DORLIN SEALS CLIO TITLE AND TAKES HIS EIGHTH WIN

James Dorlin secured his second club-level title in three seasons as he was crowned Michelin Clio Cup Series champion, despite having to share the race honours with main title rival Brett Lidsey.

Dorlin bogged down from pole position in the opening contest, handing Lidsey an advantage he pushed home in the wet conditions. A recovery drive past Westbourne team-mate Sam Randon proved enough for Dorlin, who was declared champion with dropped scores taken into account. “We’ve had a brilliant season, it’s only my second year in the Michelin Clios,” said Dorlin. “I’m thrilled to come away with second and the championship.”

The rising star consolidated his championship victory with another stellar recovery drive to score an eighth victory of the campaign in the season finale. Once again the 17-year-old made a below-par start, handing Lidsey and Randon the initial advantage for the second race in succession.

Dorlin got the cutback on Randon to reclaim second into Vale on the fourth lap, before completing his comeback a lap later with a move to the inside of Lidsey at Stowe having received a tow from the MRM driver down Hangar Straight.

Jack Fabby emerged victorious in the struggle for the Road class title, though he was aided by Nic Harrison heading into the gravel under braking at Stowe in the soggy conditions during race one. Damian Hirst scored a career-best second in the category, whilst Nick White took two class podiums on his debut.

Though Matteo Zanetti provisionally wrapped up the Junior Saloon Car Championship title on circuit, it remains to be seen whether title rival Katie Milner’s appeal against her exclusion for a technical infringement at Knockhill will be upheld. Should Milner have her brace of victories reinstated, she would become the first female champion in the former Saxmax championship’s history. Both fell back from their starting slots during the first race at Silverstone, where George Sutton took his first race victory since Pembrey in April, and although Milner took an impressive last-gasp victory in the final round with Zanetti behind, the championship provisionally goes to the Westbourne driver.

As the Clubmans resumed normal proceedings after a nonchampionship visit to Anglesey last month, Phil Weaver’s Nemesis proved to be the package to beat in the opening race ahead of Steven Dickens’ Mallock. Though Dickens initially bested Weaver at the start of the first contest, the latter reclaimed his advantage on the inside line down the International Pits Straight on the fourth tour of the circuit. Dickens would have his revenge, taking victory in the other two races to round out a strong triple-header for the Towcester-based driver.

Ironically, the most represented championship on the timetable produced the least variance in results, with the top two in each of the Classic Touring Car Racing Club encounters repeated.

Andy Thompson and Alexander Owen traded the honours in the category for Pre-2003/2005 production cars, claiming a win apiece in a SEAT Toledo and a Honda Civic Type R respectively.

Dale Gent dominated both Thunder Saloons/ Pre-1993 Touring Cars/ Blue Oval Saloon races with a combined winning margin of almost 20 seconds; only Andy Robinson’s Ford Falcon could claim to be in the same league as Gent in each contest.

In the Pre-1966/pre-1983 Touring Cars, Stephen Primett completed the trend, as he steered his Ford Escort Mk1 into the winner’s circle on both attempts ahead of Mark Osborne’s Triumph Dolomite Sprint.

Will Taylforth took a breakthrough victory in the opening Hyundai Coupe Cup outing by a two-second margin from Ian Goodchild, the most successful driver this campaign in terms of race victories. Though Taylforth led in the early stages of race two, both Alex Cursley and Goodchild were able to pass before dicing for the spoils that, against the run of results this season, went to the former. Ginetta GT4 Supercup regular Ben Green made an appearance in the category, but having retired from the first race following contact he could only manage last on his second attempt.

Nick Dunn rounded out the year in the Max5 Racing Championship with a win ahead of John Munro, but it was invitational entry and Anglesey winner Jonathan Halliwell that took the spoils earlier in the day. However, Dunn missed out on the title as all of his points before the Anglesey round were discarded after a technical issue with his car, which meant Munro was champion once dropped scores ruled out Ian Loversidge.

