The Classic Touring Car Racing Club
“Recreating the spirit of classic touring car racing for the club competitor of today”
PRESS RELEASE: 10th April 2012
Sizzling Start To The Season At Snetterton
There was a sizzling start to the season for the club when a stellar entry fought out the first round of the amalgamated Sub Zero: Wolf Classic Thunder ChampionshipandPro Driver Blue Oval Saloon Series.Mark Biggar’s 3-litre Nissan Skyline seized the lead from the start, chased by Darren Bly’s similar 2.8-litre model, while Joss Ronchetti (Vauxhall Monaro) and Garrie Whittaker (BMW M3) were close behind. Meanwhile Paul Dobson’s faithful Mazda Rx7 was gaining ground rapidly and he soon passed Whittaker. Then on lap six there was a shock when the two Nissans were eliminated when they tangled with a backmarker. That left Ronchetti in front, but now Dobson was looking for a way past. The two cars touched twice, but at the end the Pro Driver MD was still just ahead of the Northern champ. Whittaker was a strong third, well ahead of the best BOSS driver, Ashley Bird (Sierra XR4i).
David Howard (Jaguar XJ12) made a super start to the Autoglym Post Historic and Hammerite Group One Touring Car Championship race, but then he slid off at the first corner. “I was on worn Dunlops on a very wet track” he said ruefully. Mark Osborne inherited a brief lead until his engine fell sick and he was overhauled by the big Rovers of Tim Scott-Andrews and Riorden Welby who went on to finish just a couple of lengths apart. David Hickton (Opel Ascona) eventually found a way past John Wright and he went on to finish a strong third, the best Post Historic driver.
Lawrie Dunster was a clear winner of the SVG Motorsport Pre 93 Championship.His BMW M3 steadily pulled away from the similar car of Paul Bellamy who held a narrow advantage over a tight bunch consisting of Mark Fowler, Chris Bright and Richard Millar.Then Fowler slipped back as Tim Scott-Andrews began to move up. But on the last lap Bellamy slid off at Coram Curve and Bright inherited second place.
Millar’s Sierra Cosworth was third and Scott-Andrews’ charge was rewarded with fourth place. Bellamy recovered well to finish fifth.
The Alfa Romeo GT Junior of Ken Lark stormed away at the start of the Thermex Classic Saloon and Historic Touring Car Championshipwith Richard Sprigg, Phil Manser and Steven Sprigg (the son) in pursuit.Then Manser put on a spurt and by lap three his Mini Cooper was through to the front. Meanwhile Richard Sprigg (Anglia) was going really well and in the closing stages he moved up to second place and began to gain on the leader, but at the finish Manser was still seven seconds up. Lark pushed hard to finish a close third, well clear of Steven Sprigg’s Lotus Cortina.
Full results may be obtained from The next rounds of the CTCRC championships will be on May 5/6 over the Silverstone National circuit.
Prepared for the CTCRC by Kerry Dunlop (01227 361409).