MORGAN CREW TAKE EARLY LEAD IN COMPETITION
SEASONED REGULARITY DRIVER TAKES COMMAND OF TOURING CATEGORY
AUSTIN HEALEYS TOP THE INDEX OF PERFORMANCE
Tour Britannia, Britain’s only historic Race Tour, got underway this morning and after the first of four days of competition, the fight for honours in each category is as fierce as anticipated. In the Competition category, Bruce Stapleton and Alistair Cowin have taken a slim 6.3 second lead in the Morgan +8, while the highly-experienced Regularity competitor John Ruston and navigator Jeremy Haylock have taken the lead in the Touring Regularity category. And, in the hotly-contested Index of Performance classification - based on handicap - the Austin Healey 3000 Sebring crew of Eric Wooley and David Smithies take a narrow 1.3 second advantage.
Today’s route for the second Tour Britannia took the crews from the spectacular Headquarters at Coombe Abbey, in Warwickshire, straight to Cholmondeley Castle. Two runs through the grounds of the mock Gothic castle provided an impressive backdrop before the crews headed to the challenging Oulton Park circuit. Here, competitors in the Touring-Regularity Category tried to lap as consistently as possible, while those in the Competition Category faced an eight lap race following a 15 minute practice session. Two attempts at Loton Park hill climb, one of 2005’s favourite venues, followed before the stages at Weston Park, with its beautiful 17th Century house and 1,000 acre estate.
Father and son team Nick and Harry Whale have consistently set the pace today in their Porsche 911 Carrera RS, the duo winning five of the seven competitive sections. However, problems at Oulton Park saw them lose the lead they established after the second run through Cholmondeley and they dropped to 21st overnight. The husband and wife crew of Nick and Mary Faure had a strong day, despite gearbox problems and lie second overnight, 6.3 seconds off the lead.
In the Touring-Regularity category, John Ruston and Jeremy Haylock take a healthy 48.8 second lead over the Bristol 401 crew of Mark Berger and Robert Newton. Third position is held by the media crew of Martin Sharp and Franca Davenport, the pair competing in a Porsche 356B Super 90 in memory of great friend and rally journalist, David Williams. Sections were however won by Ruston, Berger, the rookie crew of Colin and Amelia Goodwin (Porsche 911S) and Marc Vandendijk/An De Reymaeker (AC Ace Bristol). Also, newly-introduced his year was a regularity road section in Cheshire.
In the Classification by Index of Performance, Austin Healey crews top the leaderboard. Eric Wooley/David Smithies hold a slim 1.3 second advantage over Bobby Bell/Oliver Harris, while Adam Wiseberg/Robin Eyre-Maunsell (Porsche 911) and the Ferrari Daytona Competition of Arnold and Melanie Meier are third and fourth respectively.
The second leg of Tour Britannia begins with circuit action at the historic Donington Park, location of some of the most memorable motor races in British racing history. Then it is west to a new venue at Swynnerton where a challenging two and a half mile stage has been found on military land. Tour Britannia’s foreign entrants will feel at home as traffic drives on the right throughout the site!
On the homeward run competitors tackle Britain’s leading sprint circuit at Curborough before the day’s final two stages at Arbury Hall, the "Gothic Gem" of the Midlands.
QUOTES FROM THE CREWS
#1 John Ruston/Jeremy Haylock (GB/GB) – Porsche 356 Carrera
“Oulton; a superb circuit!”
#5 Martin Sharp/Franca Davenport (GB/GB) - Porsche 356B Super 90
“We mucked up Oulton and my co-driver’s first instruction was ‘slow down’!”
#7 Colin Goodwin/Amelia Goodwin (GB/GB) - Porsche 911S
“Oulton, Britain’s best circuit… well, vying with Cadwell, and a bit like the Nurburgring. It was good fun and we’re have a really good time.”
# 20 Julian Taylor/Graham Drew (GB/GB) – Ferrari Dino 246 GT
“It’s a steep learning curve for us, but good. The thought of the event was more nerve-wracking than it actually is! It’s the first time we’ve ever done anything like this, but Oulton is a great circuit.”
#36 Yves Junne/Elke Middedorp (F/D) – Porsche 904
“We went straight on at the last corner in Cholmondeley, the first section, but we did the same on Tour Auto and went on to win! Oulton is a lovely track and I’ve never been here before. I made a bad start but it’s my first time driving this car, my first time with this co-driver and my first time at the track!”
