HOWARD’S RACE DAY, April 6

Champion Cooper’s straight eight with Howard’s Day double

Triple Castle Combe champion Luke Cooper opened his 2026 campaign with a fourth successive double on Easter Monday, April 6, stretching his unbeaten run back to June 28 last year. For the factory Swift Cooper SC20 ace, run by father Alan, it was lucky seven in the season-opener, for pole qualifier Alex Walker’s Van Diemen RF01’s rear suspension failed while defending a tenuous lead. Cooper’s second victory – over Walker – on Howard’s Day took his circuit tally to 31 round victories, just three behind double titlist Ed Moore’s 34 which has stood since 2013.

Cooper’s 17-year-old team-mate Sam Skellett, stepping up to a sister SC20, made it a one-two for the local equipe in the first race, staving off double champ Adam Higgins (Van Diemen JL15) and seasoned class B king Nathan Ward (Swift SC92) in his best showing to date. Skellett backed his result up with third later in the day, this time with Ward and Higgins filling his mirrors at the chequered flag. Luke’s fastest lap, 1m10.739s (94.14mph) was the best since Spectrum 011C-mounted Alex Kite’s 1:10.362 set on April 21 last year.

The entry was disappointing with other events over the Bank Holiday weekend focusing regulars elsewhere and cars not quite ready. To compound the issue, of the doughty dozen who reached the circuit, two fell in qualifying. Pat Blakeney – winner of the first Formula Ford round of 2006, at the Castle Combe Racing Club’s inaugural meeting in a Vector MG95 – was back to celebrate 40 years since his debut race at Combe in 1986, in a Monoposto spec Royale RP27. Alas his joy was thwarted when his Van Diemen MS13’s gearbox sprang a leak.

Ben Barry also started the session in the unique Lanan 1604, but a collapsed wheel bearing stopped the Bill Bray-designed car before he could set a time. With no spare available on site his family team (headed by dad Tony and uncle Tim, both long-time Historic F5000 racers) headed back to base in Kent’s Medway region. Undaunted, ‘The Barry Boys’ will be back for both May Bank Holiday events!

Alex Walker, chasing his first Combe victory since 2024, claimed pole for both races, his fine 1:10.469 (94.51mph) in the Wayne Poole Racing Van Diemen backed up by a 1:10.525 which headed R2’s grid. Cooper was closest on 1:11.028, with Skellett’s 1:11.903 and Ward’s 1:12.144 securing row two starts for the programme-opener. Riadro Racing’s Adam Higgins and class C leader Sam Street (WPR Van Diemen RF88) were on the third rank, followed by four-time champion Bob Higgins – father of Alex – out in Riadro’s RF88 for the first time. “At 76, I wanted to see whether I still had it,” said the Yorkshire-domiciled 1981-’82-’83 and ‘93 Combe titlist, 18 months after the Walter Hayes Trophy shunt at Silverstone which reduced his Historic Macon to scrap. “The first thing I remember afterwards was waking up in hospital.”

Alongside eighth-placed Higgins Sr, who recorded a stout 1:14.650, was Alicia Hamlen (Ray GR09) on 1:15.915. The only other starter was Michael Phillips in his faithful Swift FB87.

The first race saw Walker and Higgins tied together as if on a bungee cord, Luke unable to purge Alex’s defences. But with the order apparently settled there was drama in the braking area for Camp on lap 12 when a puff of smoke heralded the rear left upper toe control arm of Walker’s car pulling out of its outboard mounting block and its wheel’s attitude changing. He did well to gather the scary moment together but could only park the crippled car on the inside approaching Folly. The race continued with him stranded, where everybody could see the blue car, covered by waved yellow flags.

“I feel really bad for Alex. He drove brilliantly until something broke. Not the way I want to win a race,” said Cooper. Walker’s demise promoted a great three-way scrap between Skellett, Higgins Jr and Ward, two of whom would now land podium places. Higgins jostled to the front for a lap, but Skellett retaliated for a brilliant second. “Definitely the best race I’ve had. I didn’t expect to be fighting for second,” said Sam, whose previous experience was in a Swift SC92, sister car to fourth placed Ward’s warhorse. Less than half a second spilt the trio. Behind the lonely Street, Bob Higgins and Hamlen exchanged places before “Hurricane” prevailed. Phillips finished, but a damaged bearing forced him to withdraw from race 2.

Walker made the best start in the sequel, but for seven laps he was unable to shake Cooper off. Luke eventually made home base knowledge pay, a great exit from Quarry giving him the momentum for a decisive lunge round the outside into the Esses on lap 8. The intensity of their battle enabled Alex Higgins, Skellett and Ward – trading personal best laps repeatedly – to draft up to the leaders, forming a five-car train. Cooper’s set of fastest laps built him a 1.472s cushion at the chequer.

