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Donington Park April 29th 2007 Rory Junior Roars – Walton Senior Lurks – A marker for the season? Reporter: Anthony Wills Qualifying This
first race of the 2007 season saw a healthy grid of 25 cars. A significant absence was Dave Lowe who had crashed
his car badly (but with no apparent injuries) at Stuart Kestenbaum returned to the championship after years away winning races all over the shop and his fourth on the grid in a Van Diemen RF79 (his only car left!) showed some interesting potential for the season. This is even more true when one realises that he only had one chance for a fast lap because of an earlier water leak and then the oil was thrown down on the circuit. Steve Pearce was fifth and is hopefully resuming his form of some years ago at the front of the pack. Joseph Walton, the novice winner from last year, was sixth but it would be reasonable to expect him to gradually do better than that during the season. Jon Nash deserves a mention simply because he was in a very nice looking car that this reporter feels could have gone a little faster. Andrew Smith led the Class B runners in eighth and he felt his car was going beautifully. Graham Legget in the BMTR Crossle 25F (a racing winning car in the hands of Paul Smith) was tenth saying that he found he “ran out of talent” and couldn’t make it go any quicker. Peter St Barbe, 14th in a nicely prepared Jamun, had not raced for 35 years and he thought the new tyres and pads affected his performance a little but was looking forward to racing a car other than a Formula 4. Matthew Johnson was out for the first time in his RF80 having only had the opportunity to test twice at Snetterton but seemed satisfied with 17th on the grid. Michael Saunders enjoyed his first complete qualifying session in his Hawke DL11 after a failed attempt at Castle Combe last year. His rebuild had taken two years and lots of thousands of pounds but he was pleased to be finally doing this thing in earnest. Michael Burdon returned to the championship after a couple of races last season with some leaks emanating from various orifices but thought he would be OK for the race. Rod Stead in a very nice looking RP26 was out for the first time in a single seater having raced endurance sports cars in the past. He has turned to single seaters following a nasty leg breaking accident on a stationary scooter some years ago. His engine was misfiring as was his clutch leading to a relaxed approach to qualifying. Notable incidents were Steven Hagan melting a piston and he did not make the race. Jeff Palmer leaked considerable water from a header tank but hoped his engine would be OK after some time cooling off. David Owen found that it was easier to prepare the car with only a screwdriver as he had locked the rest of his tools in his car. After qualifying he was confronted by a generous clerk of the course who felt that an ineffective transponder was an indication of young Mr Owen’s preparation ability. Finally the last qualifier was John Hesp who could only do three laps having lost third and fourth gear. His time of 9.45.979 seconds may well earn him the most environmentally friendly lap of the year. Early baths were delivered to Nigel Lingwood whose engine rather expensively blew up and Matt Taylerson who had a cracked brake disc for which he could not trace a spare. The Race The start was always going to be crucial and when the grid lined up in staggered formation Paul Walton knew his hopes of getting in front of Rory Farrell Jnr had taken a knock. And the stagger at Donington does seem particularly heavily emphasised. So Rory came round in first with Paul closely following and Stuart Kestenbaum managing to get past Simon Davey after the start. These four gradually left the chasers far enough behind to not have to worry too much. Rory and Paul were both very smooth although Rory said after the race that some of the slow cars appeared at the wrong place too often to make it comfortable but as Paul had the same problems it became a lights to flag win and an impressive start to the season for the long distance travelling Irishman. Also after the race Rory admitted to a minor indiscretion on the first lap that made his heart race a little faster and everything on the car was heating up a bit towards the end of the race but to the external viewer it all looked rather cool. Paul was his usual smooth self but he may have to find some new tricks to close the gap. His strategy was to stay, as far as possible, with Rory because he well recognised the threat of the two following him. Stuart and Simon had a race long dice that was one of the features of the first round. It looked as though Stuart would hold Simon off even after a back marker had made it difficult. But it turned out to be a second back marker that momentarily slowed Stuart down allowing Simon to nip through. Stuart considered shutting the door on Simon and said “I could have ended up in his cockpit but that would have seemed a bit rude.” Probably the best dice of the day was between Jon Nash and Joe Walton. Joe had been a little behind John but gradually caught him up and was possibly marginally quicker. Jon managed to make the gorgeous looking red Royal RP21 nice and wide but in a gentlemanly way. A side by side manoeuvre through the Craner Curves brought a gasp from the crowd (of six people) but it was an exciting sight to see. One hoped it wouldn’t end in tears and if you can call a detached flywheel acceptable it didn’t. Under immense pressure from Joe who was driving very tidily, Jon buzzed his engine to such an extent that the flywheel cried enough and rattled ominously at the back of the car. Joe went on to take a well deserved fifth and Jon pondered a BBE bill. Joe afterwards described this race as probably one of his most exciting yet. Steve Pearce and Alan Williamson both had very creditable drives and scored some points although Steve was a little miffed to have an errant second gear. This happened at the same time as a lockup so we aren’t sure which came first but he did finish sixth. Alan by his own admission had been asleep at the start but gradually overtook the two people who had got ahead of him and despite the odd nudge came in seventh having overtaken Andy Smith at the hairpin. Andrew (or should it be Andy?) was always in the lead of Class B and never looked like losing that position. He was making a very good fist of staying with some of the quick Class As and well deserved his laurel wreath at the conclusion of the race, which he admitted thinking about increasing frequently as the race progressed. The black tyre marks on his nosecone were evidence of his determined efforts and if Dave Lowe returns soon it could be an interesting season for Class B. Michael Burdon was the first novice home although his race seemed relatively quiet. Behind him was Matt Johnson who had a storming start in his first race overtook a few people and certainly looked the part. His mature drive and college boy good looks won him the Cobra Beer Driver of the Day award. These two were in between Graham Legget and Peter Lavender and Dave Owen and Peter St Barbe who had pleasant enough races but didn’t frighten the horses. Of course after 35 years out Peter was overjoyed to come second in Class B. I suspect 35 years ago they gave prize money. How times have changed. Phil Norris came 3rd in Class B after mistaking 3rd for 1st or it may have been 1st for 3rd and also having a spin at the old hairpin. Bringing up the rear were Michael Whitehead, Rod Stead and John Hesp with Michael Saunders finishing his first race feeling a little jaded and certainly quite flushed. Michael Valentine retired on lap 3 amidst some talk of entering the gravel trap. Jeff Palmer was also a casualty of what they call in Formula 1 a high attrition rate. So this was a race probably enjoyed more by the combatants than the spectators. There was much talk in the paddock afterwards of nudges and touches but these were difficult to spot from the terraces. As a marker for the championship Rory is looking strong but the depth of wisdom and experience behind him will no doubt keep him honest. Class B would still benefit from a few more entrants but I’m sure Andy Smith will go to sleep tonight with a beatific smile on his face. Next race Snetterton, 26th and 27th May.
Cobra Driver of the Day - Matt Johnson, Van Diemen RF80 | |
