The battle for the Castle Combe Circuit's Melton Concrete Products Formula Ford 1600 Championship looks set to continue between two Wiltshire drivers at the next meeting on Easter Monday, April 12.
Ed Moore from Bradford on Avon and Chippenham's Tim Reynolds got the 2004 season off to a thrilling start at the opening meeting in March. Reynolds posted a mightily impressive front row qualifying time after a four year sabbatical, whilst Moore brought his car through the field after a slow start to take a debut victory in his brand new Van Diemen RF01. Moore celebrated his win and fastest lap by proposing to his girlfriend Natasha, (she accepted!). Reynolds took second overall and a class win in his older Swift SC92 run by the Gloucester based Kevin Mills Racing team.
On Easter Monday, the pair will have an extra opportunity to show their respective talents, with two 10 lap races, so reliability and a strong finish in the first race will be all important.
A plethora of other local names will be keeping the Wiltshire men on their toes though. Castle Combe's Andrew Jones will be looking for a better run in his Swift SC92, Bath's Bob Higgins also hoping to improve on last time out in his Van Diemen RF91. Stephen Jensen from Saltford had his share of problems in his ex Ed Moore Swift SC92, including a coming together with Higgins!
The Noveos pre '90 class, now designated Class C, includes Bristolian Nick Lay, Corsham's Nigel Ward, Andrew Crapnell from Bradford On Avon, Andrew Miles from Faulkland, Bath's Chris Acton, Paul James from Chippenham and Castle Combe's Richard Watkins.
In total contrast, the Top Hat Saloons series for pre-'65 Group 2-style Historic touring cars comes to Castle Combe for the very first time.
The Top Hat series aims to field full grids of Historic touring cars prepared to correct period specification and wearing true period liveries. The races are designed to evoke the theatre of the International long distance races of the '60's, fought door handle to door handle by the true greats of the period such as Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt. The two-driver, 1-hour race will feature classic saloons such as Anglias, Falcons, Mustangs, Jaguar Mark Twos and the ubiquitous Mini Cooper S.
A similar series and hour long race for the Cloth Cap Sports Cars complements the saloons and features what the organisers deem to be 'Historically Interesting Sportscars' such as AC, Alfa Romeo, Austin-Healey, Ginetta, Jaguar, Lola, Lotus, Marcos, Maserati, MG, Morgan, Porsche, Rejo, Reliant, Sunbeam, Triumph and TVR. The grid is likely to be of the quality that would compliment any major historic festival.
The Aston Martin Owners Club 12 lap race has a variety of gorgeous Astons in a number of classes and includes everything from DB4s to AM V8s such as that campaigned by Arthur Thurtle. Salisbury's John Goldsmith brings his DB6.
Rather more modern saloons will be found in the two races for the National Mobile Windscreens Castle Combe Saloon Car Championship.
Bristol's Mark Wyatt is the top man so far in his beautifully prepared 2.0 litre Astra, though Bridgwater's Tony Dolley has a one point overall lead in his B Class Corsa, courtesy of his fastest lap at the first meeting. Midsomer Norton's David Mears brought his much less sophisticated Peugeot 205 GTi to second in class.
Bristol's Nick Mizen has his Rover Turbo working well this year, taking a second overall at the opening meeting.
The under 1400cc Class C has William Di Claudio from Chippenham in his Peugeot 106 XSi.
The Circuit's Special GT Championship has come alive this year with competition throughout the field and some interesting entries.
Reigning Class B champion, Rupert Crook from Wootton Bassett, who sponsors Class B through his Moonraker Forklifts company, took the Jade Trackstar to an excellent second overall at the last meeting. The 3.5 litre Chrysler engined device was used last year by Tony Sinclair to win the championship outright.
Tetbury's David Krayem, backer of Class A through Krayem Design will be a rival in his V8 engined Stealth B6 GT, with Salisbury's Nigel Mustill in the ex Roland Asche Nissan Skyline R34.
Christopher Lake from Devizes took an impressive Class B debut victory last time in his 2 litre Nemesis Vauxhall, whilst Chippenham's Russell Spence was fastest lapper and second in Class C in his Supersport SR3.
Monday's action starts at 8.30 am with qualifying, racing getting under way from 1.15pm.
Admission prices are £12 for Adults, £6 for OAPs, £2-50 for Paddock Transfer, whilst accompanied children under 15 are admitted free.
For further information, visit the Castle Combe Circuit website on www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk built by Racecar
