WAINMAN MATCHES HARRIS FOR SEMI-FINAL WIN
BRISCA F1 semi-final: Buxton Raceway By Colin Casserley Organiser: Buxton Raceway When: August 10 Where: Buxton Raceway Starters: 38.
Frankie Wainman Jr booked himself a front-row starting spot alongside Tom Harris at the King’s Lynn World Final in September when he won the second semi-final at Buxton 10 days ago.
Wainman Jr led from the drop of the green flag but Paul Hines was within a few car lengths. Hines closed in and nudged Wainman wide to take the lead just before a yellow flag was shown to remove the stricken car of Paul Hopkins.
Hines continued to lead on the ensuing restart but went wide at Turn 3 a few laps, later allowing Wainman to retake the lead which he held on to until the drop of the chequered flag.
Further back, Ryan Harrison sliced his way through the field to come home third from 15th on the grid, crossing the line of the back bumper of Hines’ machine.
Wainman said: “I wasn’t too worried when Hines got past me into the lead, I am never worried because I have a front bumper and I can use it if necessary. He had a fast car though and would have probably won if he had not made a small mistake to let me back into the lead. I knew my car was fast and just drove to stay out of trouble in the closing stages.”
Hines said afterwards: “I am happy with second. People might say I should have tried to shunt Wainman wide on the last lap, but I knew I was in the World Final and didn’t want to mess it up and not finish.”
In a dramatic last bend, Bradley Harrison punted four cars wide to clinch a qualifying spot for himself and his father Paul.
However, it caused heartbreak for Courtney Witts who was sitting in the last transfer spot until Bradley Harrison’s move.
She made up for the disappointment by becoming the first female driver to win an F1 final since 1985 when she led from start to finish later in the evening.
Results
1 Frankie Wainman Jr; 2 Paul Hines; 3 Ryan Harrison; 4 Danny Wainman; 5 Will Hunter; 6 Chris Cowley; 7 Craig Finnikin; 8 Bradley Harrison; 9 Paul Harrison; 10 Aaron Leach