and Sandro Proietti, before Lien Davies surged through into second as they arrived at Park.

By the end of the opening lap Davies was pressing Graham for the lead, leaving Hollis and Proietti to dispute third from Brian Heerey, Nick Crispin and Mick Storey.

While the lead duel intensified, Proietti made it into third on lap two and broke clear, while both Crispin and Storey edged out Heerey.
It was soon a five-car train for fourth place, as Hollis slipped into the battle and Crispin went to the fore.

The duel for the lead however had allowed Proietti to join in, but as he started to threaten Davies, Graham took the opportunity to make an escape.
But this only spurred Davies on and he snatched the lead for a lap, before Graham fought back, while all the time Proietti lay in wait.

Hollis’ challenge continued to fade and after six laps the top six had split into two three-car battles. It was Graham still with the advantage, but Proietti had ousted Davies, while behind them Crispin was just holding off Storey and Hollis, before a gap to Glenn Oswin, Richard Hollis-Brown and Michael Fox.

Proetti has his eyes on the lead though, he chased Graham into Charlies on lap seven, as Davies fell back. Two laps later Proietti was ahead out of Barn, only for Graham to surge back in front at Coppice as they started the last lap, sealing his round one victory by only 0.172 secs.

“That was my Pete Sparrow tactics, don’t lead onto the last lap and everything seemed OK,” said the victorious Graham.

But Proietti was so close in the closing laps, having succeeded in dropping Davies’ challenge. “Alec was so together, but I made sure he knew I was there,” Proietti added.

Davies was still clear in third but had struggled from mid-race. “We had a spare engine in this weekend, I got the lead but after a little push from Sandro at Park I lost the tow,” he explained.

Despite not being happy with his new car, Crispin had held onto fourth for most of the race, but after Storey and Heerey had shared a couple of exchanges, they both made it passed on the final lap.

Storey took the flag in fourth, with Heerey only 0.320 secs behind, as Crispin was left to complete the top six. “That was fine, very enjoyable,” said Storey. “I lacked grunt and found it hard to keep up,” Heerey added. “It’s just not right, that’s everything,” Crispin concluded.

Hollis had also struggled for pace and settled in seventh, leaving Oswin, Hollis-Brown and Fox to round off the top 10. Aubrey Brocklebank, Chris Hall, Chris Yates and Andi Donaldson completed the finishes, with Nigel Hollis the only retirement.

Although Luca Proietti had pole for the second race, once again it was Graham setting the early pace, with Storey heading the pursuit.
Proietti had slipped into second on lap two and led out of Barn, as the lead trio started to put daylight between them and their rivals, who had Davies, Hollis, Heerey and Crispin in contention.

Storey then briefly nosed ahead too, but the swaps and changes had allowed the whole of the top seven to close up.

It was a big reshuffle on lap four as Graham hit the front, from Davies, Proietti, Storey, Heerey, Crispin and Hollis, before Heerey made it into fourth at the Mountain a lap later.

Proietti had fought back into second and had started to attack for Graham’s lead again, while Storey was back in third from Crispin, as Davies fell back and Heerey was missing in action. “I had a clash with Lien, we both arrived at the corner at the same time,” said Heerey. “Brian took me off,” Davies reckoned?

While it was down to Graham and Proietti for the lead, third was still any one from three, with Storey, the recovering Davies and Crispin, while Hollis was doing his best to hold on.

Going over the Mountain for the penultimate time it was almost side by the time they reached Hall Bends, but Graham kept the door firmly shut. But Proietti was still fighting and his persistence finally paid off.

“Timed to perfection, I got him through Mansfield after he got a bit loose at the Gooseneck. I backed off and just got him down the inside under braking and then just kept the door shut,” Proietti explained after his lap success.

“One mistake, just too deep into the Gooseneck, but I thought I had it. Brilliant race though,” Graham added after taking the flag 0.968secs adrift.

Storey claimed a late third from Davies. “Just brilliant, but I nearly got caught up in Lien and Brian’s incident too,” he said.

