Westfield Championship Round 1

[Mobsy]

Race report and pictures here

BARC WESTFIELD SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Andrew Spencer began the defence of his 2007 title in race winning form at Snetterton, but Simon Pryke made sure the young Yorkshireman had no time to rest on his laurels.

Pryke got the lead from the start, with poleman Spencer joining a first lap break as Ben Clucas’s class A car struggled to stay in touch.

Spencer was almost pushing Pryke through Coram on the second lap, as the top seven all closed up again. Nick Flowers took Clucas, but Andy Mowbray, Martin Gartside and Jon Chappell were all close too.  

Into Sear Spencer made it through on the inside, but lost out into the Esses, Pryke nosed in front and Flowers then took them both. “I just outbraked myself,” said Spencer. All three made another joint break, with Spencer back into second at Russell, before running side by side past the pits with Flowers,  taking charge once more into Riches.

Clucas was also under pressure from Mowbray and Gartside, which allowed Jon Chappell to close. Mowbray had fourth on lap five while Chappell found his way past Gartside too.  

There was no respite back at the front though, with Pryke all over Flowers, before they swapped on lap seven and both found themselves in front of Spencer again when he outbraked himself again into the Esses. Gartside battled his way back to onto Clucas’ tail for fifth, as Mowbray headed pitwards, “overheating again.”

Spencer quickly responded and within two laps he had the lead yet again, but Flowers started to lose touch after losing third gear.

Despite running nose to tail for the remaining five laps, Spencer still just held the narrowest of advantages to seal the win by 0.137secs. “I am so grateful for my Dad for building me a winning car again,” said Spencer afterwards. “That was very close, I had a cracking start and was able to close when I wanted. But Andrew seemed to be able to do the same.  I failed to capitalize on Andrew’s mistake at Russell because I was in third gear too,” said Pryke.

Flowers held onto third, “without third gear I am pleased with that,” he said. The battle for fourth went all the way to the flag though, finally settling in Chappell’s favour after he arrived at Russell on the penultimate lap behind Clucas and Gartside. As they delayed each other he shot through and claimed the place. “My steering wheel came loose and it put me off a bit. But I really wanted to beat that superstar Ben and I did,” he said.

Gartside held onto fifth, “frustrating as I had a good start and was outdragged on the back straight. I got overwhelmed each time by Clucas and Jon Chappell,” he said.

Clucas completed the top six but struggled for straightline speed too in his class A winning car. “It was Ok but almost felt like I was running out of fuel. It was good for slipstreaming though and on the brakes,” he confirmed.

Will Chappell and Brian Small had lonely races in seventh and eighth, while returnee Chris Gould and debutant John Dolan completed the top ten.

RESULTS

1 Andrew Spencer 15 laps in 20m13.000s (86.89mph); 2    

Simon Pryke +0.137s; 3  Nick Flowers; 4 Jon Chappell; 5 Martin Gartside; 6 Ben Clucas; 7 Will Chappell; 8 Brian Small; 9 Chris Gould; 10 John Dolan; 11 Mark Callahan; 12 Michael Ellis; 13 Roger Green; 14 Nic Grout; 15 Andy Mowbray. Class A: 1 Clucas; 2 Ellis; 3 Green; no other finishers. Class B: 1 Spencer; 2 Pryke; 3 Flowers; 4 J.Chappell; etc. Fastest lap: Pryke 1m19.467s (88.42mph).

NEXT ROUND, PEMBREY MAY 10/11.

Published by Peter Scherer, April 28th, 2008.

[custardtart]

Race report and pictures here

BARC WESTFIELD SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Andrew Spencer began the defence of his 2007 title in race winning form at Snetterton, but Simon Pryke made sure the young Yorkshireman had no time to rest on his laurels.

Pryke got the lead from the start, with poleman Spencer joining a first lap break as Ben Clucas’s class A car struggled to stay in touch.

Spencer was almost pushing Pryke through Coram on the second lap, as the top seven all closed up again. Nick Flowers took Clucas, but Andy Mowbray, Martin Gartside and Jon Chappell were all close too.  

