With almost two-thirds of the season completed the Great & British Dunlop Motorsport Festival hits the Croft circuit in North Yorkshire this weekend (25th/26th) for the sixth meeting of the 2007 campaign with all its core championships far from decided
Scotsman Oly Mortimer dominated the opening exchanges of the Mini Challenge, winning the first seven races of the season, but the Cooper S driver has been unable to maintain that form, failing to win any of the last four. Despite this he still leads the overall championship although Club class drivers Gary Kounnis and Jenny Ryan have managed to close the gap. The man in form is Gavin Bristow, who has won the last three races.
Radical SR8 Sports Car drivers Austin Reynolds and Richard Ince will be looking to return to winning ways at Croft, the pairing have the lead in the Dunlop Radical Enduro championship yet it was Derek Johnston and Stuart Moseley who dominated proceedings at the last round at Donington Park. Meanwhile it’s very tight between the Radical SR3 drivers, James Harrison has proved formidable of late along with the likes of Phil Bailey and Bradley Ellis, and Anthony Dunn and Barry Gates.
If the Dunlop Radical Biduro championship throws up a race as half as thrilling as the last encounter at Donington Park then race fans are in for another treat at Croft. On that occasion Toby Newton and John Hewitt drove their Radical SR4 sports cars to victory in each of the races.
The Dunlop Sport MAXX Cup is also on the race card for its fourth meeting of the series inaugural year. Among the class winners at Donington Park was former pop music sensation Shane Lynch. The series has been established as an accessible feeder for the British Touring car championship.
Another feeder-type series is the PlayStation Ginetta Junior championship. Some of the hottest fourteen-to-sixteen year old racing prospects in the British Isles are taking part in this championship and already many former contestants are now proving their worth at a higher level. For the record Nigel Moore is currently leading the 2007 campaign.
Also on the bill this weekend are the BARC Westfield Sportscar, Mini Se7en and Mini Miglia championships. The racing gets underway at 1640 on Saturday with the main bulk of the action, taking place on Sunday beginning at midday.
The entertainment isn’t just confined to the race track, on Friday (August 24th) is the EVO Active track day, run in conjunction to the Great & British Dunlop Motorsport Festival and this is the perfect opportunity for motorists to take their cars around a circuit away from the watchful eye of speed cameras and traffic police. Expert driving tuition is also available and all participants gain free entry to the weekend’s racing.
An added incentive for race fans is the opportunity to take their own car around the Croft race –track; the first hundred motorists through the gate on Sunday will be invited to take part in a parade lap of the circuit beginning at eleven a.m.
Highlights of the weekend’s racing in the core championships will be broadcast on Sky Sports and Motors TV
