Thruxton
Near Thruxton village and Andover in Hampshire. 3.793 Km (2.356 miles). 11 Turns but only two require use of the brakes! One of the most exciting circuits in europe for any race driver as it combines maximum speed and skill putting any race car on the edge of peak performance. Best viewing position in the spectator stands just before the start finish line and Campbell bank side.
Round s 9 and 10 - Thruxton 2/3rd August
Thruxton is an ex-World War 2 airfield alongside the A303 in Hampshire, it is 2.34 miles long and is the fastest circuit in the UK. It became the home of the British Automobile Racing Club in 1968 following the closure of the legendary Goodwood circuit. Due to local planning restrictions, the circuit can only be used on 13 weekends a year and the MGOC were fortunate to be invited to put on two Championship rounds on the prestigious International Truck race meeting.
A total of 40 cars were entered, it was good to see Kevin Broadley, Vince Hunt, Simon Tobias, John Copland, Paul Newport and former Champion Andy Campbell returning for this prestigious meeting.
Class A / F
Saturday Race
It was raining hard when the cars went out for their practice session and in very difficult conditions there were some very impressive performances.
Pole position was taken by the MGF of Stuart Plotnek with local man Paul Naish alongside him on the front row. Robin Walker’s team had worked wonders to repair the damage incurred at Mallory and Walker justified their efforts by taking 3rd place just ahead of Martin Wills, Ian Evans, Peter Higton, Mark Baker with John Copland and Paul Savage at the back of the grid after mechanical problems. The fastest Class A car was the 1275 Midget of Will Sharpe but Malcolm Hill, Jim Baynam, Chris Pollard, Paul Eales and Phil Waterman were all well within striking distance.
The cars got off to a good clean start with Plotnek taking an early lead from Naish, at the end of the opening lap, Plotnek was in front but Naish was little more than a length behind and actually lead Plotnek over the line at the start of lap 2. The two leaders began to pull away from the chasing pack and Plotnek retook the lead but Naish refused to give up the and was never more than a couple of lengths behind. By the start of the last lap, Plotnek had opened up a 25 metre lead and went on to take a hard earned win by 1.9 secs from Naish with Evans in 3rd place a full 20 seconds ahead of Walker with Higton and Baker a further 6 seconds further back.
In Class A, Wills made a perfect start but the suspension on the MGF of Savage collapsed early in the race causing some drama to the chasing Class A cars. By the end of the opening lap Sharpe had a 20 metre lead but Baynam was closing in and took the lead under braking for the Chicane on lap 2. The two leading cars opened up a 50 metre lead over Pollard and Hill both of who retired in mid-race with mechanical problems elevating Eales holding to 3rd place from Waterman with Kimber, Broadley, Aylett, Flooks and Hunt taking the final places after a tremendous race long battle at the rear of the field..
Sunday Race
Plotnek continued where he left off on Saturday by taking an early lead from Naish and Wills, these three were covered by barely 20 metres at the end of the opening lap but it all turned sour when Naish and Wills collided on lap 2 resulting in Naish retiring and Plotnek assuming a huge lead over Higton, Savage, Evans and Wills.
Plotnek cruised to a comfortable win with Wills taking a hard earned 2nd place ahead of Evans and Savage after a tremendous three way battle for the remaining two podium places.
The Class A cars of Sharpe, Hill and Baynam were side by side through the Complex on the opening lap but Sharpe held the optimum line to lead from Hill. On lap 2, Baynam outdragged Hill on the run up Woodham Hill to move into 2nd place before taking the lead from Sharpe on lap 5.
For the remainder of the race, Sharpe was never more than a length behind and Baynam had to use all of his many years of experience to keep the well driven Midget at bay. After 10 laps of the closest possible racing, Baynam took his fourth win of the season by 0.38 secs from Sharpe with Hill taking 3rd place. As in the previous days race, there was a entertaining four car battle for last place with Aylett finishing ahead of Broadley, Flooks and Hunt.
Class B/Z
Saturday race
On a wet track, the ZR of Gary Smith took pole position by a remarkable 2.6 secs and was joined on the front row by the ZR of Doug Cole. Row 2 was taken by the ZR of former Champion Andy Campbell, who was making a welcome return to the Championship just three days before getting married, and his Derby team-mate and Mallory Park winner Simon Byrne in a similarly liveried car. Row 3 saw the fastest of the Class B cars with the Maestro of Lee Sullivan and the blue ZS120 of Paul Naish. On row 3 were the ZR of Adrian Olsson and the Maestro of Ben Short.
On a dry track, Cole made a perfect start and nosed ahead but Smith held the line through the Complex to take the lead as the cars headed off into the country and the fastest part of the circuit where the leading cars would be taking the daunting Noble, Village and Church corners at speeds approaching 120 mph. Smith outbraked Cole at the Chicane to retake the lead at the end of the opening lap with Campbell and Byrne well in touch.
For the remaining 9 laps, Smith had his mirrors full of the blue ZR of Cole who was driving an inspired race but just couldn’t find a way past the yellow ZR of the former Champion. Byrne was trying hard to repeat his Mallory success and the three leading cars continued to circulate at high speed without any further place changes. After 10 laps of breathtaking action, Smith took the win from Cole with Byrne in 3rd place barely 30 metres behind the winner.
In Class B, Sullivan made the best start and maintained his excellent recent form to open up a 100 metre lead by the end of the opening lap from the Maestro of Short and the ZS120s of Clackett and Naish but all eyes were on the black Montego Estate of Haylett who was fighting through the field after a poor opening lap, by lap 4 he had moved into 2nd place in Class B. By the start of the last lap, Sullivan was 100 metres in the lead and looked to have the race in the bag but Haylett continued to close in. Sullivan was relieved to see the chequered and took the win by a couple of lengths from Haylett with Clackett taking 3rd place ahead of Short, Mackay, Naish, Halsall, Scott, Perkins and Miller.
Sunday Race
Cole made a tremendous start to take an early lead from Campbell who had demoted to Smith 3rd place Smith with Byrne well in touch in 4th place. The whole face of the race changed on lap 3 when Smith and Byrne both passed Cole who found himself in 3rd place after leading the opening two laps.
As in the Saturday race, the three leading ZRs were circulating in a high speed convoy and Smith held on to take his second win of the weekend from Byrne with Cole in 3rd place a full 300 metres ahead of a good scrap between Olsson, Golhar and Dixon.
Sullivan continued where he left off by totally dominating Class B to win by 6 secs from Haylett with Clackett taking 3rd place after an excellent battle with Short. At the back of the field Tobias, Perkins Miller were enjoying a good battle that was resolved in favour of Perkins.
Next Race: 14th September – Cadwell Park
Points after round 8 of 14
Class A Class B Class F Class Z
Will Sharpe 137 Lee Sullivan 153 Stuart Plotnek 157 Gary Smith 128
Jim Baynam 96 Stratton Mackay 129 Ian Evans 123 Dave Mellor 94
Phil Waterman 84 Ben Short 113 Ian Deaves 101 Simon Byrne 92
Paul Eales 84 Paul Haylett 96 Paul savage 97 Trevor Dixon 70
John Kimber 76 Mark Halsall 89 Martin Wills 91 Nick Golhar 66
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