Race Report - Round 9 - 2002 Pirelli Maranello Ferrari Challenge - Club Racing Series'

PIRELLI MARANELLO FERRARI CHALLENGE
RACE REPORT : ROUND 9 : OULTON PARK : 13 JULY 2002

Summer had arrived - it was glorious sunshine for this Saturday-only meeting. The short circuit was in use, not always popular with the drivers but the spectators love it because the cars come around a lot and there is always plenty of action to be seen.

The Ferraris had the top billing at the meeting and were therefore given a comfortable late morning qualifying session and a mid afternoon race. Even the Club's hospitality marquee was allowed into the paddock, which made it a very popular place for all the teams.

It was little surprise to see a very fired-up Oliver Morley (360/Ch) head the practice times. He regards Oulton as his home circuit and has quite a reputation in those parts from his Fiesta days. Gary Culver (360/Ch) was back in action, although admitting to feeling a little rusty, but shared the front row ahead of the two 355/Chs of Robin Ward and the other ex-casualty, Richard Stevens, now with about two and a half stone less to worry about round Oulton's tricky corners.

Very close qualifying meant that the next drivers, Graham Reeder (355/Ch), John Avery (355/Ch), Mark Cale (360/Ch) and Alan Newton (355/Ch) were all within a smidgen of each other. Indeed, the mid-field pack was one of the closest we have ever seen in terms of times. It all augured well for a good race.

The four "O" class cars were also pretty close together, led by John Taylor in his 360 Modena.

After qualifying Ian Hetherington, who had ended up down in 12th spot on the grid, decided that the brakes on his 550 Maranello were still not to his satisfaction and therefore withdrew, leaving 19 starters on the grid.

As the lights turned green, Morley moved cleanly into the lead, followed by Ward, Culver, Stevens and Newton, who had already made up three places on the grid.

On the second lap Culver slipped past Ward to take over the pursuit of Morley, who had moved a few car lengths into the lead. Ward hung on to the lead pair and opened up a big gap behind him to Stevens, Newton and Reeder, who were running nose to tail.

At the front Morley came increasingly under pressure from Culver but Ward began to drop back into a lonely third place. Behind them ran the trio of Stevens, Newton and Reeder but they were so evenly matched, albeit with very different driving techniques, that their positions remained static as none could find a significant advantage over the other.

And then all the way from seventh through to 14th place came an incredible eight car battle involving the two 360/Chs of Cale and David Ward and the 355/Chs of Charneca, Avery, Gamski, Catt, Carrington and McKay. Initially led by Cale, the "group victory" eventually went to Charneca, who gradually worked his way to the front with some audacious passing manoevres. Catt was another who had a lot of work to do. He fumbled the start and left the grid dead last but by the ninth lap (of 16) he joined the back of this queue and was able to move his way up into 12th slot.

Whilst John Taylor had a lonely race in his 360 to head the "O" class, behind him there was yet another intense four-car battle involving Richard Allen (328 GTB), Mike Furness (328 GTB), David Back (F355) and John Swift (308 GTB). Swifty's car eventually went a little poorly and he dropped back but the other three ran inseparably throughout the entire race.

Another highlight was when the leading pair came up to lap the middle eight-car group who, in turn, were coming up to lap the back four. Almost the entire field was concentrated in one part of the circuit whilst the rest of it was uncannily empty. Everyone got through safely.

This lapping manouvre seemed to be the last chance for Culver to snatch the lead from Morley amidst all the traffic but it was not to be. Indeed Morley had the luckier breaks and edged out a slight lead, although Culver quickly caught up again. In the end Morley took his first ever PMFC win and also his first ever win in any form of racing. Culver finished less than half a second behind, with Ward in a lonely but "C" class winning third place, ahead of the Stevens, Newton, Reeder group, who in turn were about 30 seconds ahead of the eight-car mid-field group, which was led by Charneca.

A really superb race with action throughout. In the end the Wilkinson Driver of the Day award went to Les Charneca, although any number of other drivers could also have laid claim to it.

In the championship tables Gary Culver has regained the "S" class lead and Robin Ward has established a comfortable margin in the "C" class. John Taylor, who again won the "O" class, this time from Richard Allen, continues his massive lead in the "O" class championship.