James Card held on despite a retirement in the final round to claim the A1 honours in the Kumho BMW Championship, though it was title rival James Macintyre-ure who proved to be the class of the field with a brace of victories. Andrew Rogerson edged out Adam Jackson in a virtual dead-heat during the final MG Owners Club contest having comfortably beaten the same rival in the first race.

1 Dorlin; 2 B Lidsey +5.830s; 3 Samuel Randon; 4 Barley; 5 Kirby; 6 T Lidsey. CW Fabby. FL B Lidsey 1m15.441s (88.32mph). P Dorlin. S 14. 1 George Sutton; 2 Ethan Hammerton +1.189s; 3 Adam Batty; 4 Will Drydal; 5 Matteo Zanetti; 6 Sam Kirkpatrick. FL Zanetti 1m34.459s (70.54mph). P Luke Browning. S 24.

1 Katie Milner; 2 Zanetti +0.949s; 3 Hammerton; 4 Sutton; 5 Edward Moore; 6 Batty. FL Browning 1m24.425s (78.92mph). P Oliver Willmott. S 24.

1 Dickens; 2 Chaplin +2.239s; 3 Barry Webb (Mallock MK23B); 4 Evans; 5 Wood; 6 Peter Richings (Mallock MK30PR). CW Chaplin; Webb; John Drinkwater (Messer 6); Hunter. FL Weaver 1m08.347s (97.49mph). P Weaver. S 17.

1 Dickens; 2 Weaver +9.947s; 3 Webb; 4 Steve Everson (Mallock Mk27); 5 Chaplin; 6 Richings. CW Webb; Chaplin; Hunter. FL Weaver 1m21.564s (81.69mph). P Dickens. S 16.

1 Owen; 2 Thompson +0.136s; 3 Luke Allen (Civic Type R); 4 Barden; 5 Young; 6 Craig. CW Thompson; Barden; Ken Lark (Volkswagen Corrado); Holtom; Kevin Stirling (Ford Fiesta ST); Mark Shepherd (Volkswagen Golf Gti Mk3); Scott-andrews. FL Thompson 1m15.728s (87.98mph). P Thompson. S 40. 1m15.003s (88.83mph). P Gent. S 33. 1 Gent; 2 Robinson +16.693s; 3 Wilson; 4 James Janicki (Nissan Skyline); 5 Penn; 6 Froggatt. CW Robinson; Penn; Knight; West; Paul Finney (Ford Fiesta); Davies; Simon Ward (Vauxhall Astra GTE); John Edwards-parton (Fiesta XR2); Askham; Bowley. FL Gent 1m09.904s (95.31mph). P Gent. S 28.

1 Stephen Primett (Ford Escort Mk1); 2 Mark Osborne (Triumph Dolomite Sprint) +16.782s; 3 Stephen Cripps (Escort Mk2 RS2000); 4 Alan Greenhalgh (Ford Falcon); 5 Stuart Caie (Ford Capri); 6 Peter Winstone (Escort Mk1). CW Greenhalgh; Caie; Malcolm Jeffs (Alfa Romeo Alfasud SC); Andy Messham (Austin Mini 7); Tony Preston (Morris Minor); Allan Weyman (Chevrolet IROC); Freddie Brown (Hillman Imp). FL Primett 1m20.353s (82.92mph). P Primett. S 27.

1 Primett; 2 Osborne +32.516s; 3 Greenhalgh; 4 Cripps; 5 Jeffs; 6 Caie. CW Greenhalgh; Jeffs; Caie; Jon Davis (Ford Mustang); Messham; Luc Wilson (Austin A40); Brown. FL Primett 1m37.605s (68.26mph). P Primett. S 24.

1 William Taylforth; 2 Ian Goodchild +2.274s; 3 Jon Winter; 4 James Goodwin; 5 Alex Cursley; 6 Steve Kite. FL Kite 1m24.549s (78.80mph). P Kite. S 16.

