The Classic Touring Car Racing Club

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club “Recreating the spirit of classic touring car racing for the club competitor of today” www.classictouringcars.com PRESS RELEASE: 25th September 2012

Over And Out at Oulton

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club’s penultimate meeting of the season was fought out in fine style under Saturday’s sunny skies at Oulton Park. Four of the club’s championship races were included on the BARC National programme.

The excellent entertainment kicked off with yet another thrilling Thermex Classic Saloon and Historic Touring Car Championship round. Qualifying was affected by the damp track and frosty verges which combined to produce a topsy-turvy grid. Consequently Phil Manser’s Mini Cooper led away from pole position, chased by the Fords of father and son, Richard and Steven Sprigg. Soon Steven grabbed the lead for a few laps until his Lotus Cortina was sidelined by a gearbox problem. Meanwhile Roger Ebdon, who had made a flying start, found a way past Richard’s Anglia and began to battle for the lead with Manser. Then another car sprayed its oil all over the track and just about every driver spun off at some stage. Fortunately most were able to recover and Ebdon held on to win from Manser, despite a slight collision at the chicane. Richard Sprigg was third, ahead of the series sponsor, Julian Crossley (Mini).

The Sub Zero: Wolf Classic Thunder Championship race featured a stunning drive by Mark Biggers whose potent Nissan Skyline claimed pole position 2.5 seconds clear, but was then punted off on the first lap by Paul Dobson. Garrie Whittaker’s BMW soon caught and passed Dobson’s ailing Mazda as Biggers, driving with barely-controlled anger and aggression fought his way back from 17th place. Biggers’ spectacular recovery was rewarded with a win over Whittaker, while Darren Bly’s similar Nissan secured third place ahead of Ilsa Cox (SEAT Leon Cupra).

The Classic Thunder race also incorporated the Pro Driver Blue Oval Saloon Series. Relative newcomer David Matthias dominated qualifying with his bright orange Escort Cosworth, but it was Ashley Bird and his smart Sierra XR4i who came out on top during the race. Paul Nevill (Escort RS2000) was the best of the rest, while Brian Long kept his title hopes alive with a class victory over the other Fiestas.

The SVG Motorsport Pre 93 Touring Car Championship race provided Richard Millar and his Gulf-liveried Sierra Cosworth with their first outright win – still in their first season of racing. Lawrie Dunster’s BMW led the opening laps until Millar pounced at the downhill left-hander; then Dunster was dumped down to third place when Craig Jamieson’s smart Sierra Cosworth managed to get by as well. Yet another Sierra Cosworth driven by Graham Myers claimed fourth place ahead of Tim Scott- Andrews and his ex-Tim Harvey BTCC V8 Rover Vitesse. Scott-Andrews’ domination of the combined Autoglym Post Historic and Hammerite Group One Touring Car Championship events continued when his Rover led the final race of the afternoon from start to finish. David Howard’s Jaguar XJ12 chased hard all the way, well clear of the evergreen, much-improved John Wright (Escort RS2000 Mk.1). Dr. William Jenkins (BMW 3.0 CSL) narrowly beat Neil Bray (Fiesta) to fourth place by less than a second.

Full results may be obtained from www.tsl-timing.co.uk.

The final rounds of the CTCRC championships will be at Pembrey on October 13/14.

Prepared for the CTCRC by Kerry Dunlop (07877 832299) at www.promotokd.co.uk