BRISCA F1

Fairhurst sparkles as Speak signs off career

Organiser: Coventry Motor Club When: November 5 Starters: 68

Lee Fairhurst finished off the 2016 BRISCA F1 shale season how he finished off 2015 by winning the meeting final at Coventry’s season finale. It was Fairhurst’s first final win of the season, and his first since one year ago.

Russell Copper grabbed the early lead but on a restart following a yellow-flag period he was punted into the wall. That allowed Chris Bonner through to lead the race. However, the new front man tangled with another car and flipped his machine down the front straight.

This put Fairhurst in the lead and, on the ensuing restart, he began to pull away from the pack.

As the race entered the closing stages, Paul Harrison began to close in on the leader but, despite a last-bend lunge, he was unable to get close enough to dislodge Fairhurst from the top spot.

“I have to thank my team for this win,” said Fairhurst. “We have been making changes on the car all evening. It was good in the consolation which I won and, after a few more minor adjustments, it was even better in the final.

“I could see Harrison closing in on me, I just said to myself to keep steady and don’t try and overdrive it, and it was just enough to give me the win. It’s always good to win at Coventry, just a shame it took so long to win one this year.”

“If the race was just one lap longer I would have had it,” said Harrison. “My car was really good when the track dried out. It just took me a little too long to get through the traffic, but that’s racing.”

Rob Speak claimed a third place finish in the final.