Bank Holiday Action At Castle Combe

HIGGINS AND JENSEN STILL IN THE SPOT LIGHT AT CASTLE COMBE

Two local Formula Ford drivers will continue to be the centre of attention at the Castle Combe circuit's August Bank Holiday Monday (26th) A Plant LUX race day.

Chippenham's Adam Higgins and Saltford's Steven Jensen have been locked in an all too close battle for the Castle Combe Formula Ford 1600 championship for the whole 2013 season.

Emotions have been running high, but after a clean fight at the last round at the beginning of the month, the pair now seem to have discovered a mutual respect for each other and a more straightforward dash to the finish is now in prospect.

Having trailed Jensen on points for most of the year, Higgins now has the upper hand after his last round victory, though his 3 point margin is notnecessarily totally representative of the situation, as only nine of the championship's ten rounds are counted.

The prognosis over the last two remaining rounds is one of continued close competition and little to choose between the two men. Four wins to Higgins and two to Jensen, may yet turn out to be the deciding factor, though the latter has the pride and the points for four fastest laps, one more than Higgins.

But no-one should assume the fight on the circuit will be between just those two. There are a number of other chargers all too happy to be in the thick of the action, especially as neither Jenson nor Higgins can afford to no score. Jensen's team mates, Roger Orgee from Langford and Ashley Crossey from Flax Bourton, are two prime examples, another being Luke Cooper from Yatton Keynell, who already has a win to his credit this year, despite driving an elderly class B Swift from the family stable.

Coventry's Nathan Ward and Adam Higgins's brother Richard, from Burnham on Sea, are the men still squabbling over the class B title though, as Cooper has missed most of the rounds.

Adding to the Formula Ford flavour is a 'one off' race for Pre 1990 cars.

The Castle Combe Sports and GT championship title is also being played out between two drivers, the difference here being the pair don't race directly against each other.

Josh Smith from Wrington and Perry Waddams from Kentisbeare head their respective classes, with the latter holding the theoretical advantage of 4extra points. But again the situation is complicated by the fact only eight of the ten rounds count. Smith has scored his 36 points from only 6 rounds,so if he 'maximum scores' in the final two rounds he would have 50 points. Waddams on the other hand, can score a maximum of 53 points. If both men win their classes this time, then the decider will be on 'Grand Finals' race day on October 5th. Whatever happens, the outcome is likely to be very close.

Norman Lackford, Stephen Bracegirdle and Bristol's Tim Woodman will all be on a high after filling the podium in that order at the last meeting.

Although there are still two rounds of the 'Castle Combe Saloon Car' championship left to run, Corsham's Will Di Claudio has already tied up thetitle. With a clean sweep of class C victories and fastest laps, his 106 Peugeot can be tucked away in the garage, safe in the knowledge even hisclosest challenger, Burton's Rob Ballard, cannot outscore him. Di Claudio is the first man in the championship's history to take three outright titlesand also has the 2009 class title to his credit, making him arguably the most successful driver in the championship's history. Thankfully, Di Claudiowill be out to play on Bank Holiday Monday and with the pressure of the championship relieved, will no doubt be flat out for an outright win

Ballard meanwhile will be pleased with his first class title, in the super powerful SEAT Leon, the chasing Astras of Seend's Julian Ellison and Keynsham's John Barnard now unable to topple him from class A.

On pure outright speed, Bristol's Mark Wyatt should have wrapped up the B class long ago in the Astra, but instead Tony Dolley from Bridgwater is tied with him on points with his Peugeot 206. With Di Claudio on a mission it will be interesting to see if Wyatt can convert his customary pole to aclear victory.

Class D is in the hands of Charles Hyde-Andrews-Bird from Shepton Mallet but former champion Russell Poynter-Brown from Compton Martin brings some colour with his yellow Corsa.

Mark Sumpter in his 964 C2, will be looking for a repeat of his pair of wins last year in the two races for the 'Porsche Club Championship with Pirelli'. Tom Bradshaw in the Boxster 'S' will be looking to deny him.

There are also two races for Ferrari fans, catering for both modern and older versions. The Pirelli Ferrari Open has the likes of the 355, 430 and458, whilst the Pirelli Ferrari Formula Classic for cars built before 1990 is the home of the 308s, 328s and the odd 348.

Mixing it up, and welcoming entries from most of the other races, is the 'Open Sports v Saloon Challenge' over 10 laps.

Monday's action starts at 8.45 am with qualifying, racing getting under way from 13.00 pm and going on until 18:00

Admission prices are 15 for Adults, 10.00 for OAPs, 2.50 for Paddock Transfer, whilst accompanied children under 17 are admitted free.

For further information, visit the Castle Combe Circuit online at www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk built by Racecar 

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