Race Report Season 2017 - Issue 5: International Circuit, 17th June SIZZLING SMITH

Josh is too hot to handle as temperatures soar at Oulton Park BRSCC 1600: Race Report - Oulton Park International Circuit, 17th June

DATA & CONTENTS INTRODUCTION CREDITS Page An entry of 30 Formula Fords spanning a range of eras created breathless racing at Meeting Type: Double Header Oulton Park on 17th June as the Avon Tyres Northern Formula Ford 1600 Circuit: Oulton Park International Championship headed into rounds three & four. Introduction 3 (2.692 miles) Joining championship leader Josh Smith were a host of names synonymous with Qualifying 4 FF1600 action including the likes of B-M Racing father and son duo Neil and David Northern Championship: Rounds 3 & 4 Qualifying Statistics 7 McArthur plus National series frontrunner Matt Round-Garrido.

Faces of Formula Ford 1600 8 The meeting also featured familiar faces making very welcome returns, including Champion of Oulton: Rounds 3 & 4 Race 1 10 2004 local champion Chris Chisnall. Meanwhile, Post89 contender Jack Wolfenden was racing a Pre90 car and was to prove that in Formula Ford 1600 the skill of the Race 1 Statistics 15 driver is often more important than the age of the chassis as all Classes ran together Organising Club: BRSCC Race 2 16 in the single Qualifying session and a pair of 20 minute Races.

Race 2 Statistics 21 Sponsors: Avon Tyres If any meeting was going to put on a true display of what Formula Ford has to offer, it was this one - and it did! Trophy Presentations 22 Championship Co-Ordinators: Ian Smith (07939 107888) Tracey Hunter (07719 787980)

Reporting:

Dom D’Angelillo Autosport Academy

Additional Reporting & Production: Dave Williams www.gramtext.co.uk

Copyright on Pictures: Bourne Photographic www.bournephotographic.co.uk

Next Meeting: 8th/9th July: Donington Park National Championship Northern Championship Triple Crown Page: 2 Page: 3 BRSCC Formula Ford 1600: Race Report - Oulton Park International Circuit, 17th June

jumped the oldest member of the category, later rueing taking things too easy Qualifying McArthur racing family into sixth, half a at the start of the session when the track second from the car in front. was at its coolest. The Myerscough College backed Jack The 2016 Northern Pre90 Formula Ford Wolfenden impressed in his father Ian’s 1600 champion, Jamie Jardine, was looking Reynard 88FF. In his first outing in a forward to his first race of the year in a Van STRAIGHT Pre90 car, he was quicker than Nigel Diemen RF79 which Dave Hart had built up Dolan’s JL012K and was the for him over the Winter. It looked splendid in fastest of the older cars with his closest the same two-tone blue as the all- challenger, Wayne Poole, rounding out conquering Reynard 84FF he drove over the ON IT the top 10 in his first meeting of the past few seasons but, following fuel flow season. problems during Friday’s test day, the Jaap Blijleven was longing for more cooling system sprang a leak during Pre90 competition at the first rounds of qualifying. This was bad news, especially in the season at Oulton Park back in March. the hot conditions, and the resulting damage He certainly got his wish at this meeting to the engine meant Jardine had to withdraw as he was only third fastest in the from the meeting. Former Champion, Chris Chisnall, made a welcome return

Matt Round-Garrido set the

early pace in qualifying

A top six covered only by a second on drivers remained, with only Smith managing Oulton’s full International layout promised to better his time, setting a 1m49.842s and another classic. becoming the only driver to jump in the sub 1m50s in qualifying. Fourth and fifth placed For all the drivers, it was a case of getting qualifiers Matthew Chisholm and Luciano familiarised with the track conditions at first, Carvalho also failed to improve on their first with the soaring track temperatures already flying laps as the temperatures continued to having an impact on tyres even early on in rise. the day. With only six minutes of the 20-minute The initial leader was B-M Racing’s Matt session remaining, a code 60 was introduced Round-Garrido, setting a 1m50.280s on his when Simon Fleet’s car was stranded at third flying lap, but this was the best that Druids, and with only enough time for a Round-Garrido and his Medina Sport JL17 single flying lap once the green flags were could achieve, first being bumped down into waved, it was a sprint to try to improve on second by Josh Smith, who set a 1m50.158s times set earlier in the session. in his Firman RF16, and then third by David McArthur’s Van Diemen JL13, some two In the rush only Neil McArthur managed hundredths behind. improve on his best, bettering Nick Barnes’ 1m51.340s by four one hundredths. This This was the order in which the top three

