SNETTERTON: 750MC BY MARCUS PYE
“It’s crazy, I’m over the moon,” said former motorcycle racer Stefano Leaney, who crowned a sensational four-wheeled rookie season by securing the Bikesports title as the first tranche of 750 Motor Club championships finished with a flourish on Snetterton’s 300 circuit.
Leaney scorched his Tim Gray Motorsport-run Radical PR6 clear of John Macleod (SR3 RSX) in the opener as Chris Preen (SR3) recovered to second from a tardy start. Job done, the lanky Welsh-italian started from the back in race two, to challenge himself, but braved it out four-wide on the outside to arrive at Riches fourth! Second by Oggie’s, Leaney had hounded Preen down before his rival’s 10-second penalty for creeping at the start was confirmed. A bold passing attempt on the outside of Agostini resulted in a huge spin, but he recovered quickly and was comfortably within the margin to deny Preen a maiden win.
Preparer James Breakell took over Phil Knibb’s SR3 and twice beat Doug Carter (PR6) in Class A, where Carter secured the seasonal kudos. Driving the unique one-litre Sabre SG2, the only interloper among 1500cc and 1340cc Suzuki-powered Radicals, Joe Wiggin’s 1m56.80s best smashed the RGB class record. He ran a superb fourth before his steed’s chain stretched, forcing retirement.
Wiggin had won the previous Allcomers race by a lap, but the scrap for second resembled Wacky Races as six drivers slugged it out in diverse machines. Recovering from a spin, Antony Knight nailed it in his meaty 5.7-litre Ford ASCAR, bellowing away from Andy Waters’ M3-engined BMW Compact, which had Stuart Sellars’ Mazda Mx-5-powered Locost, Gary Davison’s bike-engined Tiger R10 and Jasver Sapra’s late-model M3 in its mirrors at the chequer.
Beyond better getaways, Bill Cowley could not thwart David Bartholomew (PRS) in the 750 Formula races – the opener restarted after a first-lap clash between Bill Rutter (Batten) and Ian Barley (Falcon) at Hamilton – but solid seconds bagged a hard-won first title. “This is for grandad [also Bill, who originated the eponymous car in the late 1960s],” said Cowley to a noisy reception. Multiple champ Peter Bove (Darvi) was surprised with two thirds, the latter on countback from Bob Simpson (SS/F) , who was ahead with Rutter challenging when Daniel Welsh’s Falcon caught fire at the Bombhole, triggering more red flags.
Eclipse stalwarts Clive Hudson and Paul Boyd won a Sport Specials race apiece to start the finale a point apart. After a tight race one finish a clutch slip to Riches sank Hudson’s title hopes, but he recovered from seventh to second with a lap record as Boyd prevailed. Overall contender Charles Hall had a nightmare, even losing the Class B title to Martin Farrelly (Rogue Xenon) after his Locost 7 expired.
Ford Zetec-motivated Crossle 9Ss dominated the Bernie’s V8S/SRGT mix, Paul Smith blitzing the opener then conking out in race two, promoting Gwyn Pollard who usurped Mark Hobbs early on. Stuart Daburn (TVR Tuscan) harassed Hobbs, but the battles of the day featured Cheng Lim pip old buddy Phil James as their seven-litre RAM Cobras drag raced down the Bentley and Senna Straights.
Despite his MR2’S engine pumping its water out in the finale’s dying seconds, Shaun Traynor looked to have prised a second title from the fingertips of Lewis Ward and Ben Rowe with two wins, each with a stunning lap record. Ward’s protest over the suspension camber angles on Traynor’s car, one rear of which was 0.1 degree out, meant he was excluded – a decision the 2015 champion has appealed.