RE: CCRC COMBE COUNTDOWN 25.08.25

MOTUL FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP

Double tops for Cooper 

bulls-eyes third FF title 

On a scorching hot Bank Holiday Monday when Swift drivers scored top four lockouts in both CCRC Motul Formula Ford championship rounds, another faultless double by Luke Cooper secured a third crown in cars built and run with father Alan. “I’d have preferred more competition to keep me focused [early season points leader Rory Smith has not been out since May] but you can only race who’s here,” said Luke, who nonetheless added to his 2018 and 2020 titles and extended his CV to 27 round wins, five this term in his faithful SC20 chassis. The family success was a fourth for the Coopers, since Alan’s brother Martin was champion in 1984, piloting Royale RP31M and Reynard FF83/84.

Top qualifier on 1m10.612s (94.31mph), Cooper was pressed hard in the opening race by Tom Hawkins, whose ‘hole shot’ start from P2 – after an unusually long hold on the grid – in a distinctive high-nosed Springbridge Direct Swift SC95 saw him lead the first few breathless laps before Luke restored the status quo. Class B [1990-1995 cars] rival Nathan Ward needed one third place from the remaining four races to wrap up in the division for a remarkable sixth time in his SC92. Nathan was content, therefore, to chase Hawkins home and complete his mission at the earliest opportunity. The afternoon session’s sequel was an action replay, with teenager Sam Skellett (factory-run SC92) – having reduced his personal best to 1m12s – reprised his earlier fourth on a great day for the Swift Cooper equipe.

Welcome returnee Pat Blakeney – who made his race debut with the Monoposto movement at Combe in the mid-1980s in a Royale RP27 FF2000, and an early winner on its post-chicane layout in 1999 – was in the mix too. Driving his Van Diemen MS13, Wayne Boyd’s 2015 Festival winner, for the first time in two years, race-rusty Pat qualified fourth and finished a fighting fifth each time. Blakeney narrowly prevailed in a splendid morning scrap with Class C [1985-1989] protagonists Bob Hawkins and Wayne Poole (Van Diemen RF89s). Hawkins took up the cudgels again later, finishing in Blakeney’s slipstream, as chaser Poole put the division beyond reach, supported by triple Combe champion Felix Fisher on spanners.

Also from the Wayne Poole Racing garage, Welshman Stephen Bracegirdle (Van Diemen RF01) overcame a stubborn misfire in qualifying to get two clean races in, finishing ahead of team mate Dane Catanzaro (RF89), third of the C runners. Historic class stalwart Peter Lavender (Merlyn Mk17) and Michael Phillips (Swift FB87) completed the finishers and enjoyed a spirited tussle second time out.

Unfortunate absentees from the grids were Alicia Hamlen and Ben Barry. Alicia (Ray GR09) went off heavily at Tower in qualifying, stopping the session. The impact buckled a front corner, but steering rack damage necessitated workshop repairs. Kentish novice Ben, 27 – son of Tony, nephew of Tim, veteran competitors both – was due to make his race debut in the unique Bill Bray-designed Lanan 1604, in which future American Indycar legend Jimmy Vasser entered the 1990 Formula Ford Festival. After 60 plus trouble-free laps on Thursday, Ben qualified 11th, before clutch failure trailered the car. The Barry boys, used to the challenges posed by Historic Formula 5000 cars, will be back!

 

SOUTH CERNEY ENGINEERING SALOON CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Brockbank scores twice

for hot SEAT hat-trick  

Bill Brockbank’s SEAT Leon Cupra is a proper Q-car, the Spanish machine’s apparent innocence at first glance masking rampant lion-hearted performance. Emboldened by his victory in the second race at June’s Summer Spectacular, ‘Badger Bill’ maintained his momentum as the recalcitrance of rivals Adam Prebble and Harrison Chamberlain’s more potent a highly-strung machines bit them again, winning both rounds to complete a hat-trick on on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25.

On a red hot afternoon in Wiltshire, former champion Prebble’s Vauxhall Astra turbo was sidelined from both races by misfires, while defending titlist Harrison Chamberlain qualified his VW Golf GTi turbo , quickest on 1m10.600s (94.33mph) in two flying laps, but was out after four with engine failure.