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Matt Chisholm raced at the sharp end all day

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Page: 8 www.brsccff1600.co.uk www.brsccff1600.co.uk Page: 9 BRSCC Formula Ford 1600: Race Report - Oulton Park International Circuit, 17th June Race 1 Jack Wolfenden flew in his father’s Pre90 Reynard JUNIOR FLYER

If ever you needed evidence of Formula Ford Rawlinson’s Class D Van Diemen RF85 one of only two retirements - Oliver arising from the red flag affected Jack 1600’s intense competitiveness, it came in spinning off at Druids. The marshals were Chapman was also forced to stop due to a Wolfenden. The Britcover National race one of the meeting at Oulton Park. unable to move the ex-Mario Sarchet chassis lingering overheating issue that had blighted Championship regular showcased his Championship leader Josh Smith’s Firman which Rawlinson had purchased over the his qualifying. incredible pace following some opportunist RF16 had the Van Diemen JL13 of David Winter because it had become beached on the The red flag meant the results were declared driving at the start and highlighted the McArthur hot on his heels for every moment kerbs. There were also reports of a clutch at the end of the previous lap. This openness of FF1600 by using his near-30- in a race-long battle for the top step of the problem (although not from the team). maintained the same top three, with Smith year-old car to battle with the more modern podium. David Bailey had fitted a new engine to the and McArthur finishing five seconds ahead of vehicle of Scotland’s Matthew Chisholm for Smith ultimately won it, coping admirably with RF85 and was delighted when Rawlinson Matt Round-Garrido. A slow start by the fourth overall. Having been buzzing around that incessant pressure while also struggling lapped Oulton half a second faster than his latter dropped him to fifth but some demon Chisholm’s gearbox for the whole race, like a with brake bias problems throughout. personal best during testing on Friday. passing at Hislops and Lodge got him back fly pestering one of the spectating picnickers, Wolfenden finally navigated his Pre90 car past Just as things were starting to get heated the Qualifying and the start of the race had both on to the final step of the podium by the end Chisholm through Deer Leap and into Old red flags appeared, ceasing any further action gone well, some progress up the order had of the opening lap, the leaders were already Hall, but this was just before the red flag on track. This was the result of Scott been made, thus going off at the fast double out of reach however. appeared meaning the countback to the apex corner was a disappointment. He was The only placing adjustment in the top 5