Crispin followed Davies home in fifth, “better but not brilliant,” he reckoned, “I just had no power uphill and had to monster it just to try and catch up,” Hollis added.

Martin Riman settled in seventh from lap six, from Oswin, while Nigel Hollis survived a tank slapper on the Mountain crest for ninth, leaving Yates to complete the top 10.

Donaldson, Hall and Fox were the final finishers, after Heerey and Hollis-Brown retired.

The next outing for the Championship will be the annual 24h hour race at Snetterton on August Bank Holiday 29th/30th, possibly the only chance to do a 24hour race in the UK this year.

TEAM GADGET TRIO TAKE THE WIN, BUT IT’S ANOTHER TITLE FOR SPARROW.

It all started so well for Pete Sparrow and 2CV Team Lion 1, leading from the opening lap with team mates Team Lion 2’s Patrick Mason taking second on lap seven from Tete Rouge Crisis’ Brian Heerey.

But Sparrow had problems and lost his advantage, finishing the opening hour in third, behind Tete Rouge Crisis and Beacon Downe.

The Tete Rouge quartet of Heerey, Nick Roads, Ian Gibbon and Sandro Proietti and held sway until the fifth hour, when having shared the car with Sparrow, David O’Keeffe and Alec Graham were back into the lead, from Team Gadget, with Tete Rouge down to third.

All three stayed in the podium places for the next four hours, but reaching midnight it was Tete Rouge on top by 0.259 secs over from Team Gadget, with Team Lion 1 down in third.

Although Rosie racing were next they were four laps adrift, while Team Twin Snails and GS Racing completed the top six.

From 2am though Tom Perry, Simon Clarke and Lien Davies took charge and started to consolidate their advantage. “We had lost time though with blocked jets though when I was leading and lost out again for a while,” said Perry.

But what of Team Lion 1 woes, after setting the early pace? “I led again but had a problem with points. It upset the timing and we had to change the engine,” said Graham.

“I was on the lead lap in third too and wanted to work with our second car. But they pitted almost out of fuel,” O’Keeffe added.

At half distance though Team Gadget had a lap in hand over Tete Rouge, but it was GS Racing into third, with Nick Crispin, Marc Nordon and Hames Dartiailh a further eight laps down. “I had started the race for the first time, but crashed into Glen Oswin when I ran out of brakes at the Hairpin, then had to adjust the carburettor after four laps,” said GS lead driver Crispin.

Rosie Racing had moved up to fourth, but were now 10 laps off the class lead. “I had started but had to pit when I couldn’t get second gear, then it just got worse and we had to stop for Steve to welded it,” Julie Walford explained,

In fifth Twin Snails had problems too, “James Northfield had started for us, but we had a throttle spring break during the night, but doing Ok,” said Martin Riman.

Last year’s winners Beacon Downe had been had started well but problems soon arrived for them too, Richard Gardner had to pit with overheating brakes and Louis Tyson had a gear linkage break during one of his stints, along with other less major problems.

Over the next three hours Team Gadget extended their advantage over Tete Rouge to three laps. “Simon always starts for us, its tradition. Fuelling was horrendous though and went badly through the night, we changed the jets but our afr wasn’t working so we had to check the plugs,” Davies explained.

“It had been going Ok I got the lead for us, handed it over and got it back within laps, but we can’t stay there,” Heerey replied.

With numerous engine changes and a variety of other problems, the order was still far from settled when dawn broke.

The gap between the leaders had been reduced to two laps, by 8am, with GS still a clear third over, Twin Snails, Rosie and Beacon Downe, but Team Lion 1 were closing.

Two hours later Tete Rouge had taken back one lap and despite Davies bringing the lead car in with a puncture in the 20^th hour, the lead was still a lap.

But Sparrow and Graham were flying for Team Lion 1. Rosie Racing had lost out to Beacon Downe, Twin Snails and Team Lion, leaving the latter looking for a podium still at least.