A solid 22-strong entry – the best of the season by three – arrived at the circuit where the club celebrated 30 years of the championship with hospitality in The Strawford Centre to which champions were invited. Charles Atherton, winner in 2000 and 2001 in a Vauxhall Corsa, was the earliest honoree to attend. Although his own MG Maestro turbo was not ready, despite much effort in the workshop, sponsor Jonathan Wills of South Cerney Engineering pushed the boat out by presenting super miniature oil cans to competitors as souvenirs of the landmark occasion.

With Chamberlain sidelined, Brockbank took up pole having cut a 1:12.055s lap, which bested Hadyn King’s older shape SEAT Leon by 0.411s. Thus we had a single-marque front row, with a turbocar and a supercharged model clear of Todd Carter’s Renault Megane turbo, back in the 12s. Two-litre atmospheric Class B protagonists Mark Wyatt (Vauxhall Astra) and Kieren Simmons (Ford Fiesta) led the chase, albeit 1.419s apart, Mark’s best 1:14.577.

The Class C 1800cc battle promised much, with six MG ZRs lined up in trios, points leader Wayne Rushworth (on 1:16.0120, Nathan Sutton and James Blake separated from James Keepin and welcome MGOC guests Chas Ryles and Steve McDermid split by Class D leader Mike Good’s peppy 1400cc Vauxhall Corsa on 1:17.691. Peter Elliston in his hand-controlled VW Golf GTi and Jon Lannon’s Citroen Saxo VTS also went round inside 1m20s, although clutch failure sadly rendered Lannon a spectator.

Sometime Honda CRX pedaller Archie Styant joined the fray as an invitee in a rare 2.5-litre MG ZS. He was surprised to outqualify the hobbled Prebble who was only 17th at this stage. More MG ZRs in the hands of MGOC invitees Luke Boniface and Riaz Keswani, and regular Oliver Sprague headed Roger Good’s 1400cc Fiesta, but Jimmy Work from the MGOC set was unable to post a time in his ZR. With Chamberlain and Lannon fallen, the grid was made up to 21 by Tim Swift’s Peugeot 106, also out in the Hot Hatch races with Scott Hughes.

Brockbank and King led the first race away, in which Rushworth got a flier at the lights. Carter closed on King over the first few laps – bagging fastest lap with a 1:12.814 (91.46mph) shot as he did so – inspiring Hadyn to draught up to Bill. The high ambient temperature did not help the forced induction cars. Prebble failed to complete a lap and, after Carter couldn’t find a gear when he downshifted for Quarry, he dropped initially to fifth. With second seemingly in the bag, King parked his luridly liveried King Lifting car at the Esses, leaving Brockbank clear of Wyatt and Simmons, 11 seconds apart at the chequered flag in searing heat. “The tyres were very unhappy and I’m melting,” said Bill.

The MG numbers were decimated, Sutton the first to retire when an oil line split. A fire ensued, but he pulled off at a marshals’ post after Tower where it was swiftly extinguished. Rezwani (late to the grid) and Work lasted little longer, to be joined by Boniface near the end, while Styant abandoned the ZS at the Esses, its brakes boiled. Rushworth, leading Blake well in Class C, had a driveshaft snap on lap 15, sinking his overall title aspirations. Sutton – who vowed to be back for October’s finals – sportingly lent him a replacement which Wayne Poole Racing’s team fitted to turn the Pest24 car around for race two.

Fourth overall, ahead of Good Jr and Carter, Blake claimed C gold from seventh placed Keepin and Swift who finished 11th, behind Elliston, McDermid and Ryles. Sprague and Roger Good completed the finishers.

Seventeen competitors formed the sequel’s grid, set by second best Q times, with Sprague joining from the pitlane. The first three rows were as before, but Keepin moved up to the fourth as its only occupant, with Sutton absent, swapping places with Blake. Prebble just made it out, taking up P19 in the camouflaged Astra, but in time honoured family style quickly made his presence felt…

Amazingly, Prebble was second by the end of the opening lap, but Brockbank was well clear, contact between King and Wyatt at Quarry having put both out and split the field. Simmons thus found himself third overall, ahead of a tussle embroiling the fast-starting Elliston, Blake and Rushworth, who soon drew Keepin past Peter’s turbocar. Prebble set fastest lap of 1:11.732 (92.84mph) on lap three, but thereafter his engine could be heard popping increasingly from the spectator banks. He said enough after 12 circuits, pitting and joining McDermid in retirement. Like Chamberlain’s, Adam’s season of frustration continues.

