FERRARI HILLCLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP
REPORT : ROUND 14 : LONGLEAT

How do you start with an entry of 14 Ferraris and end up with five runners?

Quite simple really. Four of the intended runners had their entries refused, Richard Barnett's 328 was still hors de combat after Cornbury, Richard Baker's 308GT4 gave up the ghost with a nasty clunk whilst being started up outside his hotel in the morning, and the two Hitchmans withdrew following the hospitalisation of a family member.

The disappearing Ferraris continued into the event itself, as Geoff Dark withdrew his 308GT4 after practice when John May, the GMFC and FHC Eligibility Scrutineer, sealed his engine for RAC examination.

First practice runs were held on a dryish track but by the time of the second runs the rain had settled in and conditions steadily worsened throughout the rest of the day.

In the event itself Richard Allen's F355 took a commanding lead in the 46 second bracket, with the nearest challenger being Mark Hargreaves (308GT4), albeit more than four seconds behind. Brian Jackson (308GTB) came next, followed by Sally Maynard-Smith (328GTS) who knocked a great lump of time off her second run to finish ahead of Stuart Bailey's Dino.

With the PEP percentages applied, Richard Allen took maximum Championship points, with the remainder of the field following in the same order as scratch positions.

Not a memorable event, with nasty rain and a small entry at the somewhat dodgy venue. It all now goes down to the final round at Wroughton, where a number of leading Championship positions are still to be decided. It is looking good, however, for Robin Ashley to win this year's Series in his beautiful yellow Dino.

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