1 Cursley; 2 Goodchild +0.619s; 3 Taylforth; 4 Winter; 5 Simon Miles; 6 Kite. FL Goodchild 1m37.245s (68.52mph). P Taylforth. S 16.

1 Jonathan Halliwell; 2 Joe Wiggin +11.665s; 3 Nick Dunn; 4 John Munro; 5 Andy Waters; 6 Geoff Gouriet. CW Wiggin; Josh Malin. P Dunn. S 21.

1 Dunn; 2 Munro +16.414s; 3 Wiggin; 4 Waters; 5 Halliwell; 6 Paul Roddison. CW Halliwell; Malin. FL Dunn 1m36.019s (69.39mph). P Wiggin. S 21.

1 James Macintyre-ure (M3 E46); 2 Oliver Taylor (E36 M3) +1.639s; 3 James Card (M3 E46); 4 Jason West (M3 E46); 5 Ian Hill (E46); 6 Jim Cannon (1-Series). CW Darrell MorganOwen (M3); Colin Whitmore (M3 E36 Evo); Peter Smith (130i Challenge); Russell Dack (E46 Compact); Max Walton (318is); Robert Alman (E36). FL Taylor 1m20.117s (83.16mph). P Macintyre-ure. S 34.

1 MacintyreUre; 2 John Bradburn (M3 E36) +1.169s; 3 West; 4 Hill; 5 Robert Davidson (E36 M3 Euro); 6 David Griffin (E36 M3). CW Bradburn; Whitmore; Stephane Jansem (E46 Compact 325Ti); Walton. FL Bradburn 1m33.908s (70.95mph). P Macintyre-ure. S 33.

Norton by 0.18s from Cooper. Josh Fisher rounded out the podium.

In the 20th Formula Ford Carnival, Norton and Moyers provided the race of the day. Their battle only ended after Moyers attempted a daring move down the inside at Camp, spectacularly losing control and spinning to the inside of the circuit. This left Norton clear to claim his second victory of the day and his fourth Formula Ford Carnival success.

The opening Super Mighty Minis/ Mighty Minis amalgamation produced a stunning race. Polesitter Adrian Tuckley fell to third on the first lap as Ian Slark swept into the race lead ahead of Steven Dawson. The trio then spent the early running swapping places on a lap-by-lap basis. Tuckley’s good work was then undone by an electrical fire, putting him out of the race. Slark also slipped off the circuit, making contact with the barriers, but was able to continue back to the pitlane. Dawson eventually claimed the win, with Neven Kirkpatrick second and Ben Butler completing the podium. A three-car car dice for success in the Mighty Mini order was claimed by Greg Jenkins, after a thrilling dice with Sam Tomlinson and Mark Burnett.

Despite his retirement, Tuckley was crowned as the Super Mighty Minis champion, with Jenkins class win sufficient to give him the Mighty Minis honours for 2016.

Race two came to an early end when Alex Comis tangled with Mighty Minis runner Jim Carolan at Camp. Carolan exited the road and was joined in the barriers by a sympathising Kirkpatrick. With the results reverting to the order at the end of the preceding lap, ironically it was Comis declared the winner from Dawson and Tuckley. Tomlinson took the Mighty Minis win.

A tense Castle Combe Saloons Championship race was claimed by Gary Prebble in his SEAT. Simon Thornton-norris was able to secure the overall crown despite head-gasket issues forcing him to nurse his Mitsubishi Colt through the day.

Barry Squibb clinched the Castle Combe GT Championship win in his Mitsubishi Evo, his fourth victory of 2016. Chris Vinall had already wrapped up the overall title by virtue of his greater consistency in class E with his SEAT Leon, taking his sixth class victory in the finale.

Tom Witts (Volkswagen Scirocco) converted a slender qualifying advantage into a pair of sure-footed VAG Trophy successes. A second placed finish for Paul Taylor in the finale enabled him to claim the 2016 crown in his Golf, with the Class B title going to Simon Tomlinson’s MK 4 Golf.

