Circuit News
Local talent gets golden opportunity
The Castle Combe Circuit’s opening meeting of the 2008 season, the Classic Saloon Race Day on Easter Monday, March 24, sees a special event coming to the Wiltshire circuit for the first time.
The Formula Ford Golden Helmet Trophy race is an annual event devised by the prestigious British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) to challenge the world’s top FF1600 pilots in a one off duel. The winner is allowed to wear a prestigious ‘Golden Helmet’ for the following 12 months. In the past, the Golden Helmet has featured some well-known Castle Combe exponents including 2006 Combe Carnival winner Peter Dempsey and multiple Castle Combe champion, Gavin Wills. In theory, the regulars from the circuit’s own Melton Concrete Products Formula Ford 1600 championship should have a home advantage, especially as many of the local runners have upgraded their cars to the latest chassis.
Favourite will surely be champion Ed Moore, from Bradford On Avon in his Van Diemen RF00, but his opposition this year is even stronger than before. Previously his main opponents have run cars from Class B, Moore being one of the few to completely sort a Class A car. This season could be different however. Saltford’s Steven Jensen is hoping to debut one of the new Australian built Spectrums, similar to that of Ben Norton from Bratton, who spent last year perfecting his example.
Castle Combe based, Swift Cooper, have young Robert Hall in a Swift SC08. Also from the village is Andrew Jones with his Ray GRS07.
Chippenham’s Adam Higgins, the Pre ‘90 class sensation from last year, has a Van Diemen RF01, his father, quadruple champion, Bob, back with a Van Diemen RF90 in Class B.
Brothers Josh and Felix Fisher from Bridgwater have a Class A Mygale SJ03 and Class B Swift SC92 respectively.
Some of the strongest ‘non Castle Combe championship’ runners for the Golden Helmet will be Wotton Under Edge’s Nelson Rowe in a Crossle 20F, Southport’s Stuart Gough, an experienced race winner and regular Formula Palmer Audi star, Tom Bradshaw from Bolton.
The circuit’s other championships for Saloons and Special GTs, are full of competitive local entries, grids likely to be over-subscribed all season.
The National Mobile Windscreens Saloon Car Championship sees Class A full of Mitsubishi Evo’s once again, including those of Torquay’s Barry Squibb, Cheltenham’s Laurence Kilby, Melksham’s Simon Norris and Southampton’s Gary Prebble. Brian Cox from Hove makes a return to the championship with the ex Russell Humphrey Evo 5.
Class B has Bristol’s Mark Wyatt in the ultra-quick Astra, joined by reigning double champion, Tony Hutchings from Calne, upgrading to an Audi TT, his MG ZR now in the hands of Chippenham’s Darren Hay. Bath drivers, Ingram Legge and Angus Cunningham, field a pair of Nissan 200 SXs, whilst Grantley Woodhatch from Midsomer Norton returns with his VW Vento. Another returnee is Cirencester’s Jonathan Wills in his unlikely but very quick MG Maestro.
Making his racing debut is Chippenham’s Martin Chivers in the ex Keith MacAskill Astra.
Swindon’s John Avery in the Honda Integra Type R should be fast in Class C, whilst Chippenham’s William Di Claudio and Bath’s Ollie Lewis have the battle of the Peugeot 106’s in Class D. Joining in the fun for the first time is 19 year old Jason Cooper, from Yatton Keynell, in his 1.4 Fiesta.
Westbury’s Shane Marshall will give the Class A runners in the savesometax.co.uk Castle Combe Special GT Championship a hard time as he moves up a class to a Jade after a brilliant year in Class B in 2007. Bath’s Guy Parr will be one of his main opponents in his Radical SR8.
Bristol’s Tony Michael retains his Nemesis RME02 in Class B and will be chased by Cirencester’s Rob Clarke in the Radical Clubsport and Kemble’s Edward Lovett in the superb Norma M20. Josh Fisher will also be busy, slotting himself into a Mantis Supersport 2 litre alongside his three FF1600 races!
Class C should focus on Trowbridge’s Mark Funnell in his Lotus Exige, whilst Keith Sprules from Castle Combe has another fight with outright champion, Duncan Cameron, in Class D, both in Ferrari 360 Challenge cars.
As for the ‘classic’ part of the programme, this has five races for various saloon or touring cars. The big saloons are found in the IBIS Packaging Solutions Post Historic Touring Car Championship, with Camaro Z28 versus BMW CSL and Capri. Some of these can also be found in the Hammerite Racing Classic Group 1 Touring Car championship race, along with A35s as a contrast.
The Impressions Classic Modified Saloon Car championship has circuit saloon car regulars David Mears from Leigh Upon Mendip and Weston Super Mare’s Alex Ferguson out in their Peugeot 205 GTi’s, with Yate’s Chris Morris appearing in his Suzuki Ignis and Bristol’s Tim Maddocks in his fast Spoon Sports Civic Type-R.
The Track & Race Car Pre 1993 Touring Cars includes Bristol’s Richard Marsh in a Golf GTi.
And to add to the saloon car action, there are two over subscribed races for the EasyTrack Production BMW Cup and the Toyo Tires Racing Saloon championships. The former includes Bristol’s James Redish and Bradford on Avon’s Alex Benn, the latter, Malmesbury’s Vaughan Fullager.
In a repeat of last year’s successful trial, spectators can get close to the drivers and cars from the Castle Combe Circuit based championships with a grid walkabout from 12.15 pm.
Monday's action starts at 8.35 am with qualifying, racing getting under way from 1.00 pm.
Admission prices are £15 for Adults, £7.50 for OAPs, £2.50 for Paddock Transfer, whilst accompanied children under 16 are admitted free..