Lightweight Sprint Round 6

Introduction and Qualifying

Llandow circuit in the Vale of Glamorgan played host to Wales’s premier motorsport event, round six of the 2011 Club 100 Sprint Championship, or the Welsh Grand Prix as it has become known. The circuit itself is fast, technical and fairly easy to defend on, unless of course, you are Jamie Jakins. Another feature of the track is the famous Russ Pittingales Sausage, which is feared by experienced drivers who know how uncomfortable it is to ride.

Ryan Ferris was fastest overall of the 2 qualifying groups, earning him pole position for the pre A final. Ray Norris went quickest in group 2 and would start alongside \Ferris. Lance Drummond won the pre B final and along with Christopher Pawley, Keith Segal and Conor Jux Chandler, gained repecharge to the pre A final.

Andrew Burrell took pole for the B final, with Alex Mitchison qualifying 2nd. Ben Finch and Richard Turner were on row 2, with James Kimbley and Chris Boxall on the 3rd row.

B Final

Polesitter Burrell got the perfect start and led easily through the Hook with the top few drivers maintaining their grid positions through the first few corners, the only change being Chris Boxall who jumped up to 5th at the expense of James Kimbley. Starting the second lap and Burrell was using the advantage of a clear track to edge away at the front with Alex Mitchison and Ben Finch behind him fighting it out for the all important 2nd place which gives repecharge to the A Final. Enjoying a good battle further down the midfield were Richard Ward and Andrew Farmer, with Ward putting a great late move on Farmer at the Hook to move up to 8th. Back at the front, and the nature of the circuit which makes overtaking difficult, meant that the order was fairly static with Burrell just doing enough to keep a few lengths lead. Up into the crucial second place just before half distance was Ben Finch, the friend and protégé of HW championship leader Dan Hoy. The steadily improving Finch was aiming for his third A Final in his debut racing season, no doubt benefiting from tips given by the rapid and experienced Hoy. With Mitchison appearing to lose heart at being passed by Finch, he soon fell into the reach of Chris Boxall who was soon past him and up to 3rd. As the race entered the closing stages Finch had managed to erode Burrell’s healthy lead and stated to apply massive pressure. On the last lap Finch made his move for the lead with a scrappy move up the inside of the Sausage corner, which saw both the leaders run wide and Finch having to give the position back or risk a penalty. With no further opportunity to pass, it was Burrell who took the win from Finch with Chris Boxall being classified 3rd after Zack Swannell was demoted 2 places after accruing an ABC penalty. Despite this Swannell had produced what was undoubtedly the drive of the race, setting the fastest lap as he charged up from grid 16. Richard Turner started where he finished in 4th despite dropping down to 7th at one point. Andrew Farmer took 6th ahead of Luke Carlisle-Stanton and James Kimbley. Alex Mitchison will have been disappointed to come home 9th after starting on the front row. Richard Ward rounded out the top 10.

A Final

With Ferris on pole keeping his advantage through the Hook and leading up to the double left turn 4, it was James Dowding on the move after jumping Dan Milner for 3rd. Matthew Teager was a first lap victim, being left stranded of the track and restarting last. Starting the 2nd lap and Ferris led over the line from Dowding, who had taken 2nd from Andrew Johnson, only to run wide at the hook and hand the position back to Johnson. With the squabbling going on behind, Ferris was able to make a break and edge out a few lengths advantage. Once Johnson had shaken off the pursuing Dowding, he was able to concentrate on catching Ferris, reeling in the leader and then passing him with a move on the brakes into the last corner. Johnson clearly had very good pace and immediately edged away from Ferris, who was left to defend from Dowding and Dan Milner. Behind them Ray Norris and Stephanie Walters were engaged in a fight for 5th place, ahead of Simon Alcock and Alex Vincent. As Johnson continued to streak away at the front it was clear Ferris was struggling with what looked like a lack of bottom end on his kart, allowing Dowding to close right up on him. Meanwhile Milner was starting to slip down the order, with Norris demoting him to 5th before Walters passed him into the left hand section of the Hook. Into the closing stages and Dowding finally found his way past Ferris for 2nd, outdragging him down the back straight before passing on the brakes into the last corner. Norris and Walters continued their fight for 4th into the closing stages, Walters briefly getting ahead before Norris found a way back past. As the flag fell it was Johnson taking a convincing win from Dowding. The final podium spot was taken up by Ray Norris after Ferris collected a cone penalty and was demoted to 4th. Walters took 5th just ahead of Milner and Simon Alcock, Alex Vincent came home a lonely 8th in front of Sam Fisher and Lance Drummond.

Driver of the day – Ray Norris – Well deserved and hard fought first podium, setting the fastest lap as a bonus.