SMITHDEFIESTHEWEATHER TOTAKEINTERMARQUEBRACE
Lewis Smith defied appalling weather conditions to dominate both Intermarque championship races with an impressive display of car control at Lydden Hill on Saturday. But his success was no walkover because all of his rivals performed well in close company on the wet, slippery track: the reward for many years of honing their skills as short-oval shale-shifters.
Qualifying was blighted by several lengthy delays due to thickening fog so Smith opened the proceedings almost two hours behind schedule when he led Steve Burrows and Chris Brockhurst throughout the first race.
In race two Ray Harris and Richard Smith chased Lewis all the way ahead of Brockhurst, who went on to win the nonchampionship event. Danny Brooker was gifted the first
Tin Tops race when Alfie Brooker and Bradley Lane both had a problem while leading, but in race two it was Danny whose Vauxhall Astra VXR suffered a misfire so Steve Everson’s Citroen Saxo came through to win from Kevin Palmer.
As the rain increased, John Cooper’s Fiesta displayed prodigious speed as it lapped all but runner-up Steve Rothery in the opening SE Sports and Saloons event, but it was Rothery’s Clio which beat Cooper to the chequered flag in race two.
Adrian Bradley (BMW M3) extended his Modified Saloon Car Championship lead over Rod Birley when he won both races in convincing style.
The Lydden Hill Motorsport Club did well to get through nine races despite the weather, but the final Allcomers event had to be cancelled because of standing water on the track.