The Pirelli Ferrari Open series has struggled all year for entries and it was a modest field of ten cars which turned up for the final race of the season.

We have already mentioned in the Ferrari classic race report that Snetterton, like other Motorsport Vision circuits, is becoming a greatly improved venue, with good facilities and a pleasant atmosphere, which makes up for the otherwise bleak surroundings of this old airfield venue. So it was no great hardship to travel there, particularly as the end of season dinner was taking place in the evening in nearby Norwich. Rumours that the prizes would be presented by Alan Partridge proved to be unfounded, to the disappointment of all.

The entries were split evenly between the two classes, with five 355/Chs in the "C" class and a slightly motley collection of modified tipos in the "S" class. This, however, included the well-known GT4s of John Taylor and Nicky Paul-Barron, both experienced PMFC racers, and the nicely-prepared ex David Barker 328 of Tris Simpson.

Nick Chester had his home-built wide-bodied 308 and Richard Atkinson-Willes was in a strange device that defies description, having a 246 chassis, a 348 engine and a 206SP lookalike body. With the rules being pretty vague anything's possible.... Sadly, Alan Cosby, the only 'S' class runner to win a race, was absent, the F512M's engine having expired at Thruxton. The 355s were being driven by three ex PMFC piloti; Witt Gamski, Mike Reeder and Charlie White, with newcomers Mark I'Anson and Tim Mogridge joining in.

Qualifying saw Gamski grab pole with his well-tried 355, but an impressive second was I'Anson who was looking very racy, and third (and first of the 'S' - class runners) was Taylor's GT4 which was showing some serious power attributes!

The autumnal sun was pretty low in the clouds in the sky by the time of the late afternoon rolling start for this 20 minute race. The field piled into Riches Corner four abreast, which wasn't going to work, and Reeder disappeared off into the undergrowth to re-join at the very tail of the field. Gamski moved into an immediate lead but behind there was a great battle between Taylor, White and I'Anson. Mogridge was in a lonely fifth place in the early stages but there was then another tight group consisting of Simpson, NP-B and Chester, with Atkinson-Willes dropping back and Reeder trying to catch up from his first lap spin.

Whilst Gamski disappeared into the distance the group behind him produced a tremendous race. Taylor initially held the advantage but was pressed very hard by White and I'Anson. On the tenth lap Charlie actually got through into second place until he spun it all away again three laps later and dropped back into fourth and was then caught and passed by Mogridge as well.

Taylor was therefore handed his second place back and just shot across the line at the finish a second or so ahead of I'Anson, with Mogridge and White barely separable some 8 seconds behind. Simpson had a lonely race to finish sixth, with NP-B's down-on-power GT4 not able to keep up, although he was able to keep the 308 of Chester and the 246/348/206 [should we call it an 800 or a 266.67? - Ed.].

Although it had been a somewhat sparse field, the battles for second to fifth places had proved highly entertaining and really all this series needs is a whole bunch more entries for 2007. Several of the 'Open' racers took part in the popular 'Sports vs. Saloons' race the same day, they took three of the first four places with Charlie White winning. Unless there are more 'Open' entries next year, this sort of event is undoubtedly where these cars will end up.

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First lap and Gamski's on his way

Interesting collection of 'S' class runners

Charlie and I'Anson had a great battle, resolved by the former's over exuberance

I thought I'Anson was the ex-rallyist, not Simpson!

Mogridge came home third

Taylor won the scrap for second

Gamski took an untroubled win

pics by Simon Cooke, click here to buy hi-res prints