SAS Loughborough Autotest, 1st September

Richard Pinkney driving his Caterham 7 secured his first MSA British Autotest Championship with his 6th FTD of the season at the SAS Loughborough Autotest.  A rear suspension failure just before the end of test 12 saw Pinkney pick up a maximum time, but he had built up enough lead to remain in front, fortunately a new bolt was forthcoming and the car was repaired, which enabled him to finish the event in typical Pinkney style with four fastest times. The win breaks a barren spell for the sports car class, the last Championship win was way back in 1980, when Dick Squire won the title in a Sprite.

For the championship leader going into the event Paul Fobister, his day started badly with a line penalty and a wrong test, trailing his nearest rival for class honours David Evans by 20 seconds and was down to 4th in class, a strong drive for the rest of the day and the retirement of Mike Sones, helped him to recover to 3rd in class and 4th overall, which was enough to increase his points tally by one. Meanwhile Evans picked up a penalty on test 14, which dropped him to 2nd in class and 3rd overall, handing the event class win to Duncan Wild and dropping him 2 points from his possible points tally.

Dave Cook took his first win in Class B with the Micra and finishing a creditable 8th overall and less than a second behind Class A winner Anthony Preston's Mini.

Results1. Richard Pinkney   Caterham 7   864.32. Duncan Wild   ABS   890.63. David Evans   Blitz Special   893.1

Provisional Final Championship Positions

1. Richard Pinkney  Caterham7   209pts2. Paul Fobister   Haigh Special   1873. David Evans   Blitz Special   185