Page: 10 www.brsccff1600.co.uk www.brsccff1600.co.uk Page: 11 BRSCC Formula Ford 1600: Race Report - Oulton Park International Circuit, 17th June previous lap rendered the move null, with when the Portuguese student got ahead at Once he was in front of Murphy, Blijleven set battle for fourth between Will Alterman (who Chisholm maintaining fourth. Island just before the red flag came out. his sights on the hobbled Poole who was easy had been happy with his qualifying Wolfenden taking the Class C honours was bad Carvalho had been squeezed during the race’s prey for the UCLAN driver. A few laps later Jaap performance but disappointed with his start), news for Jaap Blijleven who was leading that frantic opening lap and lost places to both passed Dolan at Old Hall when the latter made returning champion Chris Chisnall and category and also the Northern Pre90 Wolfenden and N. McArthur. a move on Barnes at Lodge but overshot which Nathan Parton. They spent much of the seven Championship coming into this meeting. The Barnes was yet another to report that he had cost him a few mph on the Pits Straight lap encounter three abreast, all for 17th, 18th Dutchman had been happy with his start but been held up at the first corner but he quickly however the red flags came out soon and 19th on track. found himself boxed-in at Old Hall as the got ahead of Murphy down The Avenue and afterwards resulting in the positions being George McDonald was also a class winner right-hand side of the grid became involved in latched on to the fight for sixth. As the race reset on countback. behind the wheel of his Swift SC92F in 14th something of a log-jam that developed at the developed he had to drop back a little when All this meant Blijleven was classified second with Christopher Stones behind him. Stones first corner due to Round-Garrido’s slow his water temperature began to increase but in Pre90, 10th overall, with Poole completing had faced a race long scrap with the getaway. This allowed Wolfenden, Wayne Poole he was able to close in again in the latter the category’s podium – and that for Class C – notoriously difficult to pass Bruce Evans, and and John Murphy to charge round the outside stages. When Carvalho chiselled out his move as the 13th car home after the Class E and D finally made a move stick after five laps of of everyone. Disaster was narrowly avoided on N. McArthur, Barnes thought he was in winners, John Murphy and Mike Bibby frantic on track action through the infamous when the right rear of Poole’s car clipped the position to follow him through but, on the respectively, also overtook him. Murphy was Cascades. Steve Nixon, who finished 24th left front of Neil McArthur’s. outside line at Shell, he couldn’t make the more than happy with the speed of his 1971 overall, was behind Evans in class but had This shuffling of the pack prevented Blijleven move stick. The Ray GR07 pilot was preparing manufactured car in the dry and, despite struggled to maintain the pace of his class from being where he wanted to be – for a big push on the last lap but the red flags almost 50 years of development, there is more rivals, jostling with the Swift SC93F of challenging Wolfenden and Wayne Poole for scuppered his plans. to come from the chassis… and the driver too! Seamus Wild. the Pre90 podium positions. Even worse, he During testing on Friday, Barnes had been Bibby finished much higher than his 18th Alan Williamson, Simon Fleet, Trevor Morgan, was pushed down to fourth in the Pre90s by plagued by an electrical gremlin that proved qualifying position after he “saw a lovely little Ian Wood and American Richard Ketterman John Murphy in his Merlyn Mk20A who impossible to resolve despite a few battery gap at the start and just went for it!” completed the finishers in a shortened, but surprised many with his lightning getaway. changes. Further down the road in Class C was the frantic as ever, Formula Ford race. Murphy, who had hoped to be out in his Van Chris Stones holds of the Diemen RF90 but the re-build is still on- closely following Will going, fought a successful rear-guard action until the Post89 car of Nigel Dolan, who made Alterman a decent start but was one of those hemmed- in at the first corner, came through and broke the status quo. A good exit from Cascades allowed Dolan to pass Blijleven into Island Bend and he was soon ahead of Murphy with Blijleven also passing the Class E car at Lodge. Dolan then closed in on the battle for sixth. This was initially headed by Wayne Poole in the Pre90 Van Diemen RF88 but when a braking issue cost him pace it became an intense fight for Post89 cars with N. McArthur holding off Luciano Carvalho as Nick Barnes held a watching brief. However, 6th eventually went the way of Luciano Carvalho, after the feisty race long duel with N. McArthur, which was decided

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Class D winner, Mike Bibby

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Josh Smith made it 2 wins out of 2

