Long-distance traveller Clennell flies to maiden F1000 victory at Cadwell Park

James Clennell claimed his breakthrough victory in the final F1000 outing at the 750 Motor Club’s Cadwell Park event, and was one of a number of first-time winners across the weekend’s 23-race programme.

Previous and defending champions Rob Welham and Craig Pollard triumphed respectively in the first two, however a hat-trick of seconds for Matt Higginson accrued sufficient points to tip the championship lead in the Lancastrian’s favour.

Jack Kingsbury also gathered title pace with three closely-fought Clio Sport victories. The return of 2015 champion and Lincolnshire local James Bark to his first car race in more than five years shook up the Class A order; his three wins dampened the progress of points leader Lewis Richardson.

Pip Hammond (Vauxhall Nova GTE) was another Cadwell specialist who proved tricky to outpace in Classic Stock Hatch. Pete Morgan’s Ford Fiesta XR2 was second in the opener and Cadwell was another standout event for local Martin Rodgers; having narrowly missed out on Saturday his Peugeot 205 GTi followed Hammond home on Sunday for second.

The new Swift Sport Challenge was back in action, where a double for first-time winner Adam Blair put him back in the championship title battle. Former Time Attack competitor Connor Craven was the driver to keep him honest; he duly topped the novice class and took second overall in both races, as Mike Sanford settled into the championship with a brace of third place finishes.

Title rivals Trafford King and Don De Graaff carefully negotiated the effects of their success ballast in the Type R Trophy to claim a win apiece. King had the better of polesitter Jon Labella off the start as David Walsh joined them on Saturday, while Labella was third on Sunday behind De Graaff and Oliver Musgrave.

Ben Short was a triple winner in 5Club MX-5s but the real show was right behind; one-time Bikesports champion Simon Walker-Hansell was straight on the pace in his first 5Club season and, after challenging Short, he remained locked in battle with Jordan Johnson and Ian Tomlison in the opener. Johnson and Walker-Hansell graced the podium in both orders for races one and two, while Walker-Hansell was second ahead of Oak Richardson in the third.

Having joined Ma7da for 2025, former Locost supremo Tom Coller duly claimed two of the three Lincolnshire victories, his first in the championship. He was only thwarted by a poor start in the final rescheduled outing at the end of Sunday’s action, the result of two red flags earlier in the day. Hitherto points leader Martin West came from fourth to take his third victory of the season.

Matthew Highcock won both 120 Coupe Cup outings, while 116 Sprint Championship leader Peter Keen continued his winning streak in the opener from James Wareing and Will Abraham. Abraham took the spoils later in the day ahead of Wareing and maiden podium finisher Luke Fox, before teaming up with Scott Jeffs for victory in Sunday’s 90-minute 116 Trophy encounter.

As Wareing sidelined himself with track-limits infringements, Peter Keen was unable to overcome his success penalty, and Highcock and Anthony Seddon claimed fastest lap but didn’t challenge overall, James Dunne remained untroubled for second with Lewis Charlton a popular maiden podium finisher behind.

The most dramatic finish of the weekend arguably arrived late on Sunday, where Graham Wilson (Time 3B) triumphed in Historic 750 Formula’s closest handicap race to date. Four drivers were in with a shout exiting Barn Corner onto the pit straight for the final time and were separated by half a second at the flag. Garry Brandon was second with Josef Zosso third, while octogenarian Tim Myall just missed out on the final podium place in his Pigsty Austin Seven single-seater.

Graham Wilson took his Time 3B to Historic 750 Formula handicap success, while Josef Zosso (DNC) managed third

Photo by: Steve Jones