TARLING ENDS JACKSON’S DOMINATION
Cameron Jackson’s winning run in Historic Formula Ford finally came to an end on the Brands Hatch GP circuit after a glorious battle with Richard Tarling. Other stars of an entertaining weekend included Tim de Silva, Michael Lyons and Barry Cannell.
Tarling’s return to Historic
Formula Ford 1600 in his 2017 titlewinning Jamun posed the biggest threat to date to Jackson’s dominance but, with Tarling back in sixth on the grid and further handicapped by a first lap misfire, Jackson romped clear in the opener as the Speedsport squad headed the chase. Spins for Ben Tusting and Pierre Livingston cost them time and Ed Thurston could not repel the charging Tarling as he scythed through to second.
That result put Tarling P2 on the grid for Sunday and set up a titanic battle with Jackson. It was wheel-to-wheel racing of the highest order and the lead was traded constantly. However, into Paddock on the penultimate lap Tarling just squeezed by two backmarkers and earned a small margin. Jackson responded but Tarling won round nine by just a second. Jackson was far from disappointed as it had been a fabulous contest and a fitting way to, briefly at least, halt his winning run.
Not to be outdone by the Formula Fords, the Formula Juniors turned in a barnstormer in their single race on Saturday. Sam Wilson wriggled to the front of a tight leading quartet, which soon became a trio when Peter Morton had a rose-joint fail on the Lightning under braking for Druids.
Instead, it was Wilson battling with Tim de Silva and Andrew Hibberd until a backmarker delayed the leader and he was instantly bundled back to third. Running in the tow in Saturday’s sweltering heat sent Wilson’s engine temperature too high and he eased back to avoid any damage. Meanwhile, team-mates de Silva and Hibberd fought to the flag and there was a win for the Californian on his Brands debut. He was quick to thank team leader Hibberd for the assistance in learning the track.
Michael Lyons was stunning as he won four races, twice jumping straight out of his Lola T400 Formula 5000 into the Eggenberger Sierra
RS500 Cosworth of Peter Sturgeon to dominate the Dunlop Saloon Car Cup. He drove faultlessly to add another four wins to his ever-growing tally.
The guesting Historic Grand Prix Cars Association races maintained the close racing theme. In the Pre ’61 division, Richard Wilson (Ferrari Dino) won on Saturday, but had to give best to the charging Rod Jolley in the Lister Jaguar ‘Monzanapolis’ on day two. After a wonderful contest, Jolley had got ahead when Wilson managed to pull the gear lever off in his attempt to regain the lead. With only fourth and fifth gears available, Wilson dropped back a little in the closing laps.
In the Pre ’66 division, Andy Middlehurst set a scorching pace in the ex-jim Clark Lotus 25 to take pole and the early lead before the car stopped with a lack of fuel pressure. That opened the way for Barry
Cannell (Brabham BT11A) to win after a fairly modest opening as he returned following a shunt at Pau. Once into his stride, Cannell tore through the Coopers to win from Rudi Friedrichs. On Sunday, it was an inspired Andrew Beaumont (Lotus 18) who really took the fight to Cannell and there was less than a fifth of a second in it at the flag. From the back, Middlehurst romped through the field to fourth, but could not find a gap in the defence offered by Tom Dark.
John Burton’s Chevron B26 was a double winner at the head of a strong Thundersports pack but was quick to acknowledge that Dean Forward should have won the opener. Unfortunately the mighty Mclaren M8F was out with engine problems as half the field failed to finish. Most were ready for Sunday’s second part and even a late pre-race fuel scare failed to unseat Burton. Tony Sinclair led chase of Burton from a respectful distance while Ross Hyett twice topped the Sports 2000 pack.
Gary Pearson (E-type) went solo for an hour in Saturday’s high temperatures to win the Jaguar Classic Challenge, while hardearned Road Sports victories fell to Jeremy Clark (Lotus Elan) and Kevin Kivlochan (AC Cobra). Finally, Charles Allison (Chevron B8) topped the Guards Trophy at the expense of the increasingly brake compromised Elva Mk7 of Max Bartell and Callum Grant.