Into Sear Spencer made it through on the inside, but lost out into the Esses, Pryke nosed in front and Flowers then took them both. “I just outbraked myself,” said Spencer. All three made another joint break, with Spencer back into second at Russell, before running side by side past the pits with Flowers,  taking charge once more into Riches.

Clucas was also under pressure from Mowbray and Gartside, which allowed Jon Chappell to close. Mowbray had fourth on lap five while Chappell found his way past Gartside too.  

There was no respite back at the front though, with Pryke all over Flowers, before they swapped on lap seven and both found themselves in front of Spencer again when he outbraked himself again into the Esses. Gartside battled his way back to onto Clucas’ tail for fifth, as Mowbray headed pitwards, “overheating again.”

Spencer quickly responded and within two laps he had the lead yet again, but Flowers started to lose touch after losing third gear.

Despite running nose to tail for the remaining five laps, Spencer still just held the narrowest of advantages to seal the win by 0.137secs. “I am so grateful for my Dad for building me a winning car again,” said Spencer afterwards. “That was very close, I had a cracking start and was able to close when I wanted. But Andrew seemed to be able to do the same.  I failed to capitalize on Andrew’s mistake at Russell because I was in third gear too,” said Pryke.

Flowers held onto third, “without third gear I am pleased with that,” he said. The battle for fourth went all the way to the flag though, finally settling in Chappell’s favour after he arrived at Russell on the penultimate lap behind Clucas and Gartside. As they delayed each other he shot through and claimed the place. “My steering wheel came loose and it put me off a bit. But I really wanted to beat that superstar Ben and I did,” he said.

Gartside held onto fifth, “frustrating as I had a good start and was outdragged on the back straight. I got overwhelmed each time by Clucas and Jon Chappell,” he said.

Clucas completed the top six but struggled for straightline speed too in his class A winning car. “It was Ok but almost felt like I was running out of fuel. It was good for slipstreaming though and on the brakes,” he confirmed.

Will Chappell and Brian Small had lonely races in seventh and eighth, while returnee Chris Gould and debutant John Dolan completed the top ten.

RESULTS

1 Andrew Spencer 15 laps in 20m13.000s (86.89mph); 2    

Simon Pryke +0.137s; 3  Nick Flowers; 4 Jon Chappell; 5 Martin Gartside; 6 Ben Clucas; 7 Will Chappell; 8 Brian Small; 9 Chris Gould; 10 John Dolan; 11 Mark Callahan; 12 Michael Ellis; 13 Roger Green; 14 Nic Grout; 15 Andy Mowbray. Class A: 1 Clucas; 2 Ellis; 3 Green; no other finishers. Class B: 1 Spencer; 2 Pryke; 3 Flowers; 4 J.Chappell; etc. Fastest lap: Pryke 1m19.467s (88.42mph).

NEXT ROUND, PEMBREY MAY 10/11.

Published by Peter Scherer, April 28th, 2008.

Great write up and pics.

What tyres are you guys using this year? i know it's Dunlops but can't find what make.

Also interested in how they compare to the ones you used to use

[Mobsy]

The tyres are Dunlop control tyres specific for Westfields, not road legal. They're all weather so no more cloud watching before the race.

We were on ACB10's previously which I found a bit more progressive and more consistent over the race distance. Hard to judge though as I'm in a different car now, never got to drive the same car on the two different tyres.

[simon4007]

The Dunlops are slower than the Avons on a lap, but I do think I prefer them on the limit. I think they are a bit more progressive and give up grip steadily instead of the ACB10's which could be a bit snappy! Rear grip is given up a bit quicker with the Dunlops but they do lend themselves quite nicely to very controllable tail sliding. Would you agree Andy?

One draw back of the dunlops is they are softer than the Avons and are more susceptible to flat spotting.

[Mobsy]

Video now available.

Look out for the really quick blue car with the gold rollcage, until it started to get a bit warm.

[Emma]

Well done to Martin G