The first meeting of the delayed 2021 season saw a fantastic 31 cars in the pits and snow falling from the sky, although luckily this was to clear up just before the meeting started. The impressive entry was bolstered by a mix of new drivers and others making rare appearances at the track.
 |
| DEBUTANT 210 PATRICK SOMERTON |
 |
| A FIRST MEETING SINCE PROGRESSING FROM THE JUNIOR CLASS FOR 714 LOUIS RAYNER |
210 Patrick Somerton and Juniors points champion 714 Louis Rayner made their F2 debuts, while 744 Harry Adams made his full debut after a one-off in brother Will’s car at Grimley in 2019. 420 Ade Baker made his first appearance at Standlake for a couple of seasons, 246 Alex Broadway was back on track after a 6-year absence and there were track debuts for 488 Owen Stringer and 542 Martin Chant. The lineup was completed by frequent Grimley visitors 42 Ash Greening and 252 Izzy and 299 Will Jackson.
 |
| HOOSIERS WERE THE TYRE OF CHOICE FOR 488 OWEN STRINGER |
There were also several new cars on display; 82 Keith Richens’ Superstox was joined by a trio of new builds for 352 Andy, 421 Gary and 856 Paul Webb and the superbly refurbished ex Tim Farrell ‘tilter’ of 246 Alex Broadway.
 |
| 246 ALEX BROADWAY'S SMART BATTEN-BUILT 'TILTER' |
A 2/3rds format was required for the heats and the first of these raised 21 cars. 109 Stuart Biddle got the better of 38 Gavin Busby to lead into turn 1, while further back Greening made a quick start from the 2nd row of the red grade and passed Baker before turn 3, then tried to squeeze up the inside of 563 Keith Walding around turn 4. This resulted in both cars spinning off onto the infield, dropping them to the very back of the field. Stringer passed Busby for 2nd into turn 3 and then snatched the lead from Biddle early on lap 2. Rayner was an early spinner on turn 2 as several cars took avoiding action. Izzy Jackson dropped back as Butcher and 7 Josh Cornish gained and Walding moved Andy Webb wide. Busby reclaimed 2nd from Biddle just as the red flags came out for a stray wheelguard on turn 3.
The restart saw plenty of early action as Greening passed Andy Webb on the back straight, 105 Louis Williams moved 716 Jim Muckian wide on turn 4 and the latter then failed to hold off Walding as the pair went into turn 1. 185 Jess Webb clipped a marker tyre and went into the fence on turn 3 as Busby dropped 3rd place to Will Jackson only to regain and then re-lose the position over the course of the lap. Walding clipped an infield tyre on the exit of turn 4 battling with Paul Webb and 623 Rob Dobie passed Josh Cornish for 7th as the red flags came out for another loose wheelguard.
Biddle was slow away on the restart and immediately lost 2nd to Will Jackson as Butcher moved ahead of Busby for 4th into turn 1. Greening gained several places on the restart and quickly found himself up into 6th ahead of Dobie and Ade Baker. Greening then snatched 5th from Busby, the latter finding himself under attack from the chasing back as Dobie, Paul Webb and Walding all gained a place. Walding finally gained on Webb but clipped Dobie, putting the formers’ bumper onto the tyre and slowing his progress over the closing stages.
Up front Jackson took the lead from Stringer while Greening climbed into 3rd passing Biddle around turn 2 and Baker gained 5th from Butcher. As the 5 lap board was being prepared Greening spun unassisted on turn 3, allowing Baker to inherit 3rd as he passed Biddle. Walding lost out to Williams and Andy Webb before Baker made a charge for the lead, first passing Stringer into turn 1 and then Jackson on turn 3. On the final lap Paul Webb claimed 5th from Biddle as Jim Muckian snatched 9th from Walding. Baker had enough of a lead to remain comfortable as he took the win ahead of Will Jackson and Stringer.
