ROCKINGHAM gave motorsport fans their final motor racing fix of the 2009 season on Saturday (November 7) when the Northamptonshire circuit hosted the climax to the BARC Winter Series.
The meeting belonged to 15-year-old Tom Blomqvist, son of former World Rally Champion Stig, who made an instant impression in the Formula Renault UK Winter Championship after winning both races.
The Fortec Motorsport driver couldn’t get MSA permission in time to race at Snetterton, but it came through in time for the youngster to race at Rockingham. If Blomqvist had been able to compete at the Norfolk circuit, he might have had a bigger say in the title race.
Instead it was Snetterton double-winner Harry Tincknell who won the 2009 championship for CRS Racing despite having to settle for second place at Rockingham behind the talented Blomqvist. The Hitech Junior Team had two third places from Marlon Stockinger and Nick Yelloly respectively.
Daniel Lloyd won the Renault Clio Winter Championship despite finishing second in both races behind Westbourne Motorsport’s James Colburn and his Total Control Racing stable-mate Sam Tordoff.
Both action-packed Ginetta Junior races were won by Thomas Howard, but he had to battle hard with Aaron Williamson and David Moore. Williamson was second both times but his two wins at the previous round sealed the championship.
Rockingham Chairman, Len O’Hagan, said: “The BARC Winter Series provided some very close racing from four different formulas and proved to be a great finale to a fantastic motor racing season at Rockingham.
“Formula Renault has produced world champions in the past, such as Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton, and this weekend Rockingham may have just seen another one in the making, with 15-year-old Tom Blomqvist definitely one to watch.”
The BARC Winter Series may have been the final race meeting of the Rockingham calendar, but the Northamptonshire circuit still has one more motorsport event to keep fans going until the spring, one that young Tom Blomqvist’s dad Stig might find of interest.
Back for a sixth consecutive year, the Rockingham Stages rally returns over the weekend of December 5/6, for two days of thrilling rally action using the whole Rockingham circuit as part of the stages - including the paddock and pit lane. Entry costs just £10 per car. Visit rockinghamstages.co.uk for more information about the event.