If race one showed how close Formula Ford outside so I needed to try something Like in the scrap ahead things could have slowly accumulating speed and he finished racing can get, race two was evidence you different, unfortunately, I hit his rear.” ended entirely different for him. When the opening lap down in seventh. have to have nerves of steel to be able to McArthur said. The contact in the Hislops’ battling for the final podium position as they Finishing behind them, Nick Barnes and Nigel compete. Once again, the overall race came braking area sent Smith across the grass started the final lap, Matt Round-Garrido ran Dolan had taken advantage of Tom down to a battle between the Northern triangle around which the chicane is routed. wide out of Deer Leap when attacking McArthur’s unfortunate retirement. With Neil powerhouses of Josh Smith and David Carvalho, leaving the door open for the Van “It was a little bit of to finish the McArthur feeling unwell after race one, his McArthur. Diemen of Matthew Chisholm to steal fourth, weekend,” Smith quipped, “It could have son Tom stepped into the Van Diemen and “I just took advantage of the situation in front Having spent the previous race pressuring ended much worse for the both of us, was forced to start from the back. An me,” said the opportunist Chisholm. Smith for the lead to no avail, McArthur though.” Indeed it could but despite the incredible performance had lifted him up into became frustrated as the story of race 2 contact, the two finished in the same places Round-Garrido had fought back after another sixth with only five minutes left until a unfolded in a similar fashion. With the door as they had been running and the same as slow getaway when the lights went out. On moment of overconfidence led to McArthur remaining shut, McArthur admitted he had to race one, albeit with a bit less bodywork on this occasion, those behind him on the grid spinning off at Hislops where he hit a try another tactic. both cars. didn’t appear quite so inhibited about manhole cover and ripped it out of its passing the Medina Sport car which was housing causing extensive damage to the “I’d tried on the inside and I’d tried on the Luciano Carvalho rounded out the podium. floor of his car. The youngest McArthur Page: 16 www.brsccff1600.co.uk www.brsccff1600.co.uk Page: 17 BRSCC Formula Ford 1600: Race Report - Oulton Park International Circuit, 17th June sibling was very fortunate not to be injured in Michael Bibby’s fast starts became a regular Chris Chisnall had been in the thick of this saved his tyres until the end of the race. the frightening incident. feature during the weekend with his Reynard battle but fell back into the clutches of Will This meant when his nearest rivals were Barnes was nearly left stranded in the 84FF once again stealing places at the Alterman who had been much happier with struggling for grip on the baking hot Assembly Area prior to this contest due to his beginning. That helped him make it a clean his second start than his first. On the last asphalt, Rawlinson could give his tyres one ongoing electrical problems. His car only sweep in Class D. In the latter stages of this lap, Chisnall held his nerve to prevent last push, setting the fastest lap of his race started because a gentleman – he wasn’t sure contest, he had a lack of grip from his rear Alterman from getting by at Island Bend, a in the process. tyres which allowed the cars of Chris Stones who he was – came over and helped his father corner where Alterman had earlier passed Oliver Chapman’s overheating PRS RH02 plus Classes B and E winners George get his engine running with a push-start. Juicie Bruceie after quite a scrap. Bruceie just which finally made it to the end of a McDonald and John Murphy to close in. They held off Simon Fleet at the line. Once on the grid, he got away well when the session at Oulton Park with a car full to the then entertained one another and the crowd red lights went out but had to weave his way Scott Rawlinson and his Van Diemen RF85 brim of water, albeit some distance behind with an intense 4 car dice. Murphy had been past the not yet quite up to speed Round- recovered from their woes in race one, Richard Ketterman, Ian Wood and Steve looking to pass Bibby but his car jumped out Garrido which allowed Wayne Poole and Nigel celebrating third in class and 20th overall Nixon at the back of the pack. of third gear at Cascades, the resulting loss Dolan to move ahead of him although Dolan after holding off Nathan Parton. In order to of momentum allowed Stones and McDonald was dispensed with exiting Old Hall only for secure his on track position, Rawlinson had to speed by. him to fight back and retake the place a lap later at the same corner. A short time later, Dolan passed Poole at Island and Barnes Nigel Dolan (8) leads NIck followed him through at Shell where he later Barnes (105) and Jaap Blijleven overtook Dolan for good with a daring (43) through Brittens outbraking manoeuvre around the outside on lap 5. Jack Wolfenden was once again a star of the show in his Pre90 Reynard running comfortably in third before clutch issues forced him into an early finish and denied him an appearance on the overall podium. This meant Pre90 and Class C honours went to Van Diemen RF88 driver Wayne Poole who, after his fast start fell back into the clutches of Jaap Blijleven before they disputed eighth on the road. “I knew Jack was winning the class so I was considering letting Jaap past as he needs the championship points,” Poole explained, “but when I realised he’d [Wolfenden] retired, I thought ‘I want this win’”. Poole’s secret was his speed exiting the chicanes which prevented Blijleven from getting in position to make a pass although the Dutchman, who nearly passed to Barnes off the grid until he encountered Round- Garrido trying hard not to be left behind, briefly got ahead at Old Hall only to “fumble” the exit.

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David McArthur twice finished in the runner-up position

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