THOMPSON SHOWS HIS RACECRAFT WITH A 7 SERIES DOUBLE AT OULTON

Lewis Thompson won both the 7 Series 1600 races at Oulton Park last Saturday but had to work for his brace.

Thompson had slipped down to sixth behind leader Andy Perry early on before a stirring comeback, aided by a one-lap safety car intervention, brought him to the fore. He just held off Jamie Winrow for the win, with Perry fourth behind Lee Collins.

With a partially reversed grid for race two, Thompson was up to second within seven laps and piled the pressure on Jay McCormack. They shared exchanges before Thompson made it stick from Island Bend with a lap to go. Perry completed the podium with Ben Winrow in fourth place.

Richard Ainscough was able to escape to secure the 420R class spoils in the category’s first race, having shaken off Phil Jenkins early on. There was a terrific scrap for second place featuring Jenkins, Justin Heap and Jake Swann Dixon. Jenkins just held off Dixon as they completed the podium, with Heap eventually dropping to fifth behind Anthony Barnes.

Race two became a duel between Ainscough and Jenkins again, as Heap followed. A late safety car pause brought them to a climactic final lap but, with the lead duo tripping over each other, Heap wriggled through to win. He headed the recovering Jenkins and Paul Thacker.

Neil Patten’s Van Diemen was shadowed for most of the first Heritage FF1600 race by Chris Hodgen before he was able to consolidate his winning margin. David Marshall recovered from a spin at Lakeside to run third, but was forced to retire on the final lap, which promoted Jonathan Barnes. Patten’s second win was clear cut as he headed Hodgen and Marshall comfortably throughout.

Paul Woolfitt’s Lotus Exige lost out to brother Jon’s Spire through Denton’s on lap eight of the first Northern Saloons & Sports race. Jon looked set for another win in race two after he had ousted Paul exiting Lodge, but a jumped start penalty reversed the order after the flag.