Sparrow took the Twin Snails car for fifth around Coram, before Beacon Downe’s looked turned again when Gardner pitted with a broken engine mount and a bladeless fan, handing to Peter Rundle while it was repaired.

The 21^st hour brought up lap 600 and Tete Rouge managed to lead again, but only for one lap.

Clarke had been out for Team Gadget and made his final stop with 1 ¾ hrs on the clock, handing to Perry to bring the car home. “We have put our lightweight driver in and it’s now his to lose,” said Clarke.

It was a clear run to the flag for the Gadget trio, a repeat of the team’s last win in the 24hrs 11 years ago. “There wasn’t that much between me and Brian, but cannot thank Wayne and the other boys enough for this win, fantastic,” said Perry after taking the flag one lap clear.

“I tried as hard as I could, but couldn’t close that gap and hit the Beacon Downe car too, so had to pit again for the wing to be pulled out,” said second placed Tete Rouge Crisis’ Heerey.

O’Keeffe managed to get Team Lion 1 back on the podium in the penultimate hour at Crispin’s expense. “I was sniffing exhaust fumes for the last two hours though,” Crispin explained after brining GS Racing home fourth.

Beacon Downe still made it home fifth, aided by a late problem for Twin Snails. Riman came in for the last stop and needed an engine change before Northfield tookover, but he still held onto a well-deserved sixth.

Frog Racing were seventh, while Rosie Racing, Team ECAS and Blueberry Muffins completed the top 10.

Last minute Racing were one of the first to have problems, “Jim McDougall started and we knew we were in trouble when we had to change the engine after one lap, “said Mike Marais after many more changes throughout the 24hrs.

Iceni and 2CV Vision with SSR both completed more engine changes than your local garage in a month too, while the Hollis family managed an air filter fire and father Nigel tipping over in a cabbage field.

Just to finish things off Blueberry Tarts Shirley Hennessy lost a wheel in the closing laps and GR Racing’s Simon Glenn was stuck in gear at Murrays and had to get out and had to be pushed across the finish line.

BNLL TAKE OVERALL SPOILS

Four Euro cars made it to Snetterton to race in the Euro Class for 24hrs, but after only a few laps their numbers were reduced when the open topped Burton was out after 14 laps with an engine failure.

The BNLL car of Michel Crespin, Mehdi-Rik Boucherau, Philippa Denis and Claude Crespin led from the second hour, after the second team car had led initially, but finished four laps down after a crash at Riches, cost them a three laps tow back penalty.

CGS Racing Team were still classified third, despite not running at the finish.

In the Mini’s it was a win for Slarky Malarky’s Neil and Ian Slark with Ben Butler and Steve Miles.

Having finished the first hour in fourth, they led from the fourth hour and took the win and third overall by nine laps from Team Toyshed, with No Sleep til Sunday retaining third, despite a roll.

GRAHAM & SPARROW TAKE THE SPOILS IN BRANDS EPICS

It was probably one of the most competitive 2CV Racing weekends ever at Brands Hatch, with defending Champion Pete Sparrow and former Champions Alec Graham and Lien Davies locked in combat throughout both races.

Sparrow had the first lap lead in race one from pole, with Davies, Graham, Brian Heerey, Marc Grasby and Nick Crispin the initial top six.

But with Katy Storey rolling, the safety car was out on lap two, but almost caught out Heerey and Grasby who went into Druids side by side. “We were with the lead bunch and I didn’t see yellow flags, then I saw the cars in front almost stopping and went onto the grass when I hit the brakes,” said Heerey. “I had got Nick Crispin and Martin Riman at the start, saw the crash but not the flags, and tried a do or die on Brian into Druids,” Grasby added.

After three laps the green flag was out and both Sparrow and Davies got away again, with Graham back to make it three from lap six. Crispin was also on the move, retaking Grasby for fifth, before ousting Heerey to a lap later.

“I had missed the restart, so Marc got away and I had to work hard to get him back and challenge,” said Crispin.