Promoted to second, Simmons continued to lap metronomically in the black Hagerty Digital Fiesta. The class survivor crossed the finish line 44.212s after Brockbank, but another lap and the result might have been very different. Unbeknown to onlookers on either side of the barriers, Bill’s SEAT suddenly hit trouble and slowed. “Out of Bobbies on the last lap it was stuck in second gear,” he said on the winners’ car.

Blake and Rushworth were  almost 16 seconds adrift and a scant 0.182s apart after a wonderful 17-lap skirmish. James’ recent form – three successive victories in the yellow i-tech racing car – have taken him to the top of the class with October’s double-header remaining. Lapped five circuits from home, Keepin pipped Good to fifth, with pursuers Elliston and Ryles even closer at TSL’s stripe. Sprague, Styant and Work also completed 16 laps, one more than Reswani, Carter – in limp mode throughout, but third in class – and Roger Good.

Mike Good, with maximum points in Class D, now looks unassailable in his quest for a second crown, but three points separate Wyatt, Brockbank and Simmons in the chase. Rushworth leads Blake, winner of the past four races, in the Class C fight, so there is still much to play for at the Championship Finals on October 5.

 

AVON TUNING GT CHAMPIONSHIP

Scaramanga and Kakad

repeat summer GT fun   

In a repeat of June’s Summer Spectacular results Italian supercars howled to the fore as Dave Scaramanga (Ferrari 488) and Sacha Kakad (sharing Keith Butcher’s Lamborghini Huracan Evo GT3) claimed victories in the Castle Combe Racing Club’s Avon Tuning GT Championship rounds at August 25th’s Combe Countdown event. While fast-starting Scaramanga’s turbocar shaded points leader Dylan Popovic’s Ginetta-Chevrolet G50 again – by 0.344s this time – first time out, Kakad dominated Bank Holiday Monday’s sequel in the ultra-low Simpson Motorsport-prepared machine, lapping half of the field.

Hotfoot from the Silverstone Festival, where he had raced the high-downforce AER turbo powered Lola B12/80 – a Mazda IMSA entry in 2014-’15 – from Julian Simpson-Smith’s stable on Saturday and Sunday, Kakad took six laps to set an extraordinary 1m03.498s (104.88mph) pole time – a whopping six tenths inside Craig Dolby’s lap record set in a similar car on Easter Monday – in the 5.2-litre V10-engined raging bull at the end of the morning qualifying session.

Popovic was closest, having dug deep to record a personal best 1:05.938 (101.00mph) in the self-developed Ginetta. Scaramanga sat third on 1:06.556, with an upbeat Josh Smith (1600cc Caterham-RLM Suzuki Hayabusa) on a typically committed 1:06.965. The midfield slugfest looked promising too, with the Lambos of Jordan Billinton (Huracan Super Trofeo Evo) and Butcher sandwiching Chris Everill’s 6.2-litre Ginetta-Chevrolet G55, Everill’s time the fruit of just two laps. “When Colin Turkington tested the car earlier in the year he was taking Old Paddock flat, so I decided to have a go, but when I clipped the inside kerb a driveshaft broke,” grinned the ever philosophical Dorset man.

Up behind the trio was Combe veteran Nigel Mustill in his monstrous 7.9-litre Chevrolet Camaro GT3, built for the ADAC Masters series by Reiter Engineering’s Sareni United division. Fresh from an outing at Silverstone, Nigel cut a 1:10.318s best. Smiling Midlander Jas Sapra’s three-litre BMW F80 – the first turbocharged M3 model to emerge from the Munich concern’s legendary M Power team – looked the part alongside the big black Chevy. Wayne Spiller’s bewinged SEAT Leon, Philip “Mr Cheese” Young’s two-litre Vauxhall-engined Mitsubishi Colt Silhouette and Doug Forbes’ Ginetta G27 completed the qualifiers, but Tom Walpole was permitted to start his fearsome turbocharged Audi-motivated KTM X-Bow GT4 Evo+ – another Reiter project, silenced by a flat battery in the morning – from the back on circuit familiarity, having competed last season.

