2005 Race results

Sports/Saloon Car Championship

ROUND TEN, OULTON PARK, AUGUST 20th

Although the return to Oulton Park was the penultimate meeting of the year, the final round features a double header and double points, so effectively three round scores.

25 cars turned on the BRSCC programme, but had a fairly raw deal over the days timetable. Late morning qualifying failed to muster more than six laps for any drivers. “I only got one flying lap and didn’t feel that was quick,” said poleman Ian Hall, who was till 3.606 secs clear in his Darrian, from Robert Pritchard’s Caterham. “It seemed to go well, but I found it hard to judge how fast I was going,” said Pritchard.

Michael Blomfield headed the second row in his Sierra, with Simon Allaway’s Wildcat Esprit alongside, albeit four seconds adrift. “At least I feel like I am back now, but it’s still a bit too lively under braking, “said Allaway.

Heading the next row was teenaged Formula Renault racer Cameron Jackson having a one-off run in father Simon’s Caterham Vauxhall, while in sixth Don Grice was embarrassed to have caused a red flag mid session after putting his BMW M3 in the gravel at Druids. “I ran out of skill,” he joked. John Garnett’s was hoping to be over the engine problems that have plagued his BMW M3 all year. “The engine seems Ok, but the battery ran flat,” confirmed the former Sprint ace.

Kevin Cryer was “disappointed” to be down in eighth with his Caterham, just ahead of Dennis Crompton’s BMW M3. “I am still getting exhaust fumes in the car, I am not crying,” he confirmed. Tony Brass’s BMW M3 completed the top ten while 11th was Nick Pakes after a “nice Sunday drive,” in his Banks Europa.

“It was a bit slippery out there,” reckoned Duncan Aukland, after losing nearly a second to class rival Brass in his Rover 3500SE. Mark Primett had his Banks Europa back in full racing trim after the disasters at Mallory, “it wasn’t so bad but I had to come in to check oil levels, it was either too much or nor enough,” he said.

“I went straight on at Cascades after missing my braking point then was staggered to set my fastest lap just after,” said Davrian driver Chris Griffiths. Just behind was Martin Brockhouse, who had the engine back out of his Elan and into the Skoda Cope again, for the first time this year. “I finished the session this time, so its going in the right direction,” said Phil Hall, after a traumatic season in his Banks Europa.

Bob Claxton was also back with his Skoda for the first time in over two years, sharing the ninth row with Alan Collinson’s Rover Vitesse. “Its going Ok now but I just need to be faster,” said Collinson. Phil Simpson headed the next row in his Sierra XR4i, with Jeremy Coates’ River SD1 alongside. “It was pretty good,” reckoned Coates.

Rhodri Hughes (BMW 325i) and Patrick Smyth (Lotus Elan) competed the next row, Smyth having bodywork rubbing on the tyres. Graham Taylor (Westfield) was a disappointing 23rd, “I even missed the flag, the session was so short I hadn’t started looking for it,” he said. Richard Winter had his session cut short by a broken front upright on his Banks Europa and Chris Maries only managed two laps after breaking the gearstick in his Kawasaki engined Stuart Taylor Locost Ninja.

GRID

*I. Hall Jackson Crompton Primett Claxton Hughes Maries

Blomfield Garnett Pakes Brockhouse Simpson Taylor

Pritchard Grice Brass Griffiths Collinson Smyth

Allaway Cryer Aukland P.Hall Coates Winter

Although there were no casualties from qualifying, the rather ambition race programme for the day left the 25 car grid in the Assembly area with the curfew rapidly approaching. Fortunately the race did get underway, albeit a slightly abridged version.

With oil flags displayed around the majority of the track, Hall made a flying start as the lights went out, while Pritchard was left wheel spinning and only just fought off Allaway for second into Old Hall. Blomfield, Jackson and Garnett formed up behind as they charged down the Avenue. “I just couldn’t move it was so slippery at the start,” said Pritchard.

Blomfield emerged from Shell in third, as the lead duo were well clear by the end of the opening lap. “Mike got me under braking but not without a fight and a friendly squeeze,” said Allaway, who then had Jackson threatening.

