Photos: 1 - 10 Andy Crayford, 11 - 25 Jim Harrod, 26- 37 Major Gilbert
Report: Keith Organ
2L Saloon British
33 cars grid for the Ray Goudy Trailer Repairs 2L Saloon British Championship; even before the green flag drama unfolded. Timmy Barnes (131) scored pole position following his heat win and third spot in the following race; leaving Barry Russell (600) the sole driver on outside row 1. The green flag fell the first four drivers escaped unscathed in to turn 1, but echoing the World Championship event in 2018, much of the field tripped up over one other, resulting in a big pile up down the homestraight in to the first turn, cars going in all directions, facing in all directions. Russell your leader at the end of the first lap, Michael Allard (349) had muscled his way by Shane Emerson (888) and took second; the bumpers went in, the top three right behind one another. Russell found himself out wide in to turn 1 and then squeezed out wide, catching a parked car head on out of turn 2, as Deane Mayes (730) caught out in an earlier skirmish rejoined the track behind the leaders; Allard now the front runner, Emerson in second, Russell had regrouped and followed in third. Allard now in a tricky situation trying to pick his way through the backmarkers with Emerson on his back bumper with love taps to remind the 349 pilot he was there. Down the homestraight and the top two darted either side of an ailing Jamie Sampson (149) machine; Allard outside, Emerson inside the bumpers went in as they slid in to the bend, Russell also making his presence felt went in on Emerson to regain second. Russell went in with the big attack a lap later on the roadside bend putting Allard up the plating, side by side out the bend and the 600 machine struggled for traction whilst Allard didn’t, a big dose of right boot and Allard was back in front with two car lengths clear. Emerson and Russell started to squabble further back, delaying each other with backmarker Mayes using the bumper too for good measure; allowing Allard to pull a gap. Russell now visibly slowing, left Emerson out in second as Allard negotiated more back marker danger in the shape of Harry Barnes (126) and XX (152). In to the mid stages and up front the race settled, but further back the bumpers were still clattering in, Keagan Sampson (329) in particular feeling the full force of Tommy Barnes (26). The lap boards were soon out for Allard, Mayes right on his back bumper with anticipation for a late challenge, but he seemingly realised he wasn’t there and gave Allard space. Further back in second Rowan Venni (370) was driving a great race, but he was overhauled by Ryan Santry (389) who duly moved him aside. Allard took a great race win, Santry second and Ross Waters (670) also turning in a superb drive finished third.