Young American picks his way through the dramas to take the JTR team’s 25th victory of the seasonAndy Chang is the Scholarship class victor for Falcon Motorsport
With three different leaders and action throughout the field, the first Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship race of the post-Dan Cammish era was a thriller from start to finish, with new champion Cammish’s team-mate Camren Kaminsky fighting through the drama to win and maintain the JTR team’s unbeaten record.
Kaminsky led the final four laps of the race, the Arizonan battling past the Jamun Racing Mygale of Juan Rosso and pulling clear to win. “It’s a great reward after a year of hard experiences,” said Camren. “This season has taught me a lot and it’s all been worth it all now that I’m on the top step of the podium. It’s a great feeling.”
It was another JTR man, Sam Brabham, who led the way initially, the 19-year-old getting away cleanly from the front row as championship newcomer Max Marshall - who has taken over in the cockpit of Cammish’s JTR Mygale now that Dan has secured the crown - bogged down. Brabham led the way for 13 laps from Jamun men Rosso and Jayde Kruger, with Falcon Motorsport’s Harrison Scott tucked in tight behind for fourth.
Sam built his lead to 1.1s after seven laps but thereafter saw his advantage whittled away. “My start was really good,” said Brabham, “and I managed to get up there and away. But then I was struggling with the rear brake bias, moved it forwards, and then just made a little mistake and they were right on me again.”
The decisive moment of the race came at Copse corner at the start of the 14th lap, when Rosso and Brabham touched as they disputed the lead. “Juan was right behind me,” said Sam, “and I moved across and then felt a huge hit from behind me and got sent around.” Rosso, who emerged from the contact in the lead, was unsure where the blame lay: “It was a bit of a surprise, and a shame. I don’t really know whose fault it was,” said the Argentinian. The incident was being scrutinised post-race by championship officials.
Kruger was delayed by the incident and Scott forced to spin in avoidance, all of which served to assist Kaminsky, who had been running sixth, to move up to second, right on Rosso’s tail. Said Camren: “All I saw was cars flying around and running wide and I was able just to go through the middle. Then I caught Juan, was able to pass him around the outside of Woodcote and managed to pull away. It was mega.”
Kaminsky moved in front on lap 18 and within two laps had built his lead over Rosso to 1.1s, stroking it out to 1.8s by the fall of the chequered flag. Kruger was third, another second behind and with Marshall right on his tail after Max recovered from his poor getaway from the pole.
Sixteen-year-old Macanese racer Andy Chang put in another impressive showing, this time emerging fifth overall and the leading Scholarship class finisher after the dramas which befell Brabham and Scott; “My first win in a car, very good, very happy,” said Chang. Sam recovered to finish sixth, ahead of James Abbott’s Radical Mygale and Scott, who was pleased just to finish unscathed after his spin and to score vital points which edge him closer yet to the Scholarship class title.
Luke Reade (Falcon) got the better of a tussle with Connor Mills (Meridian) to secure ninth, with Andy Richardson pulling into the pits and retirement after 13 laps.
There are two further Formula Ford thrillers in store for Silverstone on Sunday, with the second of them scheduled for live coverage on ITV4.
Provisional resultsDunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great BritainRound 25 (of 30) 28 September 2013, Silverstone22 laps / 36.09 miles1 Camren KAMINSKY / USA JTR Mygale 20m 51.421s / 103.82mph2 Juan ROSSO / ARG Jamun Mygale +1.790s3 Jayde KRUGER / RSA Jamun Mygale +2.811s4 Max MARSHALL / GBR (North Kilworth) JTR Mygale +2.888s5 Andy CHANG / CHI Falcon Mygale +3.156s6 Sam BRABHAM / GBR (Henley) JTR Mygale +5.969s etcScholarship class 1 Chang; 2 Brabham; 3 Harrison SCOTT / GBR (Althorne).Fastest lap Rosso 56.073s / 105.32mph Est Rec
