Snetterton 20 March 2011 Quick Report

Praise for new circuit

The new circuit drew praise from competitiors I spoke to and certainly presented a new experience for spectators. Despite a c2minute lap, the new viewing areas give plenty to look at and when they are complete (not even JP can make grass seed grow in winter) Snetterton should rank as one of the better viewing circuits in the country.

Tristan Cliffe looked to have thrown away a chance of 2000 victory when he spun off at the deceptive and tricky Hamilton on lap one. He fought back majestically to take the lead on the very last lap and stab the air, Vettel-like, in victory. Tristan did well to beat Matt Draper who was second on the road but later disqualified, followed up by Richard Purcell who also did the F3 races, so had 70 minutes of heavy duty single seater racing, but being a finely honed athlete did it easily. Anthony Bishop looked to be delighted with a podium (3rd) in his first Dallara-shod race under the watchful eye of Team Omicron.

Although Robbie Watts qualified a stunning 4th overall and first classic in his ex-Jonathan Lewis VD, he claimed a 3rd spot on the Classic podium behind Peter Venn in the evergreen Anson and F4 champ Malcolm Scott in another bewinged VD (and not Dallara as the results say).

The smaller engined class was won, very slightly faster than the 2 litres, by Dax Ward from Marc Fortune and Adrian Wright in his self-constructed Gem (1000). After a first lap spin (Hamilton again - a challenge indeed) Geoff Fern took the 1400 class, ahead of Chris Hill with Peter Whitmore non-starting. With 1600 champ Nigel Davers not completing a lap, David Parkinson hoovered up a victory from a sans-back wing Tony Davies and Eddie Guest.

1800 victory went to Peter Bragg, having lost a few places after being an unwitting victim of a lap one fracas, and making up places in true PB style. James Chapman, in a very sleek bewinged Watts/Scott-style VDRF03 took second, with club director Jonathan Baggott third.

In the MSVRF3, a nasty looking accident inverted Mark Terry in race one, but he was heard to be OK later in the afternoon. Aaron Steele, a former Autosport McLaren candidate, took both races with a dominant lead, which left Chris Needham and Alex Craven (in that order) to circulate some way behind but virtually as one car and provide very exciting high speed dicing for the large and knowledgable crowd.

Results HERE

Tony Cotton

Disclaimer: The above represents only the unofficial view of the writer and not of the Monoposto Racing Club in any way whatsover.

Dan Clowes

Robbie Watts

1000/1400/1600/1800 start

Tristan Cliffe