When Higgins briefly went mowing on Howard’s Way – Hammerdown until this season, the change commemorating 50 years since Howard Strawford bought the venue – in his endeavours to oust young Skellett, Ward snatched another fourth, but Sam (delighted with a second podium), Nathan and Adam flashed over TSL’s timing line together. Street remained clear of the older Higgins and Hamlen, who finished 0.082s apart. To answer his own initial question, Bob has definitely not lost his fighting spirit…

 

CCRC NANKANG TYRES HOT HATCH CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 1&2

Hot Hatch Honda winner Webber’s Hyland games double.

Corey Webber and Lee Waterman proved that Devon cream rises to the top when the Honda Civic racers landed 1-2 finishes in both Castle Combe Racing Club Nankang Tyres Hot Hatch Championship openers on Easter Monday. Collompton-based Webber headed the 25-strong field – the event’s strongest – all day in his pristine Hyland Car Sales/Motorsport EP3, with class B winner Waterman in hot pursuit in his less powerful Willand Service Station version.

It was not a single marque whitewash though, for Tim Fooks-Bale and Justin Holloway bagged a third and a fourth apiece in their zippy Renault Clio 172s, chased by Julian Fisher in the best of the Blue Oval’s Ford Fiestas. Josh Carter made a memorable debut, bagging a brace of class C victories in his Avon Tuning-prepared MINI Cooper S R53. Defending champion Sam Williams – enjoying  a 1600cc power hike in his Wiltshire College University Centre Civic EF – and Adam Wilks (Peugeot 106 GTi) shared D honours.

Qualifying was not without incident. The session was stopped twice, when Joe Hathaway’s Clio had an off at Camp second time round, and latterly for the retrieval of Kai Barker’s Fiesta which tagged the barrier at Gooch’s [previously Tower] in avoidance of another competitor. Sadly the Renault was sidelined for the day, but after sterling work in the paddock the white Ford’s nuclear green wheels announced its delayed arrival on the grid.

Webber garnered pole, his 1m13.394s (90.74mph) effort a second quicker than Waterman’s B-leading mark. Rows two and three were both Clio/Fiesta splits, with Holloway and John McMillan ahead of Fooks-Bale and Fisher. Carter’s MINI sat seventh, chased by the MG ZRs of Saloon migrants James Keepin and Oliver Sprague, with Barker in a displaced 10th with only three laps on his slate. D leader Wilks was 11th overall  – but was pushed from the grid – in full view of pursuer Williams, who had qualified two places and six tenths slower, with Ian Knight (Civic EP3) and class D rival Michael Nunn (Citroen Saxo) between them.

James Russell (Civic) and Alex Wellings (MINI Cooper S R53) were the last to break 80 seconds, followed by the Fiestas of Jamie Fowler and Julian Ellison, split in the 20s by Graham Cox’s Clio. The MINIs of returnees Toby Willcox and Ben Heywood were next, followed by Adam Willsher in the third MG ZR, debutant Devon Till in WCUC’s newly finished 1400cc Civic EF and Steve Andrews’ Peugeot 106 GTi.

Webber and Holloway made even getaways as the traffic lights signalled the start of the first race, with Waterman occupying the Renault driver’s mirrors as Corey howled clear. Fooks-Bale, McMillan and Fisher heading the chase. Carter maintained his seventh slot, with Knight’s black Honda up four places to eighth, pursued by the MGs of Keepin and Sprague. Waterman deposed Holloway four laps in, by which time Webber was pulling away inexorably. Eyes turned to the Renault duel for third in which Fooks-Bale moved ahead of Holloway to stay on lap 11.

With McMillan out after three laps, joining Cox and Wellings on the sidelines, Fisher was secure in fifth. Julian was Ford’s top rep, but Barker was only 11 seconds adrift, having charged impressively from 21st to sixth. Knight, Carter and class D victor Williams were next to finish, ahead of Sprague and Keepin although their order was reversed when Oliver was penalised for causing a collision. It cost him just one place as the last unlapped runner. Fowler, Russell and Ellison headed the rest, while Willcox bested Heywood – who had Willsher’s MG on his tail – to be second of the supercharged MINIs under the chequered flag.

Race 2 was looking more straightforward up front, with Webber a comfortable 12 seconds clear of Waterman – who made a blistering start to lead lap one – when the leading car suddenly slowed on the final lap. Its clutch had failed, but Corey was able to limp home with six seconds still in hand and pulled off at Bobbies on the slowing down lap. Waterman, with a replacement alternator fitted between races, was delighted with his class double. “The car was flawless again,” he said. Holloway, who clawed past Fooks-Bale second time round. Fisher, class D victor Wilks, Knight, Carter, Keepin and Cox rounded out the top 10.

