The start of the season for many of the categories beginning at last weekend’s Snetterton British Racing & Sports Car Club event was action-packed and memorable as there were plenty of safety cars and multiple red flags.
Rupert Deeth snatched victory in the opening Mini Miglia encounter from third on the grid after battling his way through the pack. “I had a rubbish start but then it’s a bit of a blur to be honest,” said Deeth, who had Ian Curley, Jeff Smith and Aaron Smith in close company. “I couldn’t believe they were falling over each other – I just got on with it!”
Race two was equally frenetic as Deeth managed to take the flag after slicing into the lead on the penultimate lap. Deeth was actually running in third for the majority of the race after another bad start with leaders Curley and Aaron Smith bumper to boot all around the circuit. Miraculously, Deeth managed to rocket past the pair coming into Brundle. “It’s always just so close you see,” explained a slightly crestfallen Smith. “Rupert just got an amazing tow down the back straight and managed to pass both me and Ian.”
Among the BMW Supercup ranks, Millie Hart looked untouchable after setting a qualifying lap, which was well over a second faster than her nearest challenger. However, after suffering a difficult start as she dropped to third at the end of the opening lap, her attempts to get back on terms with new leader Thorburn Astin were dealt a blow when she endured contact with Danny Wilkinson.
“I had wheelspin, but I kept my foot in it, it was only my third start after all,” explained Hart. “Regarding the incident, I was on the racing line and I got squeezed. He also braked a lot earlier than usual.” This clash allowed Astin to cruise to an easy win followed by Wilkinson.
Race two was an altogether calmer affair as Wilkinson was victorious managing to resist the close attentions of Hart while Astin pulled off after his battery cable disconnected. The top two then went on to repeat the result in race three.
The first Fiesta ST240 contest of the weekend was resolved in John Cooper’s favour as he took the flag after building up a cushion over Gary Miller. An exciting dice during the second race was settled when Miller managed to outfox defending champion Alastair Kellett for the win after the latter got tangled up with Zachary Lucas.
Miller (l) and Kellett had close Fiesta scrap
Photo by: Richard Styles
“Five laps in, Gary outbraked me and then Zac got past me as well,” said Kellett. “Then Zac missed a gear on the back straight and I ran straight into the back of him! That really allowed Gary to get away.” Lucas recovered to round out the podium. A long safety car period in race three allowed Lucas to take the win ahead of George Foxlow and Kellett.
The opening Mini Se7en encounter was won by Damien Harrington even though an electrifying start by Spencer Wanstall allowed him to lead for half of the opening lap, but he ultimately had to settle for third. Reigning champion Joe Thompson was hot on Harrington’s heels with his Mini diving left and right as Thompson tried to find a way past the leader. Eventually, Thompson managed to sneak past with a hair-raising move around the outside of Riches but on lap five of eight Harrington demoted him to second again and they finished in that order.
Ross Billison emerged victorious in race two after climbing from 10th on the grid, his lowly grid spot caused by a spin due to a split radiator in the earlier contest. Billison managed to take the lead before the race was stopped at mid-distance following a roll by Bertie Woollard. “Last to first what more can I say,” exclaimed Billison. “I just picked my way through them one by one until the safety car came out.”
Surprising most of the onlookers in the paddock, the entire 23-strong grid of young drivers were well-behaved and clean for the first Fiesta Junior race of the season. Jack Burgess took victory after a close scrap against Thomas Merritt with scholarship winner Lewis Islin putting on a good show to finish third.
Burgess again narrowly took victory from pole in race two but only after Merritt was penalised for gaining an unfair advantage. The third race was red-flagged after Islin’s engine attempted to recreate the Exxon Valdez oil spill and coated half the pit straight with lubricant on the very first lap. With time running out to clean the track and run the remaining races, the third contest was declared null and void.
The first Classic and Modern Motorsport Club Super Saloons and Tin Tops race was won by Alex Sidwell driving his V8 Supercars-spec Holden Commodore VF. Sidwell actually started from fifth on the grid after a combination of new slicks and traffic prevented him from showing the true pace of his ex-Alex Premat machine in the Sunday morning qualifying session. The big Holden cut its way through the field against the less powerful but nimbler silhouette racers and took the flag with over six seconds in hand. The second race again went to Sidwell, who was chased hard to the flag by Ray Harris’ Ginetta G40.
The Modified Ford races were Jason Davies’ to lose. His bright orange Sapphire Cosworth sprinted away from the field both times as Tom Ovenden tried, but failed, to mount a challenge in his Escort RSR. Elsewhere, Kevin Clarke paced himself to a controlled Snetterton Saloons victory in his BMW M3 after polesitter David Fielder only completed the first lap.
Davies was the driver to beat in large Modified Fords field
Photo by: Richard Styles
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