#38 Adam Wiseberg/Robin Eyre-Maunsell (GB/GB) – Porsche 911
“This is the first time I’ve done anything in anger in this car. My last special stage was two years ago… Oulton Park was very good fun; it’s a circuit I’ve not driven for eight years. The car is lovely but we’re not getting the most out of it at the moment. But, we’re reasonably happy this early on.”
#39 Eric Wooley/David Smithies (GB/GB) – Austin Healey 3000 Sebring
“We had a misfire and no overdrive at Oulton Park. It was difficult at the end of the race and I had to use the whole circuit. I love Oulton, it’s a nice circuit and a good bit of fun. It’s been a gentle start to the week.”
#40 Robi Bernberg/Steve Winter (GB/GB) – Porsche 911
“I was hoping for third place, but missed two gear changes. I saw the two Ferraris off the track and knew I could go for third, but cocked it up!”
#41 Charles Reynolds/John Day (GB/GB) – Alpine Renault A110
“We’ve got an oil temperature problem (before Oulton Park). Loton Park is great fun, I love it. I disconnected the intercom before we started; I know this place!”
#42 Mike Smith/Iain Freestone (GB/GB) – Ford Escort TC
“The gearbox has gone (Oulton Park).” Subsequently stopped with an engine bearing problem.
#44 Anthony Galliers-Pratt/Patrick Blakeney-Edwards (GB/GB) – Jaguar E-Type Low Drag
“Cholmondeley was great but very muddy. We took it pretty easy as we don’t need to get too ambitious too soon; we want to get to the end and have fun. So far it’s very nicely organised and running to time.”
#45 Amnon Needham/Steve Nicholls (GB/GB) – Lotus Europa TC
Retired before Oulton Park with engine problems.
#47 Diego Meier/Sarah Meier (CH/CH) – Ferrari 275 GTB
“Cholmondeley was very slippery so we didn’t take it too fast. A wet and dirty stage, but good and not too long.” Went off at Oulton Park and retired from the Competition category. Will re-start on Wednesday in a different car in the Regularity category
#50 Steve Tandy/Ian Tandy (GB/GB) – Ferrari 275 GTB
Crashed into the tyre wall at Oulton Park; cosmetic damage. “I was harassed by the green Porsche (#40), lost concentration and spun onto the grass. It was wet and we hit the barrier.”
#51 Bruce Stapleton/Alistair Cowin (GB/GB) – Morgan +8
“The car went well at Oulton; it’s only the second time it’s been raced – it’s taken me eight years to rebuild it!”
#61 Arnold Meier/Melanie Meier (CH/CH) – Ferrari Daytona Competition
“I’ve never driven at Oulton; it’s tight and not easy but we’re enjoying it. Loton was a lovely hill climb.”
#62 Rob Potter/Jac Nellemann (GB/DK) – Chevrolet Corvette 7400
“This is one of my favourite tracks and the aim would be to take the car round at a speed it’s meant to be driven…!”
#63 Doug Allen/Richard Lugg (USA/GB) – Ford Mustang 289
“Cholmondeley was very slippery but good; more enjoyable the second run.”
#67 Richard Lloyd/Alan Rivers (GB/GB) – Chevrolet Camaro
“Cholmondeley was slippery under the trees and had terrific little jumps. It was good fun, a nice stage.”
#71 Nick Faure/Mary Faure (GB/GB) – Porsche 3.0 RSR
“I only had three gears; lost third before the start of the race at Oulton. By the last lap it was stuck in fourth so second position was pretty good!”
#75 Gareth Burnett/Ed McDonough (GB/USA) – Lotus 7
“Cholmondeley was very slippery in the corners but an amazing stage; very quick.” Crew then broke the A-frame at Oulton Park and are looking to re-join the event on Thursday.
#76 John Sheldon/Lesley Stevens (GB/GB) – Lotus Elan
“We had a clutch problem at Cholmondeley this morning and the car then wasn’t quite how I wanted it at Oulton. We’re really enjoying it and being steady at the moment.”
#78 Howard Redhouse/Mike Haigh (IRL/GB) - Shelby GT350
Coil went on the M6 Toll Road to the first competitive section, but crew re-joined at Loton.
#80 John Grant/Nick Reynolds (GB/GB) – Chevron B16
Broken drive-shaft in Cholmondeley 1 and wheel bearing at Oulton Park. Hopes to re-start Wednesday.
#99 John Evans/Jeff Moyes (GB/GB) – Porsche 911
“The car’s running nicely and we’re taking it steady. I’ve raced here before, but maybe 15 years ago. So far it’s been well organised, well run and a lot of fun.”