Result: 420, 299, 488, 509, 856,
109, 105, 352, 716, 563
A WINNING RETURN FOR 420 ADE BAKER
18 cars were on track for heat 2 and it was Busby who took the early lead from 416 Dave Muckian and Chant. Williams passed 155 Carl Lewis in the red grade pack as Chant lost out to 534 Tom Stoodley for 3rd. Muckian then spun on the exit of turn 2 allowing Stoodley to claim 2nd as 26 Steve Turner also spun on the back straight. 535 Ryan Stoodley passed Izzy Jackson for 4th as Walding made the most of a quick start from red grade and took 6th from Richens.
Chant then lost out to the chasing pack behind him, dropping several places as Jackson, Walding and Williams all gained. Busby’s lead was slowly increasing as those behind battled amongst themselves. Andy Webb gained on Williams, before the pair moved ahead of Walding for 4th and 5th respectively as Jackson lost out a few places. Richens slowed and dropped out of the top 10 as Walding snatched 5th back from Williams and the Stoodleys exchanged places as Ryan now ran 2nd. Walding passed Webb for 4th as Somerton spun on the home straight. Most of the pack were able to avoid the stricken 210 car, but Williams was unsighted and unfortunately hit Somerton head on – bringing out the red flags. Richens retired at this point and was joined by Webb and Williams who were both forced off with damage.
This left 11 cars to fight over the remaining distance and as the green flag dropped the leading trio of Busby, Ryan and Tom Stoodley were all slow off the mark which bunched the leading cars right up. Tom took the lead from Busby into turn 1 as Lewis moved 3rd, although the 38 car dropped back to 5th later in the lap as Ryan and Walding came through. Lewis caught Tom for the lead on turn 3 as Walding moved 3rd on Ryan.
Tom then dropped back a few places to 6th behind Gary Webb and Chant as Walding inherited 2nd. Rayner spun on turn 2 while Jackson spun Busby up the other end. The recovering Rayner then spun on the home straight and was narrowly missed by Lewis, although the chasing Walding wasn’t so lucky, and his progress was slowed as he caught the 714 car. With only a couple of laps remaining at this point, Lewis’ lead was now safe from attack and he took the win from Walding and Ryan Stoodley as only 9 cars went the distance.
Result: 155, 563, 535, 421, 534,
542, 744, 321, 714, nof
Back up to 21 cars for heat 3, including a first race of the day for 2 Craig Passey who had left the circuit earlier that morning to repair his car and made it back just in time for the final heat. Pole sitter 821 Linz Richens was slow away which allowed Biddle to take the early lead ahead of Stringer and Butcher. Greening failed to start initially, pulling onto the infield as the flags dropped, although he was to rejoin a lap later. Gary Webb passed 713 Liam Cornish into turn 1 on the opening lap while Jim Muckian gained on 321 Maisie Emms and Josh Cornish who both slipped back in the early stages. Will Jackson moved up into 4th ahead of Tom Stoodley before the former pair reeled in Butcher for 3rd and 4th respectively. Richens was an early retiree as Biddle lost the lead to Stringer on turn 3.
Previous winner Lewis had made a strong start and was up into 7th at this early stage as Jess Webb was caught by Lewis and Paul Webb. Stringer’s time out front was short-lived as he tangled with a back marking Josh Cornish on turn 4, which forced both cars to retire. Jackson now took up the running as he passed Biddle on the exit of turn 2 and Lewis moved into 4th passing Muckian. In the mid-pack the trio of Jess and Gary Webb battled Liam Cornish for the lower places of the top 10, although Jackson was to lose his lead when he tangled with Jess and the pair spun on turn 3.
With only 3 laps remaining this gave the lead back to Biddle ahead of Butcher and Lewis. Butcher then made a move for the lead on turn 2 and took over at the front, as Liam Cornish was another to retire. The last couple of laps passed without further incident, save for a spin on the final lap for Emms, which left Butcher to take his first win at Standlake ahead of Biddle and Lewis.
