Race Report - Rounds 3 & 4 - 2004 Pirelli Maranello Ferrari Challenge - Club Racing Series'

This was a bit of a strange race meeting, with everything from go-karts to Formula 1 cars. The latter, a race of the Euroboss series, had just eight starters showing the current malaise affecting British motor sport. Whilst there seems to be a lot of money in the economy and in people's pockets, there seems to be a reluctance to spend it on motor sport.

The BARC meeting, however, was dominated by Ferraris because not only was it a PMFC double-header but it was also the first round of this year's Ferrari formula classic series. Three qualifying sessions and three races threatened to give a bit of Ferrari overload and it certainly filled the Club's busy hospitality unit.

Entries for the PMFC were disappointing, with just 14 appearing for qualifying. A number of notables were missing, with Gary Culver deciding to sell his 360 and move into Historic F1, and Chris Niarchos in Mondello for more British GT racing with the Ecosse team.

Each race had its own qualifying session; the first, at 9.00 in the morning, was held on a still wet track from the over-night rain and it was a bit of a surprise to see Kevin Riley (360/Ch) on pole position, nearly a whole second ahead of Peter Sowerby (360/Ch). Terry Coleman also had a very good session to be third on the grid in his 360/Ch, with Phil Burton, in his similar tipo, some two seconds behind. Fifth overall was the first of the "C" class cars; the 355/Ch of Vince Woodman just ahead of the 355/Ch of Dave Back, who had reverted to his 355 following the gearbox failure on his 360 during private practice. Phil Nuttall, again driving Les Charneca's 355/Ch this weekend, was ahead of Marco Attard, whose 360/Ch was unusually off the pace with transmission problems.

The second qualifying session at 11.00 in the morning was held in dry conditions and lap times were some seven seconds quicker. Positions at the front were reversed, with Sowerby on pole followed by Riley, who was much happier after the Damax team had changed his suspension settings. Burton was third quickest and then came Alan Newton (360/Ch) with a very competitive time ahead of Terry Coleman and Graham Reeder (360/Ch). In the "C" class David Dove was quickest this time but Ted Reddick, Dave Back, Phil Nuttall and Vince Woodman were all close behind, giving the promise of an excellent race. Attard was way down the grid, having changed to the ex Morley 360/Ch which Damax had brought along as a spare. This time it was ignition maladies which prevented a decent time.

The first race after the lunch break, the 14 Ferraris lined up on a dry track but with dark clouds looking threatening.

When the lights went out Sowerby just squeezed into the lead from Riley, Burton and Woodman, with Attard shooting up from his mid-field grid position.

Sowerby and Riley howled past on lap one nose to tail, with Burton in a secure third place ahead of Attard, who had already moved into fourth position. Then came Coleman, with Reeder and Newton closely behind. Then there was a fabulous "C" class train led by Woodman and Back, with Reddick, Nuttall and Dove swarming all over them.

At the front Sowerby began to ease away from Riley but Burton really had the hammer down and slowly began to close on the second placed man. Attard's progress had eased and he settled back into fourth spot, with Reeder and Coleman also beginning to drop away. The "C" class group was closer than ever, with Woodman still hanging on from Reddick, Back, Nuttall and Dove. This one could go any way.

But at the front Sowerby was simply uncatchable and he finished some nine seconds ahead of Riley, with Burton less than two seconds in arrears. Attard was a lonely fourth with Reeder, Coleman and Newton separated by a few seconds behind. The "C" class boys unfortunately had to endure a bit of contact to resolve the winner as Reddick scraped past Woodman on the very last lap. The five 355s flashed across the line just three seconds apart. Bo McCormick (360/Ch) and Mike Reeder (355/Ch) brought up the rear.

With various delays amongst the other races it was not until nearly five o'clock that the second PMFC grid formed up. It was still dry but again the clouds were hanging heavy over the circuit filling some of the multi-car teams with nervousness should a last minute change to wets be necessary. In the event it stayed dry.

Sowerby again made the best of his front row position and emerged from Redgate in first place, but behind things were very tight with Burton, Riley and Attard nose to tail. They were followed by Reeder, Newton and Coleman and then came the entertaining 355s, with Reddick just ahead of Back and then a second group consisting of Nuttall, Dove and Mike Reeder.

It took Sowerby some six laps before he was able to eke out a small gap between him and the pursuing Burton and Riley. Attard was beginning to drop away and was being caught by the flying Reeder. Reddick and Back were glued together for the "C" class lead, with Nuttall and Dove having an equally entertaining scrap.

By lap nine (of 12) Sowerby had edged almost three seconds ahead but Burton and Riley remained nose to tail. Reeder had caught and passed a clearly struggling Attard to take fourth spot and even Alan Newton was now eyeing up the ailing 360 . In the C-class Back tried a few times to take the lead from Reddick but the latter defended very well and short of more contact there was no way past.

By the finish Sowerby had eased back a little and Burton crossed the line less than a second behind, with Riley just a couple of car lengths away. Reeder and Attard finished fourth and fifth, with Newton less than a second behind.

Reddick maintained his "C" class lead ahead of Back and Bo McCormick had a much better race to finish in tenth place overall. Nuttall and Dove were barely separable at the flag, with Woodman and Reeder bringing up the remainder of the field.