FAMILY HONOURS TO UPHOLD AT CASTLE COMBE’S BIG EVENT
The Castle Combe Circuit’s biggest meeting of the 2007 season welcomes the return of one of the UK’s top single seater championships at its Summer Racing Festival over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday July 14 and 15.
It’s the Visma Formula Palmer Audi Championship, which has already provided a springboard to Formula One for no less than nine drivers.
This year, the championship has attracted four young drivers with relatives currently or formerly connected with F1.
Currently lying third in the championship is Stefan Wilson, younger brother of arguably the most successful FPA champion of all, Justin Wilson, currently racing Champ Car in the States.
Fourth in the standings is Jack Clarke, the stepson of Julian Bailey, former Tyrell and Lotus Grand Prix driver. Bailey raced at Castle Combe in both Formula Ford 1600 and 2000 and remembers enjoying himself at what he thought was a very quick circuit. He will be spending some time familiarising himself with the place at a test day in order to give Clarke as much assistance as possible.
Currently equal on points with Clarke is Jolyon Palmer, son of FPA founder and former F1 driver and commentator, Jonathan. Back in 1976, his father, still a medical student, won the modsports race at Castle Combe in his 3-litre V6 Marcos-Ford.
In 1980, some ten years before Alex Brundle was born, his father, Martin, was an up and coming racer, winning the BMW County Championship race at Castle Combe, beating the likes of Andy Rouse, Win Percy and Brian Muir, all in identical BMW 323i’s. Two months later he was back to finish second in the British Formula Ford 2000 race behind Richard Trott.
Spectators have plenty of opportunity to catch the 300 bhp cars in action, with free practice on Saturday morning, qualifying on Saturday afternoon and 19 lap races on Sunday morning and afternoon.
Another top-quality championship with two races on Saturday for the crowds to get their teeth into is Britcar, making its debut at the Wiltshire track. The 50 minute races test endurance as well as speed, with a diverse variety of impressive machinery taking part, including the Opel Omega V8 Star of Salisbury’s Nigel Mustill. Shared with former British Touring Car Championship driver, Phil Bennett, the awesome machine qualified 4th fastest at the recent Spa 4 hour race, only to retire in the event itself. With Mustill’s intimate knowledge of Castle Combe from his many experiences there in Special GT’s, expect them to be right at the front, battling with the likes of Richard Chamberlain’s Porsche 935 replica, the 996s and GT3s and the BMW M3 GTRs.
Swindon’s Ed Lovett was another taking part in the Spa event, qualifying just behind Mustill in 5th place, but falling back in the race to finish 25th in his Norma M20 GTO.
Also new for 2007 is the Dunlop Motorsport News Saloon Car Championship. Castle Combe Racing School instructor, Richard Brent, from Bishop Sutton, is always at the sharp end with his Peugeot 205 GTi, whilst Alex and Darren Ferguson from Weston Super Mare are similarly mounted, Alex a front running Class C contender in the circuit’s own National Mobile Windscreens Saloon Car Championship. Kevin Bird from Ditcheat is another regular in the circuit’s own championship.
The Lotus On Track Elise Trophy also has a name from the circuit’s savesometax.co.uk Special GT Championship having a busy day. Mark Funnell from Trowbridge is a leading class contender in his Honda powered Exige, so should be very competitive in this race.
The Melton Concrete Products Formula Ford 1600 championship continues with Ed Moore from Bradford on Avon still dominating. The chase for the championship title now seems to be between him and Steven Jensen from Saltford, the class B leader in his Swift SC92.
Bathampton’s Matt McKillop will be hoping for the rain which suits his Swift SC95, as will Chippenham’s Adam Higgins now a man to beat in Class C in the Van Diemen RF89.
Castle Combe’s Andy Jones in the Ray GRS07, Bridgwater’s Josh Fisher and Bratton’s Ben Norton in the Spectrum are others to watch out for.
Bath’s Guy Woodward in the Jade Trackstar, Westbury’s Shane Marshall in the Mallock P21 and Bristol’s Thomas Richardson in the Nemesis RME 02 are a few of the noteworthy locals in the savesometax.co.uk Special GT Championship.
The circuit’s National Mobile Windscreens Saloon Car Championship has Mark Harrison from Kingston Bagpuize, Russ Humphrey, Barry Squibb and Atworth’s Robert Ballard in the Evos versus Nailsworth’s Keith Murray in the Audi A4 Quattro
Bristol’s Mark Wyatt in the 2.0 litre Astra and Bridgwater’s Tony Dolley in the 206 have a new challenger in the shape of Holt’s Tim Hanlon in his new SEAT Ibiza Cupra R in class B.
In class C, Calne’s Tony Hutchings will be fighting to keep hid MG ZR ahead of the 205 GTi of Weston Super Mare’s Alex Ferguson.
Class D is the home of the Peugeot 106 with Chippenham’s William Di Claudio the points leader and Bath’s Oliver Lewis going well.
As if that were not enough, there are also races for the HSCC Classic Formula 3 Championship, the Circuit Driver Caterham Academy, the Alfashop Alfa Romeo Championship and T-Cars, aimed at aspiring new drivers who can race from 14 years of age.
Saturday's action starts at 8.40 am with qualifying, racing getting under way from 13.00 pm. Sunday starts at 08.40 with qualifying, racing from 10:55.
Admission prices for Saturday are £8 for adults, £4-00 for OAPs, FOC for paddock transfer, with Sunday costing £15 for adults and £7-50 for OAPs with accompanied children under 15 admitted free on both days. Weekend tickets are available in advance only at £20 for adults, £10 for OAP’s.
For further information, visit the Castle Combe Circuit website on www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk built by Racecar