The first competitive bout, with Butcher in his Audi, saw Scaramanga outsprint Popovic to Quarry, then resist every attempt to unseat him racelong. The thunderous Ginetta V8 was alongside a couple of times but, despite Dylan setting a 1:06.730 (99.80mph) fastest lap, his lithe Ferrari just had the edge to the chequered flag. “That first corner was critical. I knew it,” said Dave. “But fair play to Dylan, he kept me under pressure, especially into Tower. ” Almost 25 seconds down, Josh Smith finished third in the iridescent green Caterham, doing a great job of splitting the exotica.

Billinton held fourth for the first half of the 18-lap race, pursued by Everill. Alas, both were destined to retire, Chris having lost his paddle shift, then Jordan when he picked up a puncture. Butcher took a few laps to find his Huracan’s sweet spot, then escaped from the scrap with Sapra, Mustill and, subsequently, Walpole. Keith and Tom finished fourth and fifth, the latter plundered his 2024 class record by more than a second, leaving it at 1:07.277 (98.99mph). Mustill also went the full distance, improving to 1:09.704 in the Camaro. Spiller and the slowing Sapra were classified a lap down, ahead of Young and Forbes.

In extreme heat, the second grid formed behind Kakad, who was flat out from the rolling start, indeed collected a 10 second penalty for being a little too eager at the lights. It mattered not. Almost 2.7 seconds clear at the end of the opening lap, Sacha was circulating in the low fives on his second proper flying lap, and the fours by lap five. A late trio of fours resulted in a 1:04.477 (103.29mph) best.

Scaramanga, Smith’s impudent 7 and Popovic led the pursuit, but having exited Quarry abreast of the Ferrari, Popovic had a moment at the Esses which dropped the big Ginetta to fifth, between Billinton and Walpole. A heady fight ensued between the trio, and once at its head Popovic reeled in Smith, annexing third behind Scaramanga. Walpole, confidence growing, went with Popovic. Ever present in his mirrors as they closed on Scaramanga, they caught the black and red Ferrari when Dave slowed to lap Forbes respectfully on the penultimate lap.

With Kakad way ahead – he did not see the chequer first time – just 0.761s split the next trio as they flashed across the timing line in the order Scaramanga, Popovic and Walpole. As engines with 20 cylinders and diverse configurations chimed in together, Walpole carved another half second from his class record, leaving the target at an impressive 1:06.743s (99.78mph).

Smith, lapped on the penultimate circuit, was fifth, 12 seconds ahead of Billinton, who peaked just after half-way. Spiller, Young and Forbes completed the finishers. Everill pulled off at the Esses on the opening lap with a repetition of the earlier problem (“it’s just too technical”). Mustill, per recent times, non-started the Camaro, content to do one race. Hopefully the combo will return with more test miles behind it for October 5’s Championship Finals.

With a 12 point advantage over Butcher and recent double conqueror Scaramanga, Popovic is closing on the Class A title and remains favourite to land the overall crown with two rounds remaining. Smith has B in the bag, Spiller is now in the mix with James Kembrey for E and Young has eased past Alan Hamilton to head the F rankings.

 

NANKANG TYRES HOT HATCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Webber and Hathaway

share Hot Hatch spoils   

Second victories of the season for Corey Webber (Honda Civic EP3) and Joe Hathaway (Renault Clio) matched Jason Stack’s tally and 25 competitors – the best field of the season – entered rounds seven and eight of the Castle Combe Racing Club’s Nankang Tyres Hot Hatch

Championship on a hot and sunny August Bank Holiday Monday. Stack was gutted to be a non-starter though, after his EP3’s engine blew in a pre-qualifying paid test session leaving his title aspirations in tatters.

Hathaway snared pole position for the first race, his 1:14.586s (89.29mph) the quickest qualifying shot of the year – but Webber closed to within 0.177s on his penultimate lap. Justin Holloway (Clio), with a best finish of third this term, was in the low 15s, clear of Julian Fisher (Ford Fiesta ST150) and evergreen Dane Erling Jensen, leading Class E for supercharged Mini Cooper S R53, comfortably in the 16s.

