Spinning Spire on cold tyres costs Woolfitt
CADWELL PARK BARC 23-24 APRIL
Jon Woolfitt’s Spire GT-R was the class of the CNC Heads Sports/saloon field at Cadwell Park, but an error in the opener meant he just missed out on a hat-trick.
He led race one until the Mountain on the opening lap, when a spin on cold tyres left him fighting back to challenge Paul Dobson’s Locost Mazda. Dobson took the win by just 0.36 seconds, with Stephen Riley’s Caterham a comfortable third.
Woolfitt got his revenge with victories in the other two races. He led the second throughout, from Dobson and Riley, but found himself chasing Dobson again in race three. The decisive move came at Mansfield on lap four of 12, when Dobson defended the inside so Woolfitt took him around the outside. Riley again completed the podium.
Junior Saloons driver Harry Hickton was another to win two of their three races. Despite Hickton making a flying start in the opener, Adam Harding had taken charge before the end of the first lap. But, on lap three, Harding exited wide at Hall Bends and dropped to third, leaving Hickton and Max Hall duelling. Hall snatched his maiden win onto the Mountain for the final time, with Harding retaining a distant third.
Hickton took charge from the start of race two, with Daire Flock in his wheeltracks. Hall managed to split the duo approaching the Mountain on lap six of eight and was close to threatening for the lead at the flag. Hickton then secured his second win in a restarted finale, comfortably heading home Harding and Jensen Bell.
It was all looking good for Lee Harpham in the first Superkart race, until he caught a backmarker on the last lap, lost aero and spun down to third. Matt Robinson fought back to take the surprise win, having bogged down at the start, while Ross Allen was second. Harpham’s lead was under pressure from Robinson at the end of the second race, but his rival’s challenge was thwarted when he coasted over the line behind Allen and Carl Hulme after suffering engine woes.
All three Caterham Graduates classes had two standalone races, Max Haynes winning both Sigmax encounters to keep his 100% record intact. Andy Molsom was second in race one from Park Corner, leaving Gareth Cordey to head home the fight for third. Molsom briefly headed Haynes in race two but, after the opening lap, he was busy holding off Kevin Barrett for second.
There was a double win for Harry Senior in the Sigma 150s, too, as he headed home a battling Ben Winrow and Jamie Ellwood in each race. Continuing the theme, Jamie Winrow twice kept Ben Wheatley at a safe distance in the Sigma 135s, while James Mccall and Richard Groom each had a third.
Safety cars dominated both 2CV races. David O’keeffe was first on the road in race one, but was penalised for overtaking under yellow flags as the safety car came out. Gary Adnitt was therefore declared the winner from Nick Crispin with O’keeffe third.
Adnitt was in charge in the restarted second race, after taking Crispin into Park on the opening lap. Luca Proietti and Lien Davies had a close tussle for second, with Davies ahead as the race ended behind the safety car again.
There was yet another double victory in the Hyundai Coupe Cup courtesy of Alex Cursley. Luca Staccini held second from lap two in the opener, while Paul Lawrie was runner-up in race two.