Tuscans: Croft Report

Great fun in the sun as Stockton returns to mix it up

By PH Staff / Tuesday, 4 May 2004 / Loading comments

Stockton's car gets a seeing to

Samuelson leads!

Stockton Flyer

Keen Struggled

Samuelson takes on Caroline in Race 2

It was a long trek up north for most of the Tuscan teams last weekend. Croft circuit in North Yorkshire played host to a paltry fourteen cars this weekend. Luckily, despite the small grid the quality of entertainment is still very high.

With the likes of Richard Hay, David Mason, Lee Caroline and Phil Keen vying for pole position we knew it would be a competitive weekend, but we hadn't banked on Chris Stockton returning with a new setup.

Stockton stunned the series when he first arrived last year, immediately challenging the 2003 Champion Lee Caroline. However after a couple of great races Stockton failed to show consistency since.

This weekend he called in the services of Bert Taylor from Synergy Motorsport. Bert's run champions in his time and knows a thing or two about Tuscan set up. A few late hours were spent on Stockton's car this weekend and the difference was dramatic.

Lee Caroline's team were also making significant changes to their car after a poor showing at Silverstone. They're now experimenting with setup and predict that they'll be back on top at Knockhill.

Phil Keen is the most determined driver on the grid this year and his setup problems cost him dearly. A misfire consumed a lot of time leaving the geometry setup neglected resulting in a frustrating weekend.

Race One

TVR's own Ben Samuelson was on tip top form at Croft and demonstrated it by flying from the second row of the grid up into first place at the start. Mason followed and Hay and Caroline - who were on the front row - followed on behind. Stockton, Dowling and Keen followed.

The front order changed within the first lap with David Mason lunging into the lead and Chris Stockton taking third ahead of rival Lee Caroline.

The first 8 cars remained in a tight convoy all vying for position for a number of laps before becoming a little more strung out. Samuelson couldn't hold onto his initial front running position and was passed by Stockton, then by Caroline and Hay.

Chris Stockton was the man of the moment however showing immense pace and the ability to pass front running cars like they were back markers. Having hauled his way up though the lead pack he set about David Mason, despite receiving some hefty thumps from Lee Caroline latched onto his tail.

Stockton slipped alongside Mason at Tower and left the leader with little option and little road. Mason took to the grass, span at over 100mph and managed to avoid anything solid. He even managed to rejoin in sixth place.

Stockton then made the most of his two second lead and led to the chequered flag whilst Caroline and Hay swapped positions behind him.

It finished with a well deserved win for Stockton, Lee Caroline in second and Richard Hay in third.

Race Two

Once again Ben Samuelson launched himself off the line and into the lead but this time Richard Hay wasn't going to stand by and let him get away. Hay, followed by Caroline, passed Samuelson leaving him in the hands of Darren Dowling and Phil keen.

Chris Stockton was looking less of a threat this time. With no first gear he'd struggled to get away quickly and he was to lose third gear later in the race too!

It was Hay's race though and he drove faultlessly leaving Lee Caroline to fend off the attentions of a particularly competitive looking Ben Samuelson. Keen followed that battle, himself suffering the attentions of Chris Stockton. They swapped positions twice on one lap alone before Stockton made a move stick and could set about Samuelson.

With no third gear, Stockton was losing ground in some parts of the track yet was managing to make it up in other parts. He passed Samuelson at Tower only to be passed again through the slower Sunny in/out.

It was Hay's race though, finishing 2.9 seconds ahead of Lee Caroline. Ben Samuelson had the biggest grin though securing third place ahead of Stockton, Mason and Keen.

Championship

The points system is different again this year and with a number of different drivers securing wins so far, it remains all to play for. Next stop Knockhill in mid-May.

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