MOORE FIGHTING TO BE FIT FOR CASTLE COMBE CARNIVAL
Newly crowned Formula Ford 1600 champion, Ed Moore, from Bradford On Avon, currently nursing an injured hand, is hoping to be fit for the final meeting of the season on Saturday October 6, the Melton Concrete Products Formula Ford 1600 Carnival, run in association with top motor sport paper, Motorsport News. As the 2007 Castle Combe FF1600 champion and last year’s outright winner of the Carnival, Moore should start as favourite, if he is fit, though opposition, as always, is incredibly strong.
Possibly the strongest is Ireland’s Peter Dempsey, Carnival winner in 2005, when the then 19 year old showed all the Castle Combe regulars the way home on his first visit to the Wiltshire track.
Dempsey, absent in 2006, is part of the Irish team, out to defend it’s victory in last year’s Anglo-Irish team challenge. This year, with a Welsh and Scottish team joining in the fun, the Welsh team headed by Castle Combe resident, Andy Jones and his Ray GRS07, with the Scottish team led by Jim Hamilton. The award has been re-titled the Home Nations Cup, it’s prize money part of a £2000 total fund, the biggest in the event’s history.
Other significant entries include Saltford’s Steven Jensen, the 2007 Team Schemes sponsored Class B champion and overall runner-up, as well as Bridgwater’s Josh Fisher in the Wayne Poole Racing Mygale, fresh from his victory at the last round of the local championship.
The Pre 1990 section of the event sees the return of Nelson Rowe from Wotton Under Edge, a superb driver capable of running right at the front despite his car’s age. He will make life exceedingly difficult for newly crowned class champion, Jim Hamilton from Kington St Michael and runner –up, Adam Higgins from Chippenham.
Another Higgins family member and possibly the circuit’s most successful driver of all time, makes a one-off return for this event. Bob Higgins, (father to Adam) a veteran triple champion, gets back into his RF90 Van Diemen in the 2007 Team Schemes sponsored Class B and can never be discounted.
All these drivers will be looking to grab the trophy and a £500 prize for outright victory plus many special awards, including £75 to the driver leading each class at the end of Lap 3 and £50 at the end of Lap 7. All will be presented at the Awards ceremony in ‘The Tavern’ after the racing, followed by an end of season party with live music from local band ‘ere whacks.
Equally gripping will be the decider for the 2007 National Mobile Windscreens Saloon Car Championship. Reigning champion, Tony Hutchings from Calne, has it all to do to make up a 2 point deficit over 2005 champion, Russell Poynter-Brown.
Whilst Hutchings should be able to claim maximum points by winning his class and grabbing fastest lap, he will be relying on his Turnpike Racing team-mate, William Di Claudio, to ensure Poynter-Brown does not do the same and take the championship. Chippenham’s Di Claudio has beaten Poynter-Brown on many occasions this year and led the championship, but recent engine problems with his Peugeot 106 have blunted his challenge.
Bristol’s Mark Wyatt has already clinched Class B with his Astra, but was beaten last time by the powerful SEAT Ibiza Cupra R of Holt’s Tim Hanlon.
Melksham’s Simon Norris made a spectacular debut at the last meeting, almost winning at his first attempt in his Mitsubishi Evo, just being pipped by the experienced Gary Prebble in his newly acquired similar car.
The savesometax.co.uk Castle Combe Special GT Championship has already been decided in favour of rookie Ferrari 360 driver, Duncan Cameron, as have the Class B & C titles, but the racing will be no less competitive.
Castle Combe’s Keith Sprules will be one of Cameron’s opposition in a similar Ferrari in Class D, part of an impressive line-up of five of these super-cars, a rare sight anywhere.
Bath’s Guy Woodward is leading Class A despite a few reliability issues with his Jade and has home town opposition again this time from Guy Parr in a Radical SR8, as well as Marlborough’s Howard Spooner, also in a Jade, run by Bromham’s Mark Bailey Racing. Spooner can mathematically win the class title, but will need to outscore Woodward by 6 points, equivalent to a class win.
Westbury’s Shane Marshall is the Class B champion and outright winner from the last round in his Mallock P21, whilst Trowbridge’s Mark Funnell in the Exige and Bristol’s Tony Michael in the Caterham, resume their Class C battle, Michael already champion though.
Completing the programme are the races for the Universal Racing Services Classic Formula Ford 1600 and 2000 championships, including Dave Lowe, all the way from Guernsey in his ancient but highly competitive Lotus 61.
Saturday's action starts at 8.40 am with qualifying, racing getting under way from 12.30pm.
Admission prices are £12 for adults, £6.00 for OAPs, £2.50 for Paddock Transfer, whilst accompanied children under 16 are admitted free.
For further information, visit the Castle Combe Circuit website on www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk - designed and built by racecar.