Two scheduled Castle Combe Sports Series races became one due to a paltry three-car entry, with Mark Nicholson the victor.

A Castle Combe Open Sports vs Saloons encounter was the perfect way to end the season. David Krayem led initially but his Ginetta expired in the closing stages. As a result Ben Scrivens, also in a Ginetta, and Chris Southcott’s MG found themselves contesting the victory. Southcott had charged from the back of the grid and drew alongside Scrivens at one point, but was unable to conclude the overtake – leaving Scrivens to take the chequered flag and the final victory of the season.

1 Ben Norton (Spectrum 10b); 2 Luke Cooper (Swift SC16) +0.181s; 3 Josh Fisher (Van Diemen JL14); 4 Felix Fisher (Van Diemen RF02); 5 Nathan Ward (Spectrum 011c); 6 David Cobbold (Van Diemen RF89). Class winners Cobbold; Joe Riley (Swift SC95); Charles Greenwood (Dulon MP15). Fastest lap Norton 1m10.178s (94.90mph). Pole Michael Moyers (Spectrum 011c). Starters 19.

1 Ben Norton (Spectrum 10b); 2 Nathan Ward (Spectrum 011c) +2.655s; 3 Josh Fisher (Van Diemen JL14); 4 Luke Cooper (Swift SC16); 5 Roger Orgee (Van Diemen RF00); 6 Felix Fisher (Van Diemen RF02). CW Bob Higgins (Van Diemen RF90); David Cobbold (Van Diemen RF89); Charles Greenwood (Dulon MP15). FL Michael Moyers (Spectrum 011c) 1m09.866s (95.32mph). P Norton. S 24.

1 Steven Dawson; 2 Neven Kirkpatrick +3.794s; 3 Ben Butler; 4 Damien Harrington; 5 David Rees; 6 Steven Rideout. CW Greg Jenkins. FL Adrian Tuckley 1m24.664s (78.66mph). P Tuckley. S 26.

1 Alex Comis; 2 Dawson +0.216s; 3 Tuckley; 4 Louise Inch; 5 Rideout; 6 Butler. CW Sam Tomlinson. FL Kirkpatrick 1m24.548s (78.77mph). P Guy Parr. S 25. Scaramanga 1m14.458s (89.44mph). P Charles HydeAndrews-bird (Renault Megane). S 37.

1 Barry Squibb (Mitsubishi Lancer E9); 2 Chris Southcott (MG Midget) +9.019s; 3 Tim Woodman (Caterham 7); 4 Chris Vinall (SEAT Leon Supercopa); 5 Steve Hall (Audi TT RS); 6 Doug Watson (BMW M6 Coupe). CW Southcott; Woodman; Vinall; Watson; Mark Higginson (Rage R200RT); Michael Harris (Peugeot 205 GTI). FL Squibb 1m08.232s (97.60mph). P Squibb. S 21.

1 Tom Witts (VW Scirocco); 2 Kenan Dole (VW Golf GTI) +5.064s; 3 Darron Lewis (VW Golf GTI R); 4 Benjamin Wallace (VW Golf); 5 Paul Taylor (VW Golf); 6 Toby Bearne (VW Golf). CW Christie Doran (VW Golf MK 5). FL Witts 1m13.926s (90.09mph). P Witts. S 17.

1 Witts; 2 Taylor +3.381s; 3 Lewis; 4 Bearne; 5 Darelle Wilson (VW Scirocco TDI); 6 Dole. CW Doran. FL Wilson 1m13.913s (90.10mph). P Martyn Culley (SEAT Leon Cupra). S 17. 1 Mark Nicholson (Radical SR3RS); 2 Neil Harris (Nemesis Prototype) +1m02.564s; 3 John Gillman (Radical Clubsport); no other finishers. CW Gillman. FL Nicholson 1m07.079s (99.28mph). P Nicholson. S 3.