Wheel to wheel saloon car action is in store for spectators at the Castle Combe Circuit’s Whitsun Bank Holiday Race Meeting on Monday 25th May, as the contenders in its ‘Saloon Car Championship’ resume their battle.

Whilst Bristol’s Mark Wyatt holds the overall points lead in his class B Astra after a pair of immaculate outings and maximum scores, it’s the duel between the two leading class A cars which everyone eagerly awaits. Calne’s Tony Hutchings, a former double champion, has used his Audi TT to great effect to hold off the ever present threat from Southampton’s Gary Prebble in his SEAT Leon Turbo.Their televised battle at the last round was one to behold, Prebble the fastest, but outfoxed by the wily Hutchings, who utilised back markers to great effect to take a narrow victory. But Prebble’s two fastest laps have taken the edge off the points haul of Hutchings, who consequently lies in 3rd place overall, two adrift of Wyatt and one behind class D leader, Russell Poynter-Brown from Compton Martin.Currently, the car with enough speed to match Hutchings and Prebble is the VW Scirocco of Bath’s Dave Scaramanga. The sleek black machine is a potential race winner and as Scaramanga grows in experience, he should be able to challenge the leading group. There are various other class A contenders who will be doing their best to prevent that happening though. Amongst them is Chippenham’s James Winter, looking very effective after his step up this year to a Renault Megane. Winter will be well pleased with his 4th place finish last time, after qualifying a miniscule 2 thousands of a second faster than the very similar Megane of Charles Hyde-Andrews-Bird from Ditcheat. Bill Brockbank from Stonehouse is another A class runner looking strong in his SEAT Ibiza Cupra, with Keynsham’s John Barnard fielding his well-prepared Astra Turbo.Wyatt’s main challenger in class B for so many years has been Peugeot 206 man Tony Dolley from Bridgwater. This year, there are several young, fast, car/driver combinations also looking to challenge, but only Kieren Simmons from Weston Super Mare has scored points. Fiesta mounted Ayrton Anderson from Peasedown St John will be one of those looking to rectify that this time.Making a good recovery after engine problems in the first round is the class C man to beat, Adrian Slade from Devizes, who will still need to recover those valuable lost points in his Peugeot 106. Bristol’s James Keepin has the points advantage with his MG ZR.In the Castle Combe Formula Ford 1600 championship it’s Langford’s Roger Orgee in the Ridgmill Van Diemen who, like last year, goes in to the event with a points margin over his rivals after an impressive win in the last race which saw the lead change constantly.The man who has no business holding second place in the table is Bridgwater’s Josh Fisher, performing miracles with his ’89 Reynard taking second overall last time after qualifying 9th! Also embarrassing drivers of the newer cars was Yatton Keynell’s Luke Cooper who was unlucky to lose his lead after the ‘Safety Car’ was deployed. Nevertheless, 3rd overall and the second fastest lap time was another demonstration of his speed. With no regular B class rivals, it’s outright positions Cooper will be more focused on and if it’s wet, don’t bet against him taking that overall victory.Orgee, as a member of the ‘Kevin Mills Racing’ squad, has his fellow team mates to beat as well as everyone else. Combe ‘newcomer’ Michael Moyers from Wellingborough has already shown his potential with pole at the last round, whilst Coventry’s Nathan Ward has the speed to run with all of these guys.Just like his two previous championship winning years, Chippenham’s Adam Higgins has had a modest start, his 4th in the standings reflecting his pair of 4th places. But as he has clearly shown in the past, his ‘never say die’ attitude means he cannot be discounted.The circuit’s ‘Sports and GT Championship’ sees the return of Bristol’s Oliver Bull in his unique Vauxhall powered silhouette now dubbed a Jertona 86/09. Given its speed on its debut at Easter, it should give the Mitsubishi Evo of Torquay’s Barry Squibb a hard time. Another very interesting and somewhat unique car is the Avatar of points leader Dylan Popovic, complete with 2.7 litre twin turbo Audi V8 engine. At just 750 kgs, it’s not surprising the car will top 170 mph! Cricklade’s Nick Holden is another driving an unusual car, his Aeriel Atom a striking contrast to the other saloon cars in his class.Castle Combe has witnessed some epic fights from the various Mazda MX5 championships over the years and this event should see that tradition continue, with two races for both the BRSCC Mazda MX-5 and the MX-5 Supercup. Such is the appeal of these championships, former British Touring Car Championship driver, Paul O’Neill, is taking part in this year’s Supercup.Now a regular event, the ‘Dave Allan Trophy’ race is an annual 45 minute endurance held in memory of the late Swindon based Honda test driver. Supported by Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd, the rolling start event allows any saloon or sports car to take part, but a handicapping system means even the most modest vehicles have a chance of a prize. Swindon’s Dan Ludlow is likely to be one of the favourites though, appropriately in a Civic Type R. Compulsory pit stops and a wide variety of cars means there will be plenty to keep both drivers and spectators entertained.Monday's action starts at 8.30 am with qualifying, racing getting under way from 13.10pm.Admission prices are £15 for Adults and £10 for OAPs, whilst accompanied children under 16 are admitted free. ‘Paddock Transfer’ is free if the tickets are booked in advance.For further information, visit the Castle Combe Racing Club online at www.ccracingclub.co.ukwww.facebook.com/CastleCombeCircuit, or @castlecombeuk 

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