With Garnett retiring on the second lap, It was either the clutch or input shaft,” he said, Crompton moved up to sixth, with Primett chasing Cryer for seventh.

It was pretty much cut and dried at the front, Hall was never threatened as he took another step towards the title, “I was taking no prisoners, today just made me very determined,” he Hall. “My car felt out of balance in the conditions at the end,” said second placed Pritchard. “There was just oil down everywhere I couldn’t have any confidence in the car,” said third placed Blomfield.

While Allaway successfully kept Jackson at bay for fifth, Crompton had a couple of exchanges with Cryer, before the pair collided at Knickerbrook on the last lap. “I past Kevin again going up to Shell and he tried to comeback up my inside at Knicker, I never saw him” confirmed Crompton. “I just thought I had a chance under braking, but I think I have damaged my steering rack in the collision, or broken it,” replied Cryer. Crompton managed to retain sixth, but Primett stole seventh as Cryer limped home.

“I was glad to see that flag,” said Aukland as he could see class rival Brass closing in. “I looked and he wasn’t there, then the next lap he was and I had a monumental incident at Cascades,” he added. They held station to complete the top ten. Pakes matched his qualifying position with 11th, while Maries charged from the back of the grid for 12th and a class win.

Grice fell back from an early threat to the top ten to finish 13th while Winter nursed his car home for the points in 14th and class win. “We didn’t have time to set it up properly after qualifying,” he explained. Brockhouse held on for 15th and Griffiths charged through to take 16th after losing some ground at the start. “Chris frightens me and he didn’t have understeer,” said Phil Hall after losing out to his former class rival at Island. Taylor just missed out stealing 17th from Hall on the line.

Coates was the best of the rest, edging away from a close battle among the backmarkers in the latter stages. Smyth, Collinson, Simpson and Hughes completed the finishers, with Claxton the only other retirement.

RESULTS

1 Ian Hall (Darrian T98 GTR) 6 laps in 10m50.460s (89.39mph); 2 Robert Pritchard (Caterham Vauxhall) 10m56.564s; 3 Michael Blomfield (Ford Sierra); 4 Simon Allaway (Wildcat Esprit); 5 Cameron Jackson (Caterham Vauxhall); 6 Denis Crompton (BMW M3); 7 Mark Primett (Banks Europa); 8 Kevin Cryer (Caterham); 9 Duncan Aukland (Rover 3500SE); 10 Tony Brass (BMW M3); 11 Nick Pakes (Banks Europa); 12 Chris Maries (Stuart Taylor Locost Ninja); 13Don Grice (BMW M3); 14 Richard Winter (Banks Europa); 15 Martin Brockhouse (Skoda Coupe); 16 Chris Griffiths (Davrian Mk7A); 17 Phil Hall (Banks Europa); 18 Graham Taylor (Westfield SEi); 19 Jeremy Coates (Rover SD1); 20 Patrick Smyth (Lotus Elan); 21 Alan Collinson (Rover SD1); 22 Phill Simpson (Ford Sierra XR4i); 23 Rhodri Hughes (BMW 325i Sport). Fastest lap: Hall 1m45.779s (91.61mph) record. Class A: 1 Hall; 2 Blomfield; 3 Allaway; no other starters. Class B: 1 Pritchard; 2 Jackson; 3 Cryer; 4 Taylor; 5 Smyth; no other finishers. Class C: 1 Maries; 2 Brockhouse; 3 Griffiths; no other starters. Class D: 1 Aukland; 2 Brass; 3 Coates; 4 Collinson; 5 Simpson. Class E: 1 Crompton; 2 Primett; 3 Pakes; 4 Grice; 5 Hughes; no other finishers. Class F: 1 Winter; 2 P.Hall; no other starters.

FINAL ROUNDS OULTON PARK, SEPTEMBER 24TH

PUBLISHED BY PETER SCHERER FOR BARC (NW) AUGUST 21ST 2005, CONTACT 01332 362577/07802 853244 or peter@scher.freeserve.co.uk