Callum is granted a pair of victories during a rare outing in Historic Formula Ford 2000 in father’s Delta as he beats the returning Rowe

“I think perhaps I should concentrate on this as I’m not having much luck in Formula Ford,” said a jubilant Callum Grant after winning both Historic FF2000 races on a rare outing in father Nigel’s Delta. That the 2012 and ’16 HFF champion beat Nelson Rowe and Andy Park – double Pinto title-winners – on Sunday was special. It mirrored movement co-founder Iain Rowley’s victory in the inaugural race at Cadwell Park in 2007.

“The car hadn’t been out for a year, in fact we only decided to bring it this week,” said Grant ( right). “Neil Bold didn’t have time to refresh the engine so dad honed it in the barn at home, ‘Boldy’ brought some [piston] rings over and we ran it in on Friday. [Considering the rush] the times were promising, but putting it on pole with everybody out in qualifying was a surprise.”

Despite grappling with continued gear selection problems in his Reynard, even after transplanting the cluster from his spare ’box, brought up from Gloucestershire on Friday night, Rowe jumped into the lead from Saturday’s start . It was his first since the fiery HFF rollover wrecked his Crossle at Cadwell Park in May, and he stayed ahead for six laps until Grant snuck past at Hawthorn and started to stretch his advantage.

Park (Reynard), with Ian Pearson (Royale RP30) in tow, latched onto Rowe, then dived behind him inside a lapped car at Tower on lap 10 of 14. “The guy didn’t see me, turned in and hit my rear corner, splitting the radiator and bending a radius arm,” explained Park. “It was one of those things, a racing incident.” Pearson benefited, completing a three-marque podium.

Also out of luck was birthday boy David Margetts (Dulon MP22) who led Fraser Collins (Lola T580) in the early class until a plug lead detached. Much happier was Andy Lancaster who, despite a dramatic last-ditch challenge by Chris Lord at the hairpin, finally held off the Van Diemens to win his first Classic FF2000 race in his Pilbeam SP1 83 02.

Park started his repaired car at the back on Sunday and was seventh when red flags flew at half-distance, Lord’s Van Diemen having been abandoned on the exit of Tower three laps earlier. Refocused, the Cumbrian – who missed Cadwell for his wedding – quickly climbed to fourth, then took a few laps to pierce Andy Storer’s defences. “I didn’t have the pace to beat Callum or Nelson today, but it’s good to be up here with them at the end,” said Park.

Rowe had led from the restart, but finding his gearbox obstinate had to give best to Grant, on top form. Storer’s Reynard was fourth, on Park’s tail, ahead of Paul Allen and Pearson, with a nosefin bent skywards. After Lancaster “lobbed it into the gravel” at Clervaux, fighting with Graham Ridgway, old stager Rod Toft beat Irishman John Conway to URS gold, while Margetts secured his HFF2 class B win.