Race Report - Round 6 - 2003 Pirelli Maranello Ferrari Challenge - Club Racing Series'

PIRELLI MARANELLO FERRARI CHALLENGE

RACE REPORT: ROUND 6 : OULTON PARK - 7 JUNE 2003

That Boy Carter Again click for Paddock Stories

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This Saturday-only event was at the short Fosters circuit, not always beloved by the drivers but a great success with the spectators, and there were certainly lots of those. The event was sponsored by the BBC's Greater Manchester Radio as a family fun day and they turned up in their droves. The warm and sunny weather helped as well.

The Ferraris were the main feature race and were given the coveted pit garages, with the now increasing number of artics and transporters very professionally lined up behind. The hospitality was also right there and it all made for a very convivial atmosphere.

Morning qualifying went off without too much incident, although Terry Coleman and Peter Sowerby had to have a chat with the Clerk of the Course following a slight get-together around the back of the circuit. "Lewsi" Carter (360/Ch) was the quickest, with Marco Attard (360/Ch) sharing the front row and feeling progressively happier with his car. Chris Niarchos (360/Ch) and Oliver Morley (360/Ch) were on the second row, with the similar tipos of Peter Sowerby and Phil Burton just behind.

Quickest of the "C" class, for 355/Chs, was Henry Lawson but a very welcome returnee in second spot was Robin Ward guesting in the car of the absent Chris Catt. Ted Reddick and Les Charneca were third and fourth in that class. They were followed on the grid by the 550 Maranello of Ian Hetherington. Round this tight circuit Hetherington was really struggling with the under-tyred car while he awaits a decision regarding an amendment to the Regulations which would allow him to run wider rims.

Once again the number of "O" class runners was very poor and Andrew Duncan was the only one in his 348tb.

The mid afternoon start was eagerly awaited by the large crowd of spectators but as the field toured around on its formation lap there was drama for David Back (355/Ch) as a wishbone snapped and he headed straight for the pits and became a non-starter. It was also a great shame that Robin Ward elected not to take the start.

When the lights turned to green Attard got the start just perfect and went into the lead ahead of Carter, Sowerby, Niarchos, Burton and Morley. Next came the "C" class leaders, Lawson from Reddick and Charneca, with Hetherington's 550 in pursuit.

At the front Attard managed to hang on but had Carter right on his tail. Behind them came two more pairs, with firstly Sowerby leading Niarchos by inches and then Burton doggedly holding off Morley. Behind these came another frenetic scrap with Lawson leading Reddick, Hetherington, Coleman and Charneca.

On lap four Attard locked up going into Fosters, ran wide, and that was all Carter needed to squeeze through into the lead. On the same lap Morley rather roughly slid by Burton and set of in pursuit of the first four who were now some ten seconds up the road. Positions at the front remained fairly static for a few laps, with Carter inching out a three second lead over Attard, but behind them there was a tremendous battle for 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th places. Hetherington had put his 550 progressively at the head of this but, with his tyres fading fast, had to fight hard to keep in front of the chasing 355s.

On lap 11 Morley had a quick spin but continued without losing his fifth place and Lawson suddenly slowed as he fumbled for an up-shift. Inadvertently Reddick tapped him in the back but by the time they had sorted themselves out Reddick was through and quickly glued himself to the back of Hetherington's 550. Lawson was not helped by his car's engine misfiring on occasions but he stubbornly hung on.

Around this short circuit lapping had already started and the biggest drama was to come when the leading 360s of Carter and Attard came upon the squabbling Hetherington/Reddick/ Coleman/Lawson pack. Much confusion ensued, blue flags were partly not seen and partly misunderstood and the whole pack of cars almost came to a complete halt. In the confusion Attard found a way through and broke loose into the lead, with Carter still stuck behind some of the slower cars. This was on lap 18, with just one more to go.

Could Attard hang on to the lead? The answer was he could not and Carter shot across the line by less then a fifth of a second to take his fourth win of the season from Attard. Sowerby and Niarchos had been nose to tail throughout the entire race, with Niarchos getting alongside on a couple of occasions but not quite managing to snatch third place. They finished less than a second apart, with Morley in a dejected fifth place ahead of Burton and Coleman. Hetherington came off badly in the lapping confusion and lost a few places to finish ninth overall. Reddick had won the tremendous "C" class clash from Lawson, with Charneca, Newton and Gamski flashing across the line just a couple of seconds apart.

Although there were some paddock recriminations afterwards between a couple of the drivers, it had been a great race to watch and a very appreciative crowd gave loud applause as the cars went round on their cooling down lap. By the time the Laurent- Perrier was awarded to the various winners everyone was friends again.

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