JOHNSON LIFTS EUROPEAN TITLE

BRISCA F1:northampton

Organiser: Incarace When: July 17 Starters: 46

Dan Johnson has a liking for the Northampton International Raceway. He won his first BRISCA F1 final there back in 2006 and his first major title followed two years later at the same venue when he won the European crown.

On Sunday the reigning National points title holder added his second European title.

Shaun Webster and Joff Gibson battled for the early lead with Gibson gaining control of the top spot on lap eight.

Further back, Johnson was slicing through the field from his 28th place starting spot and was closing on the leaders when a yellow flag bunched the pack together. Gibson held the advantage following the restart but, just as the race reached half distance, Johnson moved into a race-winning lead.

Nigel Green and Lee Fairhurst began to close in on Gibson. As the laps wound down, Green moved into second with three to go and Fairhurst out-foxed Gibson on the final turn to take third.

A delighted Johnson said: “The car was on rails today. I got a good start and managed to miss an incident on the first lap and got through the traffic quickly.

“I managed to get rid of Rob Speak and was closing on the leader when the yellow came out. It didn’t do me any favours as it allowed those behind to close on me. But on the restart the car felt as good as it was before the stoppage and it was just a case of not making any mistakes.”

Second placeman Green said afterwards: “I am satisfied with second place, but I wouldn’t say pleased. I had some decent pace but Johnson got by me early on and he was gone. I was too far back on the stoppage to get to him.”

“I was not quick enough to win,” said Fairhurst. “To get third is not too bad. My car is getting better. I got on the inside of Gibson going down the back straight and I knew he would try and get me going into the corner, so I slowed down when I was alongside him so he couldn’t get me back.”