Cook’s perfect recipe for narrow BMW Car Club brace
DONINGTON PARK 750MC 1 APRIL
Paul Cook capitalised on a superb start to win the first BMW Car Club race from his fellow M3 driver Wayne Lewis and the E82 135i of Stuart Pywell as the 750 Motor Club season began at Donington Park on Easter Monday.
Cook, who enjoys wet tracks, shot into the lead from sixth on the grid, leapfrogging polesitter Pywell. Cook was challenged most strongly by Lewis, who briefly snatched the lead mid-race, although Pywell also stayed within passing range and did attack, getting ahead of Lewis for a time. Ultimately, Cook was able to pull out a small gap on the final lap, with Pywell just making it to second ahead of Lewis.
On a drying track, Cook developed a race-winning lead more quickly second time around, only for a lengthy safety-car period to allow Pywell and Lewis to catch up. Cook eventually pulled clear on the resumption to double up, with Lewis runner-up this time, ahead of Pywell.
Dave Hodkin was the first 750 Formula winner in his HRD, passing Bill Cowley’s family creation after Cowley started strongly, hitting the front from fourth. Cowley, who was dealing with sticking rear brakes, did his best to hold off
David Bartholomew’s PRS, although Bartholomew was quicker and pulled away once he had taken second. He had missed a gear on the line from pole, but sliced back through the field to claim second, with Cowley third.
Bartholomew was the runaway winner of race two, quickly getting out of Cowley’s reach. Hodkin had an early off but valiantly fought back, methodically picking off his rivals with a series of fastest laps. In the end, Cowley was just too far ahead and he had to settle for third.
Ma7das provided their usual frenetic action at the front of the pack. Ben
Powney prevailed in the first race, which was red-flagged twice. His chief rival was Eddie Mawer, who was later disqualified due to his car lacking a catalytic convertor. Powney again figured strongly in the more lively second contest, which featured a six-way lead battle at one point, but inherited the win after Martin West’s disqualification for overtaking under a yellow flag. West had looked like a clear victor, leading home David
Hitchin, who was also penalised five seconds for exceeding track limits.
Andy Hiley’s Chronos was the leading car in both Sport Specials races. He had the front mostly to himself for the wet first race, but faced stiff opposition from Martin Gambling’s Eclipse in the sequel. Gambling, who vastly prefers dry tracks, was easily the quickest and worked his way to the lead from fifth on the grid. Sadly, his car expired after losing oil pressure in the closing laps.
The first Bikesports race of the year resulted in a resounding win for championship newcomer Shane Stoney, driving a Radical. Even a long safety-car period could not stop him, although sole Mittell driver Charles Hall did his best.
Stoney took a second win in the pitstop race, although the lead was held by Hall for most of its distance.
But Hall had a coming-together with a backmarker after regaining his position after the stops, sending him pitwards and Stoney to the top step of the podium.