Sparrow had started to increase his lead as Graham and Davies swapped. “I knew Lien was close and watched him and Alec going through Paddock. I was aware of anyone trying the inside at Paddock, but I was concentrating on the corners and they had me for pace on the straights,” Sparrow explained.

But with two laps to go Sparrow was out when a valve broke, leaving Graham to take the win as they reached the flag inches apart, or officially 0.263 secs.

“I didn’t expect to go quite so well, but it wasn’t a bad start and I got two places fairly quickly. I sat behind Pete and Lien and for a while struggled to stay with them, then I got Lien into Graham Hill Bend, but couldn’t have done anything about Pete,” said Graham.

“We were all very respectful and gave each other room, then I stayed behind Alec to try and push us back to Pete’s lead,” Davies replied.

Crispin just held onto third from Heerey, “we couldn’t get near those front ones, but I had to work with Brian to try and close, as well as defending my place from him,” Crispin added. “I didn’t realise it was the last lap though, or might have had a go at him,” said Heerey.

Grasby recorded his best finish to date with fifth. “I was OK then Mick Storey started to come back at me, as I was having trouble staying near the back of the pack ahead. It was a long last lap as Steve Walford and Storey closed in after they swapped at the end,” he said.

Martin Riman followed Storey home in eighth, with Roy Eastwood and Chris Yates completing the top 10.

Sparrow had a change of engine before taking up pole for race two and lost out to Davies and Graham on the opening lap. “It didn’t have the same power though,” Sparrow admitted.
But the safety car was out again after Roy Eastwood had rolled, but Graham had just nipped ahead before the cautionary period started.

After two laps though the race was on again and Sparrow had made it three for the lead, a battle which went right to the flag.

“I really had to work hard for that, it was a fantastic race,” said the victorious Sparrow after he led from lap six, despite losing out on more than one occasion to Graham too.

But Graham had to settle for second this time, “after the green flag Pete was really on the pace, but just like the first race there was absolutely nothing in it. We were three abreast through Paddock again, and the lead could change two or three times in a lap. That then allowed Kris Tovey to close when we were fighting,” said Graham, who was 0.977 secs away from a double victory.

“I just got to the point that I didn’t care who won it, just brilliant to part of it. I tried to win and when Pete got away, I worked with Alec to get back,” said Davies after completing the podium.

Tovey had held fourth throughout and was just over a second away from joining the lead trio. Crispin was fifth after a solitary race, “boring for me really. I could only keep with the first four for a few laps, then dropped back and lost power. “I had a healthy gap to the next group though, so just nursed it home,” Crispin explained.

It was any one from five for sixth however, with Julie Walford, Riman and Grasby all have a taste at the front, along with Mick Storey.

“I was well up at the start, then dropped back into the five car battle. I thought I had a gap but then Mick tried to get around the outside at Paddock on the last lap,” said Grasby as he just held onto sixth place.

Storey was therefore seventh, with Riman, Walford and Nick Roads completing the top 10.

The final round of this year’s Championship is at Snetterton, where the 24 hour race takes place August 16-18.

29 cars made it to Mallory Park for the 30th Anniversary of 2CV Racing.

It was wet for the start of race one and there were dramas from the opening lap. Simon Clarke was first into the Esses, “I was fighting it but there was just no grip at all,” he said after spinning wildly into the escape road. Pete Sparrow was caught up in it too, “I didn’t want to be first into the Esses and you see why. But I was going wider and wider to avoid Simon and ended up in the pitlane,” he added.

With Luca Proietti on the grass to the left, it was Martin Riman that led into the Hairpin, but he went straight on! “I did lead for a few yards though,” he confirmed.

David O’Keeffe emerged as the leader at the end of the lap, with Alec Graham and Matthew Hollis battling for second, followed by Nick Crispin, Steve Walford and Tom Perry.

O’Keeffe started to make a break as Hollis slipped into second, which left Graham under attack from Crispin for third, and Walford duelling with Perry for fifth.

Crispin and Graham shared a couple of exchanges, before Perry grabbed fifth at the Hairpin and as the top four got away again, Crispin started to lose touch.

