Donington Report.

A gloriously sunny day greeted our first race of the season. Much has been reported about the decision to split our 27 car entry, with 8 URS FF2000’s racing with Historic FF2000 and the 19 CF3 entries being put with 7 entries from DBT so I will not add more here. Unfortunately 7 of the 19 withdrew and poor Pat Gormley who as proposing to do both the CF3 race and the DBT had engine problems in testing, leaving just 11 CF3 cars of which 4 were 1600’s. David Thorburn had acquired the ex Brundle RT3, Ben Tusting was in his father’s Martini Mk 34 (or is it a Mk37?) and Paul Smith was in his new Marlboro liveried RT3 as well. Paul Tonkin joined the 1600 field with his very nice Brabham BT41. Andy and Adrian Langridge and returnee Glenn Eagling were the other 1600 cars. Andy says there are more to come!

Gaius Ghinn, Paul Dibden, Rudolph Ernst and Stephen Pegram made up the 2000cc cars. David Shaw would have been out in his Ralt but took the opportunity to run his F1 March in the DBT category instead.

Gaius took pole ahead of Paul smith and Ben Tusting. Dedutee Thorburn was 4th. Adrian was lead 1600 from Glenn feeling his way back in in the Ensign.

Only 7 of the 10 DBT cars made it to the race and the rolling start. Ex CF3 champion Jamie Brashaw led away in his F5000 March followed by 2 F2 March’s and David Shaw. Gaius lead from the start with Paul and Ben behind and after three laps, Stephen Pegram was knocked into a spin by one of the DBT cars on the 6th lap bringing out the safety car which bizarely then waved through the two leading DBT cars. They then rushed around and got back to the front of the line behind the safety car and were subsequently excluded for overtaking behind the safety car!!

Gaius romped home winner of CF3, followed by Paul Smith, who went very well in the Ralt, and newcomer Ben Tusting achieving a fine podium on his debut. Paul Dibden was 4th, David Thorburn 5th and Rudolph Ernst 6th. Adrian won the 1600 class by just 3 seconds from a rejuvenated Glenn who also set the 1600 fastest lap by 0.03 of a second. Andy was 3rd followed by Paul Tonkin.

With the exclusion of the first 2 on the road our own David Shaw won overall in his F1 March and despite having to run with the DBT a good and importantly a “safe” time was had by all.

Silverstone Int May 20/21
Our next race is on the Grand Prix circuit with the URS 2000 cars ONLY. Let us put the Donington situation behind us and once again get a really good entry for this Double Header. Qualifying and Race 1 will be on Saturday with Race 2 on Sunday. Hopefully the same 27 that entered Donington will enter again and with a few more who for one reason or another couldn’t make it, we should have a 30 car plus grid. We look forward to seeing you there.