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A healthy entry was headed by seven SR8’s, assuring that the competition at the head of the field was as competitive as ever. Terrence Woodward/Ross Kaiser lined up on pole for Saturday’s race, with Roger Bromiley/Shaun Balfe alongside. Autosport’s Marcus Pye and Historic race and preparation ace Simon Hadfield headed the second row from Manhal Allos, while defending champion Derek Johnston had the first of the SR3’s alongside him on row three, with David Thorburn/Rob Wheldon.

It was like a return to the Nevada Cup as spring sunshine graced the Rockingham grid as the cars formed up. Phil Keen had missed qualifying and with Mike Gardiner out of action, he was starting at the back of the grid and running solo.

When the lights went out Kaiser rocketed through Turn One to take up the advantage, as the screaming V8’s headed into the Deene Hairpin. Balfe lost out to Allos under braking and Johnston slotted into fourth. But a scorching opening lap left Kaiser already 3.2secs out in front.

Wheldon had the SR3 class lead in fifth, from Gavan Kershaw, but Keen was already hunting them down in his charge from the back of the grid. The SR3’s of Gavin Pickering, Phil Abbott and Ross Allen, rounded off the top ten at the end of the opening lap.

As Kaiser continued to charge ahead, Johnston started to make his move, taking Balfe for third on the second lap before they both got the better of Allos a lap later. Wheldon also started to push, but had Keen rapidly closing in. 

Johnston and Balfe managed to break by lap four in their duel for second and third, but after Keen’s power advantage told against Wheldon through Turn One, they started to queue behind Allos as they arrived at Tarzan. Keen finally got through at Yentwood on the next lap, but Wheldon had to give best to Allos’ SR8 advantage, despite a gallant effort.

The top six remained unchanged up to the pitstop window, but Richard Fearns worked his SR8 up to seventh from lap seven. Allen also fought hard to work his way past Abbott and Pickering to eighth, which gave him second in class as they pitted.

Pickering stayed out beyond the pit stop window before handing to Mark White, but Bromiley was the real leader from Woodward, Johnston, Keen, Allen and Thorburn. Just as Kaiser had been the charger in the first half, Johnston became it in the second, picking off Woodward and Bromiley on consecutive laps, he led from lap 20. 

Bromiley had continued to shadow Johnston, but as they both approached the Esses for the 21st time there were backmarkers to negotiate. Johnston locked up and overshot. As he then turned in Bromiley had gone for the gap that appeared, only for it disappear just as rapidly when Johnston turned in. Bromiley piled into the truck tyres and the safety car was scrambled. “very disappointing, sometimes things just don’t go your way, but until then I was flying and the measure of Derek this time,” said Bromiley.

Woodward was therefore back into second from Keen, Allen, Thorburn, Allos, James Abbott and Fearns. With only three minutes remaining from the green flag a dramatic finale was almost assured.

Johnston sprinted clear but had a rear puncture. “I realised as soon as the safety car went in and it just got worse. I was leading, so I wasn’t going to give up,” he said. 

Keen shot into second and hunted down the leader, heading nose to tail through Gracelands for the final time, before squeezing ahead into Tarzan. Johnston did his best to hold on but had to settle for second. Woodward retained third and Allos spun out of fourth which promoted Allen, Hadfield and Thorburn to complete the top six. “Ross got us a good lead but we had a mishap at the pit stop and did an extra 10 seconds, so we were out of the pack, “said Woodward.

“I couldn’t get pace early on but it was one of most hectic races. The car was really good though, but we had a rear wheel bearing going at the end and just held on,” said class winner Allen. Thorburn/Wheldon were second in class behind Allen with Phil/James Abbott third. “It felt really good and I was quicker than Dad,” said James.

RESULT

1 Phil Keen (SR8) 27 laps in 40m12.643s (78.15mph); 2 Derek Johnston (SR8) +0.234s; 3 Ross Kaiser/Terrence Woodward (SR8); 4 Ross Allen (SR3); 5 Marcus Pye/Simon Hadfield (SR8); 6 Rob Wheldon/David Thorburn (SR3); 7 Richard Fearns (SR8); 8 Phil Abbott/James Abbott (SR3); 9 Gavin Pickering/Mark White (SR3); 10 Manhal Allos (SR8). Class winner: Allen. Fastest lap: Kaiser 1m16.434s (91.37mph).

RACE TWO

Johnston lined up on pole for the second race and took full advantage as he charged into Turn one. Bromiley, Allos and Woodward followed and Hadfield made fifth before the end of the opening lap.

The lead duo stayed in close formation and had started to leave Allos in a solitary third by lap three. Woodward was under pressure though from Hadfield for fourth, while Keen once again had come charging from the back of the grid into eighth and soon poised to challenge Allen and Fearns.

James Abbott’s hopes of a good class finish were dashed with a spin at the Esses on lap six, dropping him from ninth overall. “I had been tapped at the chicane and damaged a wheel bearing,” he explained.

Back at the front Johnston started to respond to Bromiley’s pursuit and began to up his pace again. While the Woodward and Hadfield duel for fourth had allowed Keen to catch. At the Esses for the ninth time both managed to overshoot which gave Keen the opportunity to jump them both in one move, which he gratefully accepted. “Simon was very aggressive, and after he tapped me a couple of times I decided to let him go,” said Woodward.

With pit stops looming Johnston managed to increase his lead and although Allos was still in third, Keen was working ever closer to challenging him. But after his stop Johnston was even more determined to take the win and comfortably kept a 10 second cushion between himself and Shaun Balfe in the Bromiley car. “I just went for it today, tried hard every corner of every lap,” Johnston confirmed. “Derek was just outstanding today but at least we got points on the board this time,” said Bromiley. “Yes it was a good clean run,” added co driver Balfe.

Allos had emerged in third still but a pitstop infringement gave him a stop go penalty and left Keen clear to complete the podium. Kaiser came home in fourth, “we weren’t fully on song and the tyre temperature wasn’t consistent,” said Kaiser.  Wheldon/Thorburn clinched the SR3 class, after demoting Allen on the 22nd lap.  “I thought our stop was good, but Rob was coming for us straight away,” said Allen. “David had done a really good job, the car was brilliant and left me with the shot at the class win,” Wheldon added. 

Allos finally finished seventh, with Ian Flux/Hadfield eighth and the SR3’s of Luigi Gatti/Sami Suomen and Peter Osborne completing the top ten.

RESULT

1 Derek Johnston (SR8) 30 laps in 40m13.816s (86.79mph); 2 Roger Bromiley/Shaun Balfe 9SR8) +10.790s; 3 Phil Keen (SR8); 4 Terrence Woodward/Ross Kaiser (SR8); 5 Paul Thorburn/Rob Wheldon (SR3); 6 Ross Allen (SR3); 7 Manhal Allos (SR8); 8 Simon Hadfield/Ian Flux (SR8); 9 Luigi Gatti/Sami Suomen (SR3); 10 Peter Osborne (SR3). Class winners: Thorburn/Wheldon. Fastest lap:  Johnston 1m16.966s (90.74mph).