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Pictures taken using Olympus E10 system
SPRINT RACE
Touring category
MG Sport and Racing Anthony Reid took his first win of the season
in a fantastic battle for the lead. The first visit to the podium
for the British marque broke Vauxhall Motorsport’s record
of winning all races to date.
Reid said: “It just keeps getting better and better, MG
seems to have the midas touch at the moment. Warren has pole for
the next race and I have won this one. It’s safe to say that
my experience definitely played a role in the win. Everybody else
changed onto wets and I stayed on slicks but I knew that I could
have very easily gone a lap down if I had come in to change four
tyres. The chassis was so good that I was able to keep it on the
track but I was pleased when the race was red flagged!”
Jason Plato made a dash for Paddock Hill bend from the off and
managed to pip his team-mate and poleman, Yvan Muller, to the
post. He maintained the advantage for the remainder of the race
and finished in second.
Production category
Simon Graves (Team Kaliber Sport with Barwell) drove a superb
race to finish first, closely followed by his team-mate James
Kaye. Rick Kraemer pulled out all the stops to claim third position,
his first podium finish for GR Motorsport.
Graves commented: “When it was dry, the car was good and
it worked well. It was a cracking call by the team to call me
in to change onto wets, as I was the only one. I had an exemplary
stop so I didn’t have any time to make time up. Great team
effort!”
FEATURE RACE
Touring category
 In
a 55 lap race, torrential rain left the Championship wide open
until lap 36 when race leader Yvan Muller (Vauxhall Motorsport)
was forced to out of the race due to a fire on the undercarriage
of his car. Muller’s team-mate Jason Plato automatically
claimed the Championship title following the Frenchman’s
retirement.
Plato said: “In the beginning of the race there was just
too much standing water and I spun off. The circuit was getting
better and better for my car and when the safety car came out,
I knew I had a chance of pulling back. I’m delighted to win
the Championship. It’s been a fraught year and I’m glad
it’s all over. I would like to thank my family and fans for
their support.”
Team Egg Sport’s Phil Bennett subsequently took the lead
but still had to pit. Team Peugeot Sport’s Dan Eaves replaced
Bennett but did not have the power to claim his first win and
finished in third. Plato spun off the track earlier in the wet
conditions and had to make his way from the back of the pack but
finished a victorious second.
MG’s winning streak was not mirrored in the Feature Race
when both cars suffered suspected electrical failures and were
forced to retire on lap seven.
Production category
In a close battle, Scot Gavin Pyper secured a win for GA Janspeed
Racing. Gareth Howell followed him home in second, giving GR Motorsport
the points they needed to win the Teams’ Championship. James
Kaye made a tremendous effort to cross the line in first to steal
the Drivers’ Championship from HTML’s Simon Harrison,
who did not manage to make the podium. Kaye did not gain the required
points advantage after finishing in third, leaving a jubilant
Harrison to claim the Championship laurels.
Race winner Pyper said: “That race was a nightmare because
of the wet conditions. Every lap I completed I was amazed I was
still on the track. The car was great in the wet, we lacked a
bit of torque but overall it had a good set-up and everything
turned out ok”
Harrison said: “What a day and season! With the weather
conditions, my chances looked rocky. I can’t remember a Championship
that came down to the last race in both categories. This is the
third time I have won a National Championship so now it’s
about time for a Touring car drive!”
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