Williams, Sprague, Barker, Fowler and Russell all went the full distance. Wellings, Ellison, Willcox, Heywood, Wilsheer and Andrews were next ahead of Till who earned licence upgrade signatures by lapping quicker than before in the 1400cc Honda. Webber’s best lap of 1:13.917 (90.10mph) was also fractionally quicker, as were those of Waterman, Wilks and Carter in their respective divisions.

 

CCRC AVON TUNING GT CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 1&2

Ferrari and Lamborghini supercars share Easter GT honours

Dave Scaramanga (Ferrari 488 Challenge) and Sacha Kakad (in Keith Butcher’s Lamborghini Huracan Evo GT3) emerged victorious in Easter Monday’s Castle Combe Racing Club Avon Tuning GT Championship openers, but Butcher’s hounding of Scaramanga in the first which provided the day’s talking point. The veteran Welshman dug deep to keep his rival focussed and as eleven litres and 18 cylinders of contrasting engines – the Ferrari’s twin-turbocharged V8 and the Lambo’s naturally aspirated V10 – chimed in spectators enjoyed the spectacle of amateur sportsmen on top form.

Invitee Kakad – the 1m02.956s (105.78mph) lap record holder not running for points this term – topped the timing sheets in qualifying with a 1:03.084s (105.57mph) shot, which secured pole for his race, but Scaramanga and Butcher headed the initial line-up on a personal best 1:04.990 (102.47mph) and 1:06.500 respectively. Ginetta-Chevrolets populated the second row, defending champion Dylan Popovic’s seven-litre LS7-powered G50 resplendent in a fresh gunmetal and gold livery, contrasting with Chris Everill’s red 6.2-litre G55. Dylan clocked 1:06.659, Chris 1:08.933.

Two wailing straight-six BMW M3s turned out, buddies Gavin Dunn (E36) and David Marcussen (E46) winding up fifth and 10th, although Dunn sadly non-started. His misfortune promoted late WRDA convert Wayne Spiller (SEAT Leon), also in the 10s, then Jordan Billinton (Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo) and Mark Sear whose remarkable persistence had finally coaxed life into his Chevrolet LS7-engined Ultima Evo. They recorded 1:11.409 and 1:11.816, with Marcussen close behind in the 12s. Philip “Mr Cheese” Young (Mitsubishi Colt-Vauxhall silhouette) and Hot Hatch ace Shaun Deacon – debuting the Ginetta-Ford G50 V6 previously raced by new CCRC chair Keith Johnston – clocked 16s. Owen Stokes in his 1600cc Caterham 7 completed the field.

Scaramanga howled into the lead at the rolling start, pursued by Popovic and the ballistic Billinton, leaving Butcher to fend off Everill. Keith and Chris repassed Jordan on lap 2, whereupon Butcher began to reel in Dylan as his tyres reached operating temperature, fuelling confidence. It took Keith 11 laps to demote the lusty Ginetta, after which he eagerly chased down the Ferrari. The race brewed up to an exciting finish, with Scaramanga 0.577s clear of Butcher, with a 1:06.099 (100.75mph) fastest lap as a bonus.

Popovic was five seconds adrift, Everill having fallen back into the clutches of Billinton who kept chasing and was a mere 0.554 down at the chequer. Sear’s iridescent green Ultima V8 finished a lapped sixth, his best lap ameliorated to a more representative 1:10.689. Marcussen, Young and Deacon – down into the 14s and 15s respectively – and Stokes completed the finishers. Spiller retired to the pits after 14 laps, having tussled with Sear.

The second again brought 11 starters under orders, but despite Scaramanga’s feisty getaway, Kakad was soon ahead and screaming clear. Sacha was 16.7s up the road when red flags flew. Following an enjoyable early skirmish over third with Popovic, Everill had his brake pedal go to the floor approaching Camp on lap 10. Having lost its front anchors the rears locked smokily and the red G55 slewed into the bank backwards, striking the Recticel barrier hard. Big Chris climbed out and walked to the medical centre.

The race was restarted over five laps, after which Kakad was 9.481s ahead of Scaramanga in the shapely Avon Tuning-prepared Ferrari. Third placed Popovic had a resurgent Billinton on his tail at the chequered flag, pursued by Marcussen, Young and the shadowing Deacon, down to a promising 1:13.995s on semi-slicks. His quest to find more time as he acquaints himself with the Ginetta will move to slicks in May. Sear’s stuttering Ultima made it back eighth, ahead of Stokes. Spiller’s SEAT fell by the wayside again.

