With 3 different winners from the first 3 rounds the series has been very competitive and a cool but bright sunny day greeted the 19 competitors, evenly spread over the 4 classes.

Qualifying was uneventful for all but Danny Winstanley (328) who completed only 4 laps before a gear selection and alternator problem brought him into the pits. The qualifying classification showed Jim Cartwright had the fastest lap in 1.58.2, very similar to his previous years qualifying time.

Jim was closely followed by Wayne Marrs, Ben Cartwright (328s) and David Tomlin (308). The race was the first of the afternoon on what was now a mild sunny day. Unfortunately for Richard Squire an electrical gremlin stopped his car in the paddock and he was unable to make the grid.

When the lights went out it was Wayne Marrs who made the best start and was first into Old Hall, closely followed by Ben Cartwright who had got ahead of his brother Jim (328), with the latter blaming a sticking clutch! Further back Tim Walker had made a good start and got past the normally fast-starting Chris Butler (328) and Nick Cartwright (328).

In group 1 Nick Whittaker (GT4) made a good start and consolidated his 9th position. A leading train of 5 cars were nose to tail for the whole first lap until Jim got past brother Ben. Behind this Tomlin got past Danny Winstanley who retired soon after with further gear selection problems. Tomlin was soon past Ben while Jim Cartwright and Wayne Marrs were having a great battle up front.

At the end of lap 3 Jim started passing Wayne and they were side by side up the pit straight and around Old Hall. Jim got to Cascades first and from then on led to the flag, 3 seconds ahead of Wayne with Dave Tomlin a further
second back.

In midfield Ray Ferguson was making good progress having started 14th in his Mondial T and finally finishing 9th after a great race-long battle with newcomer Tim
Summers in his gorgeous 365 Daytona Competzione.

Nick Whittaker took the group 1 honours finishing 8th overall, with Dave Hathaway (GT4) just keeping ahead of Tris Simpson (GT4) who could not reproduce his qualifying pace. In only his second race Richard Stafford set the fastest lap in Group1 in his beautifully prepared 308GT4 much to his surprise and is clearly a driver to watch in the future.

In the final analysis there were 3 cars in the 1 minute 57's, the first time any Ferrari Classics have achieved such amazing times.

Click here for the results.

Next meeting: June 4/5 Brands Hatch Indy (D/H)

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