Result:
509, 109, 155, 534, 420, 716, 299, 856, 421, 42
The all-in final raised 24 cars, with several non-qualifiers running from the rear of the grid. Adams bested fellow front row starter Stringer into turn 1, with Butcher making a strong start and also picking off the 488 car on the first bend. 4th place Biddle got a good exit out of turn 2 and was able to pass both Stringer and Butcher in a single move to sit 2nd. Walding passed Williams to become the leading red grader as leader Adams spun, allowing Biddle to take over at the front.
Stringer gained 2nd place back from Butcher, the latter then lost out to Will Jackson and Tom Stoodley and dropped back to 5th. Greening passed Ryan Stoodley for 10th, but then himself came under attack from Liam Cornish and lost the position. Somerton then spun on turn 2 which slowed Tom Stoodley. This gave others the chance to gain, as Jim Muckian moved past Butcher and was now 4th; Stoodley having dropped to 7th between Walding and Williams.
Liam Cornish then pulled off onto the middle as Gary Webb passed Greening for 8th spot. Stoodley then lost out to Williams and Webb on turn 4 as Walding made a move on Butcher for 5th on turn 2 and Jackson snatched 2nd from Stringer. The 509 car then came into the clutches of the pack behind him, as both Webb and Williams came through on the inside at turn 1. Jackson’s charge to the front continued as he eventually reeled in leader Biddle and passed him around turn 4. Greening then spun unassisted on the same corner before Walding bested Muckian for 4th, allowing the latter to be reeled in by Williams and Webb.
As the lap boards came out, the back-marking Dobie was clipped by Muckian on turn 4 which sent the 623 car into a marker tyre. This then tipped the car over onto its side with the cab facing traffic – bringing out an immediate red flag.
 |
| IN HIS 30TH SEASON OF RACING, 623 ROB DOBIE SUFFERED HIS FIRST EVER ROLL OVER |
18 cars made the restart and with Stringer slow to get away he immediately dropped back as Walding moved into 3rd. With 3 laps remaining Walding dived up the inside of Biddle at turn 1 for 2nd place, before Stringer crashed into the pit gate and spun himself round on the start line. This caused the red flags to be shown again and with only 3 laps remaining, the race was called a result from the start of the previous lap. This gave Will Jackson the win, ahead of Biddle and Walding.
Result: 299, 109, 563, 105, 155, 421, 420, 509, 535, 716
An impromptu Grand National rounded out the day’s action and raised 18 cars, although Dobie pulled off before the start. Izzy Jackson led the field into turn 1 ahead of Josh Cornish and Linz Richens. Passey’s bad luck continued as he was an early retirement. Cornish and Richens were passed into turn 3 by Tom Stoodley and Jess Webb while Keith Richens lost out to Greening, the latter finding himself up into 5 within just a couple of laps as he took passed Cornish and Linz Richens.
The first of those from the back of the grid to show was Walding as he reeled in Rayner and Linz Richens, before passing Cornish for 10th. Greening moved up into 4th passing Ryan Stoodley as Keith Richens came under attack from Williams and Gary Webb. Will Jackson’s race was then ended when he was forced to retire with a puncture, while Cornish spun on turn 2. Jess Webb passed Tom Stoodley for 2nd, the latter then losing out to Greening shortly afterwards.
The following lap and Greening made his move for the lead, first passing Webb on turn 2 and then Izzy Jackson into turn 3. Jackson then dropped back slightly as Lewis and Ryan Stoodley also gained. The leading trio then spent a couple of laps running in close proximity, before a perfectly timed move by Lewis into turn 3 sent Webb into the 42 car, spinning both out. Ryan Stoodley inherited 2nd as Williams now ran 3rd ahead of Gary Webb and Walding, although he was to spin out on the back straight a lap later which left Williams in 2nd. Walding passed Webb for 3rd while Jackson lost 5th to Keith Richens.
With 2 laps remaining Rayner was spun by Greening, as Tom Stoodley gained on Jackson for 6th. This is how it was to stay over the final lap and left Lewis to take the flag and his 2nd win of the day ahead of Williams and Walding.
Result:
155, 105, 563, 421, 82, 534, 252, 109, 42, 185
Comments
Post a Comment