© Photos by
Paul / Fotografia Corse

GOODYEAR MARANELLO FERRARI CHALLENGE
RACE REPORT : ROUND 1 : DONINGTON PARK GP

In brilliant Spring sunshine 25 Ferraris turned out for the first round of the GMFC around the Donington Park long circuit, sharing the bill with the British Formula 3 Championship.

Stuart Bowler was having his first race in the Martin Shaw-prepared F40 and took an easy pole position from Paul Ciardiello and the second F40 of Peter Cook.

From the start the two F40s shot into the lead and gave a fine display of close combat, even swapping paint on occasions. The lead changed hands several times but in the end it was Bowler who came through for his maiden Challenge victory.

Ciardiello and Andy Christopher (brother of George) held lonely 3rd and 4th positions throughout in their 328 and 308 respectively and Alan Cosby brought his ex Parabolica 512M into an impressive 5th place.

Amongst the 'O' class there was also a tight battle for the lead, with Graham Reeder in his recently acquired F355 winning a very narrow verdict from Gary Culver in his 328, both drivers still getting the feel of their Goodyear tyres, which have now become mandatory in this class. David Wilkinson in another F355 was only just over 1 second behind in 3rd place in what was an exciting battle throughout.

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