Back at the front Hollis was on the attack and led into Gerards on lap seven, with Perry following. A lap later it was Perry to the fore, as Hollis and Graham duelled and O’Keeffe looked on.

All the action allowed the recovering Sparrow to close in and when Graham and Hollis both went straight on at Gerards on lap 13, he was into second behind O’Keeffe, with Perry down to third. “Apart from the grassy moment, it was a good tight race, but I could hardly see in the spray, and Gerards arrived a bit earlier than I expected,” said Graham. “I couldn’t see either, but braked in the same place and followed Alec off,” Hollis added.

It came down to three for the lead but O’Keeffe just held on to head Sparrow to the flag. “A very difficult wet race, but up front we at least had some visibility and just looked for the grip,” he explained.

Perry retained third, with Walford claiming a late fourth from Proietti, after both had demoted Crispin. “A few fell over and helped me get up the order and there was a little tangle with Luca as we could hardly see,” said Walford. “My hardest drive ever,” Proietti added.

Hollis finally came home seventh, with Riman, Graham and Nick Roads completing the top 10.

 

It was drizzling again for the second race but Sparrow held the lead from pole into Gerards, from O’Keeffe and Brian Heerey, with Mick Storey taking Crispin for fourth into the Esses.

Heerey was ahead by the end of the opening lap, before O’Keeffe led down the Stebbe Straight, with Sparrow slipping to fifth as the rain started to fall again and it was all change.

O’Keeffe, Heerey and Julie Walford had got away, after Lien Davies pulled off with lost drive. For fourth however it was any one from Crispin, Storey, Richard Hollis and Kris Tovey.

Heerey had the lead but couldn’t break the tow. They shared a couple of exchanges before O’Keeffe made it stick over the closing laps, only to be penalised for a jump start, handing the win to Heerey. “A good race, very slippery though,” said Heerey.

Crispin and Walford enjoyed a great duel for third early on, which stayed in Crispin’s favour from the Hairpin on lap eight. “I had the misfire back again. When it was going it was great though,” said Crispin.
Walford then had a three way fight with Storey and Hollis. Storey had got away but then messed up with a lap to go. “Someone shortened the circuit and I went straight on at the Hairpin.

Hollis and Walford then had exchanges, with Walford ahead at the Esses on the last lap, she tried into challenge Storey too at the Hairpin, but went straight on and handed fifth back to Hollis. “It was whoever had the best corner exit and I struggled to get around the Hairpin,” Walford added.

Sparrow had recovered from a couple of incidents to take fifth on the road, but a jump start penalty dropped him to 10th behind Tovey, Neil Savage and Louis Tyson.

“There was a lot of petrol down so I ran wide at Gerards and then had a spin exiting the Esses too,” Sparrow explained.

 

It was finally dry for the start of the third and final race. Sparrow led Proietti from the start. Perry was second as they exited Gerards for the second time, but the safety car was out and soon followed by red flags.

Chris Yates had spun and been hit by Nigel Hollis into Gerards and Sohrab Padidar-Nazar had gone heavily into the tyre wall.

The restart was over six laps with Sparrow and Proietti wheel to wheel at the start. But as the filed into the Esses for the second time it was six cars as one, as Crispin nosed ahead from Sparrow, Proietti, O’Keeffe, Perry and Julie Walford.

Sparrow was back in front at the Hairpin a lap later, with Proietti still hanging on to him, before the defending champion pulled off at Gerards with a blown engine.

Proietti had the lead but Perry was into second and still under attack from Crispin, O’Keeffe and Walford.

But into the Esses for what became the last lap, Proietti bounced over the grass and dropped to fifth, leaving Perry to claim the win, from O’Keeffe, Walford and Crispin.

Savage had closed too in sixth, while Roads, Graham, Storey and Tovey rounded off the top 10.
“Luca was very fair and gave me just enough room. I managed to look at my watch and saw it was six o’clock, so knew it would be the last lap,” said Perry.

“That was my race for the taking, except for the last lap and they stopped it early,” Proietti replied.