RE: Speller and Parsons win at Oulton
Tuesday 7th September 2004
Mark Speller and Graham Parsons both scored fine victories in round 11 of the John Cooper Challenge at Oulton Park on Saturday 4 September.
Meanwhile, Gary Robertshaw effectively sealed the Club Class championship title and Martin Wallbank took a crucial one-point lead in the S Class over Arthur Forster heading for the final race of the season at Brands Hatch in October.
Forster claimed pole by the tiniest of margins from Andy Sayle with Wallbank and Speller close behind on the daunting International circuit at the famous Cheshire venue. "I love it here," reckoned Forster. "I followed Andy for a couple of laps and picked up one or two places where he was making up time!"
Robertshaw initially claimed pole position in the Club Class from Graham Parsons, Mark Drury and Paddy Murray. However, Robertshaw and Murray later had their times disallowed along with Stephen Campbell and Rachel Owen when it was deemed that an air intake duct was missing from their cars. Although not a performance enhancing issue, they would have to start the race from the back of the grid, 10 seconds after the main field. James Loukes was similarly penalised when his car was found to be underweight after qualifying.
The opening lap proved to be decisive in the S Class contest. Sayle held the lead into the first corner but a fast-starting Speller was soon running level with Sayle despite a big moment first time through the high-speed Island Bend. Forster was tucked right in behind Speller and had to jink right to avoid contact and speared onto the grass and through a gravel trap. Forster rejoined, but had dropped to fifth place.
Second time into the Knickerbrook chicane, Sayle inadvertently clipped the back of Speller's car and that put Sayle out with a broken steering arm. "The bad luck continues," admitted Sayle, after looking a strong contender for victory on his home track.
Now it was Wallbank who moved up onto Speller's tail as Forster fought to regain lost ground. He battled ahead of a charging Rob Holgate but Speller and Wallbank were too far clear for Forster to make any more progress. Up front, Wallbank had one or two bids to unseat Speller, but knew that second place ahead of Forster was a vital championship result.
"I tried once to overtake Mark at the Hairpin and he defended. That slowed us both down," said Wallbank, well aware that Forster could catch them if they battled for the lead. "I had to beat Arthur today," he admitted. "It was a tough race with pressure all the time," confirmed Speller after his second win in six days. "The car is just getting better and better!"
In the Club Class, Parsons drove a mighty race to fend off Barney Craggs and James Whelan as little more than a few feet split them all through the race. After 15 minutes of flat-out racing, Parsons had a winning margin of less than a second after his first race at Oulton Park. "I had my hands full with Barney; it was a really clean race," said an elated Parsons. "This is a fantastic circuit, but that felt like a 24-hour race!"
"That was an awesome race," added Craggs," back to his ebullient self after a troubled race at Rockingham. Whelan, too, had driven a fine race despite a mid-race clash with Drury at Knickerbrook.
While all this was going on, Robertshaw was on a mighty charge from the back to grab fourth place on the final lap from Gary Kounnis. Now, Robertshaw only needs to start the final race at Brands Hatch in October to be confirmed as Club Class champion. "It's fabulous! We're here to win the championship so I'm very happy!"
The competitors in the John Cooper Challenge now have a break before the 12th and final round of the season at Brands Hatch on Saturday 16 October during the Formula Ford Festival meeting. The battle for the S Class could barely be closer!
Speller and Parsons win at Oulton
Round 11 of the John Cooper Challenge last Saturday
Mark Speller and Graham Parsons both scored fine victories in round 11 of the John Cooper Challenge at Oulton Park on Saturday 4 September.
Meanwhile, Gary Robertshaw effectively sealed the Club Class championship title and Martin Wallbank took a crucial one-point lead in the S Class over Arthur Forster heading for the final race of the season at Brands Hatch in October.
Forster claimed pole by the tiniest of margins from Andy Sayle with Wallbank and Speller close behind on the daunting International circuit at the famous Cheshire venue. "I love it here," reckoned Forster. "I followed Andy for a couple of laps and picked up one or two places where he was making up time!"
Robertshaw initially claimed pole position in the Club Class from Graham Parsons, Mark Drury and Paddy Murray. However, Robertshaw and Murray later had their times disallowed along with Stephen Campbell and Rachel Owen when it was deemed that an air intake duct was missing from their cars. Although not a performance enhancing issue, they would have to start the race from the back of the grid, 10 seconds after the main field. James Loukes was similarly penalised when his car was found to be underweight after qualifying.
The opening lap proved to be decisive in the S Class contest. Sayle held the lead into the first corner but a fast-starting Speller was soon running level with Sayle despite a big moment first time through the high-speed Island Bend. Forster was tucked right in behind Speller and had to jink right to avoid contact and speared onto the grass and through a gravel trap. Forster rejoined, but had dropped to fifth place.
Second time into the Knickerbrook chicane, Sayle inadvertently clipped the back of Speller's car and that put Sayle out with a broken steering arm. "The bad luck continues," admitted Sayle, after looking a strong contender for victory on his home track.
Now it was Wallbank who moved up onto Speller's tail as Forster fought to regain lost ground. He battled ahead of a charging Rob Holgate but Speller and Wallbank were too far clear for Forster to make any more progress. Up front, Wallbank had one or two bids to unseat Speller, but knew that second place ahead of Forster was a vital championship result.
"I tried once to overtake Mark at the Hairpin and he defended. That slowed us both down," said Wallbank, well aware that Forster could catch them if they battled for the lead. "I had to beat Arthur today," he admitted. "It was a tough race with pressure all the time," confirmed Speller after his second win in six days. "The car is just getting better and better!"
In the Club Class, Parsons drove a mighty race to fend off Barney Craggs and James Whelan as little more than a few feet split them all through the race. After 15 minutes of flat-out racing, Parsons had a winning margin of less than a second after his first race at Oulton Park. "I had my hands full with Barney; it was a really clean race," said an elated Parsons. "This is a fantastic circuit, but that felt like a 24-hour race!"
"That was an awesome race," added Craggs," back to his ebullient self after a troubled race at Rockingham. Whelan, too, had driven a fine race despite a mid-race clash with Drury at Knickerbrook.
While all this was going on, Robertshaw was on a mighty charge from the back to grab fourth place on the final lap from Gary Kounnis. Now, Robertshaw only needs to start the final race at Brands Hatch in October to be confirmed as Club Class champion. "It's fabulous! We're here to win the championship so I'm very happy!"
The competitors in the John Cooper Challenge now have a break before the 12th and final round of the season at Brands Hatch on Saturday 16 October during the Formula Ford Festival meeting. The battle for the S Class could barely be closer!
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