First new-era Formula Ford win goes to Dan Cammish, who leads home Camren Kaminsky for a JTR 1-2George Blundell claims third and Nico Maranzana the Scholarship class
Dan Cammish overcame severe cramp and a sleet shower to write his name in the Formula Ford history book this afternoon at Brands Hatch as the first race winner of the modern EcoBoost era. The 23-year-old from Leeds led home his American team-mate Camren Kaminsky for a thrilling JTR 1-2, and set fastest lap along the way to take a useful early lead in the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain.
Cammish made an inch-perfect getaway from pole position and led all the way to the chequered flag, pursued in the early stages by Jamun drivers Luke Williams and Scott Malvern. Kaminsky came back from a poor start to take up second three laps from the end, and he reduced Cammishs victory margin to less than a second in the closing laps as the sleet started to dampen the track.
Dan was delighted and relieved in equal measure on the top step of the Brands Hatch podium: That was the weirdest race of my life - I had cramp all the way through, which has never happened to me before, and I was determined I was not going to lose a race through it. So I carried on, driving around Sebastian Vettel-style, nice and steady, chilling out and short-shifting, and Im still pulling away from them! I wasnt sure what to do. So Im cruising around and then it starts to spit and I can see Camren coming up behind me. I thought: Please dont make this a race, Cam. Thankfully, he didnt.
Phoenix-based Kaminsky salvaged his result from the ashes of a bad getaway from fourth on the grid: I made a poor start, he said, so it was hard work to get back. The last couple of laps I made a few mistakes but was still closing in on Dan. Maybe if Id had another two or three laps I could have had a chance but Dan is my team-mate and a hard man to beat.
George Blundell secured third place for the Enigma Motorsport team thanks to a brilliant drive. The Essex racer had no answer to Kaminskys pace but was able to snatch the final podium place from Williams grasp three laps from home, after several repulsed attempts. I had had a few openings, said George, but Luke made it hard for me to get past. I knew I had to bide my time because I didnt want any contact. I got the job done in the end. Blundell made decisive move on Williams through Graham Hill Bend.
There was a remarkable comeback drive from young Finn Lassi Halminen, who spun fourth place away at Clark Curve on lap three and had to battle back from 10th in his Falcon Motorsport Mygale. If I hadnt gone off I would have been on the podium, said Lassi, but I enjoyed my race, especially the last few corners when I overtook two cars one after another. On his way back to fourth spot, Halminen demoted Williams, who was struggling with worn tyres, and his Jamun team-mate Nico Maranzana, to fifth and sixth respectively on the penultimate lap.
Said Williams: I started well and the car felt good but about half way through the tyres just went. We are massively down on straight line speed so I had to push really hard around the corners, which ruined the tyres meaning we were just a sitting duck.
Argentinian Maranzana was the leading Scholarship Cup contender and finished a second clear of guest driver Ben Anderson, the Autosport journalist. James Abbott gave the new Sinter chassis a successful debut finish in eighth, with Harrison Scott, Andrew Richardson and Neil Winn completing the finishing order.
Said James Abbott: The race went pretty well, I got a good start and was able to move through fairly swiftly from the line. The car was good on the first couple of laps and then the tyres just started to get a bit hotter. Thats the thing weve been struggling with on the new car. The rubber tends to want to fall off.
Harrison Scott said he had struggled a bit with racecraft. We lacked a bit of rear grip so I couldnt push as hard as Id have liked at the beginning. We lost touch of the cars ahead of us which meant it was over really. The snow only really came in for the last two laps so I was just taking it easy, not pushing as hard. Its all about experience really and hopefully Ill be able to close up to the guys in front for the next race.
Richardson was delighted by his maiden single-seater outing: Its awesome. I was going quicker each time and just smiling all the time. We went quicker than we did in qualifying, which is odd, but just shows the pace that we have. Its just time in the seat that we need.
Malvern was the only casualty of the race, the 2011 champion pulling out on the 15th lap with power delivery problems, having held third place up to that point.
Scott will start alongside pole man Cammish once again Saturday morning for the second of the weekends three Formula Ford races, which will be screened during ITV4s live Brands Hatch coverage.
Provisional resultsDunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain
Round 1 (of 30) 30 March 2013, Brands Hatch Indy26 laps / 31.40 miles1 Dan CAMMISH / GBR JTR Mygale 20m 16.540s / 92.93mph2 Camren KAMINSKY / GBR JTR Mygale +0.861s3 George BLUNDELL / GBR Enigma Mygale +11.316s4 Lassi HALMINEN / FIN Falcon Mygale +12.269s5 Luke WILLIAMS / GBR Jamun Mygale +13.621s6 Nico MARANZANA / ARG Jamun Mygale +14.349s etc
Scholarship class 1 Maranzana, 2 Harrison Scott (GBR/Falcon Mygale).Fastest lap Cammish 45.722s / 95.10mph Est Rec