Class C pacesetter Scott Hughes (Peugeot 106 GTi) sat sixth on 1:17.279, more than four seconds clear of rivals Jack Lovegrove (Citroen Saxo), Julian Ellison (Fiesta S1600) and closely-matched Saxo mounted Mark Culley and Steve Andrews. Between them sat Dan Parsons and George Kimber in earlier spec Clio 172s, James MacGregor (Civic EP3), Darren Griffiths (Clio), John Watters (Mini Cooper), Richard Kemp (Clio), James Dyer-Bufton (Civic EP3), Jake Humphrey (Clio) and Tony Willcox (Mini Cooper S R53).

Overall points leader Ben Heywood (R53) was down in 20th in the company of Sam Williams in the older spec 1400cc Wiltshire College Honda Civic and Brian Deeprose’s JPS-esque Clio. Well accustomed to both car and track, Kieren Simmons, dipping his toes into the Hot Hatch championship for the first time, tagged on the back having qualified his two-litre Fiesta for the Saloons contests. So as not to upset the championship applecart he opted to run as a non-scoring invitee.

Justin Holloway fired his Gulf blue and orange Clio ahead at the start and for three frenetic laps held sway out front. Webber lost second to Joe Hathaway second time round, but Corey wrested the place back after a lap as Fisher homed in to make it a four-way scrap for the lead. Webber forged past on lap four and stayed there under enormous pressure from Hathaway who had run abreast of Holloway in the early chase before easing away from Justin, who fell prey to Fisher’s Fiesta.

All eyes were on Simmons’ Ford jinking through from the back of the pack however. Fourteenth at the end of the opening tour, Kieren broke into the top dozen on lap three, then calmly picked off two more rivals in successive laps. Up to eighth in five, he gained a place a lap over the next three and wasn’t finished. Jensen ceded fourth after a chase and Simmons zapped Fisher on the penultimate lap for a podium place on a fruitful championship debut.

Twenty seconds up the road, Webber shaded Hathaway by 0.319s for victory, but the chaser crafted the best lap of 1:14.786 (89.05mph) which earned a bonus point. “Joe made me work for it,” said Corey. “My tyre pressures went up [in the heat] which made it difficult.” Hathaway never stinted in his pursuit.“I lost a few lengths at the start, but it was really enjoyable after that,” he said.

Holloway had slipped back to sixth, behind Fisher and Jensen before his tyres overheated. Once their grip disappeared the Renault became indriveable, so he pitted to go again later. That promoted Hughes to a class winning sixth, ahead of MacGregor, Kimber, Parsons and Lovegrove. Dyer-Bufton, Richard Kemp and Humphrey also covered the winner’s distance. The only other retirement was Griffiths.

Second time out Webber made the best getaway, with Hathaway and Holloway in tow. While Joe clung to the leader’s bumper, Justin’s attention was taken trying to repel Fisher’s advances. MacGregor shot from ninth to fifth on the opening lap, while Simmons – having to burn from the stern as before – was 11th, then seventh, then fifth inside three. Jensen and Parsons fell in short order and the attrition continued at the height of the late summer heatwave. Leader Webber fell, when a misfire presaged greater damage. but the resultant Clio one-two was short-lived when Holloway parked on the infield at Quarry with a broken gearbox.

“Corey waved me by, but trying to keep Julian and Justin behind was difficult. That was one of the longest 20 minutes I’ve ever done,” said Hathaway having climbed victorious from his French bolide, showcasing some Frogjam components. Simmons moved up to second having passed Fisher to become top Ford, but Julian then parked up on the exit of Bobbies. That brought MacGregor up to a personal best third in his Wiltshire College-run Honda. Kimber Dyer-Bufton and young Humphrey completed the top six. Simmons was unanimously named CCRC Driver of the Day for his efforts.

Lovegrove won Class C when Hughes non-started. A lap down, Jensen’s departure brought Steve Waight – from the back in the car racer earlier by John Watters – to the head of the Mini class. Kemp, Willcox, Andrews, Ellison and Williams in a protracted catchweight dice, then Culley (from a five place grid drop following an incident in the opener) rounded out the finishers.

The consistent Heywood and Ellison, with two class wins and six thirds on his slate, lead the title race into the final double-header on October 5, with Williams a close-up third. With zeros to drop, Stack still heads the super-competitive Class A, with Webber, Fisher and Hathaway still able to depose him. Hughes, with five wins with fastest lap, but three non-starts, also has a key role to play in the outcome.

MARCUS PYE 

ENDS/mawp