COWLEY TO RETURN SOON AFTER CRASH

Top 750 Formula star working to repair his grandad’s car in time for title charge

Title contender Bill Cowley plans to return to the 750 Formula series at Cadwell Park in August after his hefty shunt in the recent round at Mallory Park.

He crashed the 40-year-old Cowley Mk4 car built by his grandad – also called Bill – in the second race in Leicestershire and will miss the round at Snetterton this weekend.

Cowley was taken to hospital as a precaution after the crash, but didn’t suffer any major injuries.

“I’m getting better – I’m still stiff and sore but I’m repairing faster than my car,” said Cowley. “I was very surprised at how well the car stood up, the damage isn’t as bad as we first thought so we’re hoping to be back out at Cadwell Park.”

He added that the fibreglass bodywork will be the biggest problem when it comes to fixing the car.

Cowley finished second in the first Mallory Park race and was battling for the lead with Robin Gearing at the time of the crash.

“We were coming into the Esses and were catching up with a backmarker and I didn’t realise how slow he was going,” explained Cowley.

“When I turned in he was in the middle of the track and he put his hand up. I thought he was retiring so I went on the outside, got a wheel on the marbles, lost the rear and was in the barriers.

“I didn’t know which way to go and made the wrong call. As unforgiving as Mallory is, you pay the price.

“As soon as the marshals mentioned cutting me out of the car I was effing and blinding – I didn’t want them to cut me out. There’s a lot of sentimental value with that car. It was a good sign that I was alright and I have apologised to the marshals on Facebook. The car possibly might have been a total write off if they had cut me out because of the way my grandfather built it.”