Report - Round 7 - 2007 Pirelli Ferrari Hillclimb Championship - Club Racing Series'

This is the third year the Ferrari hillclimbers have visited this somewhat inaccessible, but scenic Lincolnshire race circuit. The first was the final round in 2005 with high drama as Richard Prior took the Championship win on his last run of the year! Nick Taylor won the class, and in 2006 Nick had it all sewn up again until Chris Butler famously sneaked by on the last run. On both occasions the Ferrari entry was big, but this time around after that record 23 cars at MIRA, the class was strangely just twelve strong. No matter, most of the drivers up at the top of the points chart were on parade, and the usual hot competition seemed inevitable.

The weather was unpredictable at best, rain overnight meant plenty of damp patches and there was more on the way. As there were fewer cars in our class the organisers provided a much larger paddock space than previously, further away from the usual facilities. A big queue for scrutineering is the norm here, and it is a mystery to me why the scrutineers do not go around the paddock as they do at most meetings. Much easier to move people than cars, but I guess this is the race circuit style. A convoy run was allowed for all competitors before the start of practice – handy for newcomers and useful to assess the tricky conditions. The organisers had also changed the finishing line position to a place too close to a corner, deemed to be inconvenient at best. They eventually shortened the course a little to alleviate this concern – forget comparing times with previous records!

On the first practice it was the chap with most Cadwell time atop the sheet. Nick Taylor taking his 348GTC around in 106.49. Very close behind were Richard Prior (348ts) on 106.71 and Chris Butler on 106.84. David Tomlin (F355) was a couple of seconds back and then Geoff Dark (308GTB) behind a further two seconds. There had been plenty of drama elsewhere, with Adrian Wilson spinning his 328GTB beyond that awkward finish line, and both Tomlin and David Hathaway (348ts) experiencing difficulty following the track.

Charles Haynes was having a trying time – his 348GTC’s clutch smoking, and a Pirelli door panel coming adrift out on circuit. After Dark on the scoreboard, though still in the daylight, it was Pauline Goodwin (328GTB), about four seconds back from Geoff. She was already facing a challenge from the rapidly improving Adrian Wilson – he was only a couple of tenths off Pauline’s bumper. Of the rest it was Peter Rogerson (F355), heading Tracey Haynes (328GTB), Charles Haynes (348GTC), and David Hathaway.

For second practice the rain duly arrived, and heavily too. The competitors were not encouraged by the amount of water streaming across the track, and viewed the scene with some circumspection. It turned out to be “less worse” as my father used to say, with more grip than expected, and Chris Butler was master of these conditions, taking his F355 around a great deal faster than the rest. Richard Prior was in touch as was Nick Taylor, but they were several seconds off, not tenths. Pauline Goodwin showed the gentle touch works, and remarkably was in front of both David Tomlin and Geoff Dark, which must have had them worried!

Things got better after lunch with the prospect of a sort of dryish run. Many delays had already meant the organisers hopes of three officials had gone out the window, and the first officials were to turn out all important with more rain on the way. David Hathaway set off first of the Ferraris and was on 122.80 with his 348. Pauline Goodwin next took her 328 around in a very respectable 115.41. Peter Rogerson was on 128.47 with his F355, and then it was Peter Wilson's turn with his 348tb at 129.29. The organisers seem to have made no attempt to seed the entry as Nick Taylor went next with his 348GTC and notched up a stirring 105.78, a time that was to prove unbeatable and would secure him the Ferrari class win.

Chris Butler, supreme here last time could not find an answer at 107.40, but an inspired Richard Prior pulled out 107.31 with his 348ts to claim second in class and the really important maximum twenty point championship score! Adrian Wilson still going well with Tomlin’s race 328 managed 120.18, but you will note that this was not enough to keep up with Pauline’s similar tipo. Charles Haynes must have been a bit put out when wife Tracey moved her 328 ahead of his 348GTC, whilst following these two David Tomlin strove manfully with his F355 to keep pace with the leading bunch. He did too, but at 107.90 was just a fag paper out of touch. Geoff Dark once again put in a very creditable time with his 308, but in the wide open spaces of Cadwell was simply out-grunted [like the Brits at Wimbledon? - Ed].

Loads more hanging around faced the Ferrari drivers, and by the time they were called for the final runs the first spots of rain were already falling. Nick Taylor and Richard Prior's prayers were answered as the spots became a torrent and the track seriously wet. These last runs were not going to make any difference to the results, but we can still see who did what to whom. This time David Tomlin made the big effort to show what he could do – fastest at 113.81, Chris Butler next at 114.37 and then Richard Prior on 115.03. Nick Taylor had given up on 123.63, whilst Pauline once again distinguished herself with a nicely judged 121.38.

Not as close as some previous Cadwell results and with one or two surprises. A great result for Richard Prior that will add immensely to his championship-winning chances this season, and another class win for Nick Taylor. I guess you could also say a disappointment for Chris Butler and David Tomlin, but they'll have a chance to get their own back very soon at the Loton Park double-header (7&8 July)!

Author's Note
I was away in the north east of Scotland when our brave piloti were zooming around Cadwell, and it is thanks to all the detailed and copious notes provided by Richard Prior that I have been able to compile this report.