 

CCRC SOUTH CERNEY ENGINEERING SALOON CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 1&2

Sportsmanship reigns as Chamberlain and Prebble win

Harrison Chamberlain and Adam Prebble each beat the other by narrow margins in super close stanzas as the CCRC South Cerney Engineering Saloon Championship opened on Easter Monday, April 6. Having snatched the advantage as 2022 champion Prebble’s Vauxhall Astra turbo ailed in the opening round, 2024 titlist Chamberlain offered his crew, who turned their rival’s car round to ensure a second bout at the end of the afternoon. Adam repaid their toils by pipping Harrison’s VW Golf turbo. For this wonderful display of sportsmanship Chamberlain was named Driver of the Day, an accord shared with his team.

Thirteen runners arrived for the saloon opener, including an intriguing mixed trio of 2.4-litre K24 engined Hondas contesting class E. Following a season of engine woes with his Interceptor Racing Astra, Southampton alloy wheel doctor Prebble put it on pole with a 1m09.884s (95.30mph) charge, a couple of tenths shy of his record, set in August 2024.

Among five competitors ensconced in the 11s, blanketed by 0.496s, James Allen and Jason Stack, in K24-powered Honda Civic Coupe and bewinged Civic EG respectively, qualified second and fourth, split by Hadyn King in his supercharged SEAT Leon. Chamberlain’s Poplar Insulation Golf sat fifth, shadowed by last year’s class A champ Bill Brockbank’s SEAT Leon Cupra. Former ‘Golfer’ Jack Boulton in his recently completed New Flame plumbing and heating Honda CRX K24 was close behind on 1:12.125.

Chamberlain had work to do after the preliminaries, in which his Golf was in dire handling problems. “It was undriveable,” he said, the discovery of 17mm toe-out at the rear explaining why the car constantly wanted to swap ends. Collapsed bearings were replaced and the suspension realigned for the first race, for which the opening laps would be exploratory.

Todd Carter’s Avon Tuning VW Golf turbo, a change from last season’s Renault Megane, ranked eighth but non-started, moving class B pacesetter Connor Harris’ H-Sport Ford Fiesta up the pecking order on 1:14.146. MG ZR stalwart James Blake found himself the only C starter after engine trouble blighted Nathan Sutton’s March’s Media Day test and previous champion James Keepin and Oliver Sprague switched their ZRs to Hot Hatch in search of a larger playground. Championship sponsor Jonathan Wills’ MG Maestro continued to be capricious but was joined by Graham Cox’ Renault Clio at the back when Roger Good withdrew his Vauxhall Corsa, last year’s champion’s father jumping horses from his previous Fiesta.

Prebble’s grey Vauxhall led the first race away, challenged by Brockbank’s powerful SEAT before Chamberlain got up to speed. Straight down into the 10s, Adam extended an ever-increasing advantage, even after Chamberlain reached second on lap 4, but the margin started to diminish just as rapidly from one-third distance, by which time Allen’s black Honda had usurped Brockbank’s white SEAT. King’s brightly-hued SEAT was parked after two laps.

Unbeknown to most onlookers, Prebble’s engine was cutting out on right handers, not ideal on a clockwise lap with four major turns and two deviation entrances. “I thought fuel consumption might be an issue, so brimmed it for the start,” said Adam, who found himself powerless to stem Harrison’s advances. He clung on to the lead as the Golf closed in relentlessly, but messed up an exit on the last lap and Chamberlain scorched alongside into the braking zone for Camp, then powered past to win by 0.318s.

Brockbank and Allen traded third several times before James prevailed at Old Paddock two and a half laps from home. Allen had set a class E best 1:11.415 (93.25mph) lap third time round. Rival Stack retired after 10 laps, joining King and Wills on the sidelines. Boulton and class B-topper Harris – now in the longer 13s – were classified fifth and sixth, ahead of Blake and Cox.

Prebble was resigned to packing his kit away and heading home before race 2 when Chamberlain and his merry men intervened. They found and replaced a split fuel line which got Adam out with minutes to spare and the curfew looming. From red lights out Adam again set the pace, but Harrison was quickly into his stride and closing in when he had “an issue. The [turbo] boost suddenly fell off a cliff leaving me very short of power,” he said. Atoning by braking as late as he dared into chicanes and carrying bold speed through Old Paddock, he made ground towards the lighter Vauxhall, but it remained 0.257s beyond reach. It was smiles all round afterwards. “I wouldn’t have raced if it wasn’t for them. Fantastic,” said Prebble.

Brockbank was third with Allen in his wake. Boulton’s CRX finished fifth after a satisfying day of discovery. “I’m already doing the same lap times as in my Golf, with half the power, and not replacing gearboxes all the time,” he said. Blake completed the finishers, Harris having retired after 8 laps and Stack on the first after a scrape with Allen as the field accelerated away from the startline.

ENDS:

 

Image Credits:

Mike Stokes, Tim Crisp, Flat Out Media, Steart Middleton, RKG Photography, Phil Johnson, Joshua Rank, Jake Davies, EDP Photo News, Jask Flash Photography, Alfie Gendall, Abraham Fernadez