OULTON VICTORY SPOILS SHARED AROUND

Four categories of Caterhams provided some fabulous action on Saturday 21^stApril when they each took to the Oulton Park track twice under the stewardship of the BRSCC’s North Western Centre – a couple of Formula Ford thrashes provided further entertainment. Avon Tyres were on hand to provide rubber and to sponsor no less than 8 of the day’s 10 events, which unusally produced 10 different winners.

Bookatrack.com Superlight R300 poleman, Paul Wilson, was handed a decisive advantage first time out when the engine of fellow front row starter, James Sharrock, cut out on the charge from the grid to Old Hall. Although Sharrock steered his coasting Caterham on a course that was well away from the racing line the rest of the pack were inevitably delayed. Mark Shaw proved to be the fastest man in the race as he smashed the lap record for R300s by 1.5 seconds. This speed enabled him to catch and pass Ian Payne for second. Payne upped his game to remain in the slipstream of Shaw but dropped back – and gave himself a scare – when he outbraked himself going into Shell. Shaw converted his pace into a victory later in the day after a fantastic scrap with Wilson.

A shower of rain made life tricky for drivers in the opening Supersports encounter. Student Aaron Head put his karting experience to good use when conditions became difficult, he demoted early leader Andrew McMillan and smoothly steered his mount to an impressive win. McMillan then became embroiled in a thrilling dice with Lee Wiggins. The former took the runner-up spot by a whisker. Second time around McMillan went one better to secure the top of the podium. He dived up the inside of Head at Druids on lap 4 and the youngster was down to fourth by the time he had recovered his momentum having given his rival racing room. Head was part of a 6-car battle for second until he broke clear on lap 11. In the remaining 5 tours he nearly overturned a 4 second deficit – finishing just 0.039 secs behind McMillan when the chequered flag fell.

The Tracksports contenders provided tremendous lead dices with countless place swapping in both of their races. First time out Jonathon Mortimer slithered slightly wide at the exit of Cascades on the last lap and that was all Terry Langley needed to nip through for the win with third placed James Needham in close attendance. On their return to the Tarporley tarmac, Langley was 0.041 secs away from doing the double as David Robinson pipped him at the line. No less than half a dozen cars had jostled at the front of the pack for the duration.

Brad Smith performed one of the most blatant jump starts ever from pole in Roadsports race 1. He then tried to rectify the situation but only succeeded in earning the wrath of the Clerk of the Course by attempting to reverse back into his grid slot just as the red lights were about to go out. A drive-through penalty was the price of his misdemeanour. With the finishing order determining the starting positions later on, Smith battled through to 4^thfrom the 9^throw. Alex MacIndoe and Elliott Norris took a win and a second place apiece.

The Post 89 and Pre 90 competitors in the Northern FF1600 Championship enjoyed a race each. A demon opening lap from John Murphy led to him taking the laurels in the event for newer cars while Stuart Jones and Barry Linley were the class of the Pre 90 field with the former coming out on top.