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Johnston & Patterson Star in Season Climax
30th September 2008
With titles up for grabs still in both classes, there was a mixture of eager anticipation and nervous energy around the paddock, as the climax of a highly competitive season approached.
It was the usual title protagonists at the front of the grid, with Terrence Woodward / Ross Kaiser's SR8 heading Derek Johnston / Stuart Moseley by 1.081s. Ben/Michael Jackson lined up third with newcomer Cameron MacDonald alongside in his SR8, not only making his Radical debut but his public race debut too.
The leading Supersports class cars of Jamie Patterson (PR6) and Simon Dolan / Sam Hancock (SR3) made up the third row, with title aspirants Alex Kapadia / Daniel Laddiman third best.
It was a blinding start from both front row men running side by side, flat out through Turn One, before Johnston grabbed the upper hand under braking for the Deene Hairpin. Jackson slotted into third and MacDonald fourth.
Johnston's pace proved his undoing at Deene on the second lap, when he spun down to eighth and handed Jackson the chance to challenge Woodward for the lead. "I was trying too hard, but had been determined to have that first lap lead. I didn't break early enough at the Hairpin and the tyres were too cold," Johnston explained. Patterson and Kapadia shared a couple of early exchanges, but Johnston was recovering rapidly and took Dolan on lap four to break back into the top six.
With Jeremy Ferguson and Nick Osborn off in separate incidents, there was a lap behind the safety car, but the green flag gave Jackson the impetus to push for the lead again. As Johnston managed to split the Supersports rivals, Kapadia lost ground in his quest to retake Patterson.
But after Jackson finally made it by on lap nine, he started to open up a comfortable lead. "I went by on the Steel Straight, I knew I was psyching him out though," said Jackson.
Kapadia managed to retake Johnston at Tarzan and clawed his way back onto Patterson's tail, while behind them Gary Kane's PR6 had started to close after breaking clear of Simon Dolan. Jackson stayed out a lap longer than the rest, as they all started to head for the pitstops.
It was Patterson that emerged with the lead, but after Kaiser took second into Turn One, he had the lead a lap later. Rather than close in on Patterson, Laddiman started to lose ground in third. Kane took Michael Jackson for fourth, before Moseley began his climb through the order by taking Jackson and Hancock within a couple of laps.
A number of stop go penalties affected the order, but Kaiser put his head down and went for the win, 44 seconds clear of a delighted Patterson at the flag. "It was a good race, no real problems. Derek got me at the start, I thought he was being brave and then he spun. I had a few mid-race gear selection problems which cleared up, but then I thought about the championship. But it was very stressful for me watching Ross out there," said Woodward. "I was having some fun out there, the PR6 is nearly a match for the SR8 around here, making time up on the twisty bits as the handling is so good. I particularly enjoyed that early dice with Alex," said Patterson.
Laddiman had already been caught by Moseley when he had to make his extra pit visit, but still took second in class behind Patterson. Hancock went clear in the closing laps after MacDonald spun at the Brook Esses and collected the luckless Rob Wheldon. "I went for gap, he didn't see me and rejoined into me," said Wheldon.
Kane was seventh after a late race duel with Nigel Greensall, while Andrew Ferguson / Nigel Redwood and Ian Simmonds both saw off Jackson's challenge as they completed the top ten.
1 Terrence Woodward/Ross Kaiser (SR8) 37 laps in 50m10.044s (85.84mph); 2 Jamie Patterson (PR6) 50m54.130s; 3 Derek Johnston/Stuart Moseley (SR8) ; 4 Daniel Laddiman/Alex Kapadia (SR3); 5 Simon Dolan/Sam Hancock (SR3); 6 Gary Kane (SR4); 7 Dave Banham/Nigel Greensall (SR3); 8 Andrew Ferguson/Nigel Redwood (SR3); 9 Ian Simmonds (SR3); 10 Ben Jackson/Michael Jackson (SR8). Class winner: Patterson. Fastest lap: Kaiser 1m15.977s (91.92mph).
RACE TWO
Woodward started from pole again, but it was Johnston's determination once more that gave him the early lead. Jackson almost made it past Woodward into Deene on the first lap, as the lead trio soon put daylight between themselves and fourth placed MacDonald. As in race one Kapadia was quickly onto the tail of Patterson's class leading PR6, but had to keep an eye on his mirrors too as Allen was not far behind.
Into Deene for the fifth time Jackson shot past Woodward for second and pulled off a similarly successful manoeuvre on Johnston for the lead through Chapman, with Woodward almost following. "I think Derek let me by," said Jackson.
Kapadia's pace began to slow to as Allen was all over the back of his RPM team mate, finally exchanging places on the sixth lap through Chapman. Having lost out to Kane, Roger Bromiley had Dolan closing on his ninth place, while Kane himself was right with Phil Hall's SR8. Jackson's lead was up to six seconds by the end of lap nine, with Woodward continuing to shadow Johnston for second, until Deene where he eased his SR8 ahead on the exit.
Showing no sign of his lack of experience MacDonald started to close on Johnston too, but as Allen chased after Patterson for fifth, it was all over for Kapadia / Laddiman's title hopes, as their car came to a halt exiting Pif Paf, joining Hall in retirement. "After about three laps the engine temperature went through the roof, I short shifted to try and hold on, but then lost drive and it was over," Kapadia explained. "I was so close to Alex, but after he went out I desperately wanted to catch Jamie and was only a bit behind when we made the stop," added Allen.
Although Jackson pitted with over 27 seconds in hand, it was Kaiser that emerged with the lead. Patterson, Moseley and MacDonald soon demoted Jackson Snr, but Kaiser's lead continued to grow. Although Moseley had started to close on Patterson, the Irish driver responded and eased himself clear again. Jeremy Ferguson moved up to sixth ay Deene on lap 22, but after Jackson spun at Brook, Hancock got by and started to close on Ferguson.
The finish was expected to be dramatic with the title still on the line, but not the way it turned out. Kaiser had a huge impact with the Turn One Wall, but despite an estimated speed of 140mph, he was able to walk away.
With the safety car scrambled the race was completed in formation, with Patterson taking overall victory and clinched the Supersports title, but second for Moseley was enough to crown Johnston 2008 Champion. "It hasn't really sunk in that I have won the championship, but it was one of the hardest races I have had." said Johnston. "Derek did this one for himself, he led the race I didn't," added Moseley.
"What a great way for me to finish the season, the car was great, to win the class the class was good, but winning overall is great. I will be back next year for sure," Patterson concluded. A delighted MacDonald completed the podium finishers, with Ferguson / Allen, Dolan / Hancock and Kane rounding off the top six.
1 Patterson 34 laps in 48m25.658s (81.72mph); 2 Johnston/Moseley 48m26.059s; 3 Cameron MacDonald (SR8); 4 Jeremy Ferguson/Ross Allen (SR3); 5 Dolan/Hancock; 6 Kane; 7 Roger Bromiley/Rob Wheldon (SR3); 8 Simmonds; 9 A.Ferguson/Redwood; 10 Dave Banham/Nigel Greensall (SR3). Class winners: Johnston/Moseley. Fastest lap: Kaiser 1m15.775s (92.16mph).