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

PADDOCK STORIES

• Even the normally taciturn Autosport gave the race very good coverage, calling it "an intriguing battle of the supercars". There is no doubt that nothing attracts attention like a pair of F40s, other than maybe a trio or a quartet of them.

• Andy Christopher's 308 was the Cosby car from last year, which must have caused mixed feelings all round since Cosby - in his newly acquired 512M - finished behind his old car.

• However, the 512M's preparer, Geoff Shilton, predicts it will soon go even quicker once the 200 mph gearing is rectified.

• John Pogson looked thoughtful - not to say gloomy - after the race, having finished sixth in his debut in one of the ex Benetton 355 Challenge cars. Having experienced fading F40 brakes himself, he expected to get closer to the leading F40s as the race wore on - but it never happened.

• Ex de Tomaso driver Freddy Moss had his first race in a 348, which is supposed to be the first one ever produced. With further development the car will soon move up the results listing.

• One Ferrari looks like any other : Cosby, in his brightly coloured 512M, was black flagged in practice for apparently a flapping passenger door. It was actually the door of Rory Fordyce's red Testarossa that was flapping, but never mind.

• The Club marquee on the inside of Redgate was so busy it almost ran out of lunch tickets. Wonder how many of them were Club members or whether word about the excellent Moodies' cuisine had travelled around the Paddock. At £10 a subsidised go it represents excellent value.