Swaffham F2 - 25/04/21

 Swaffham’s season opener raised a hugely disappointing 6 cars.  Perhaps more concerning was that all 6 were Standlake-based visitors, with several who could be considered locals unfortunately conspicuous by their absence.  Of those in attendance, 321 Maisie Emms made only her 2^nd visit to the track, while the other 5 could be considered more frequent visitors.

AWAITNG THE START OF PRACTICE

The opening laps of heat 1 were predictably quiet as lone white-grader Emms led the pack away.  563 Keith Walding made a slight break from the remaining trio of reds, as 421 Gary Webb and 105 Louis Williams gained on 352 Andy Webb at the end of the 3^rd lap.  The next few laps passed without event, before 185 Jess Webb spun on the exit of turn 4 as the final 3 laps began, allowing those behind to all gain.  Williams passed Gary Webb for 3^rd as Walding reeled in Emms a lap later, although the 321 car was able to withstand the hit.  Another effort on the final lap saw Williams join in and despite the best efforts of the pair, Emms was able to hold both off and come through for a first ever F2 victory; the front 3 cars crossing the line bumper-to-bumper in a lively finish.

Result: 321, 563, 105, 421, 352, 185

MAIDEN WIN FOR 321 MAISIE EMMS

Heat 2 got off to a livelier start than the previous race, Andy Webb gained on a slow-starting Walding although the latter claimed the place back into turn 1 as Williams also gained on the former.  Gary Webb then gained on Andy while Williams moved Walding wide into turn 3 and snatched 3^rd.  It again took until the closing 3 laps for the red graders to catch those ahead – Williams moving Jess Webb wide on turn 3 and then taking the lead from Emms on the very next corner.  This allowed Webb and Walding to gain on Emms who eventually dropped to 5^th as Gary Webb also came through.  On the final lap Walding put the bumper in on Webb, who was able to hold off the 563 car and hold on for 2^nd as Williams came through for his 2^nd win of the season.

Result: 105, 185, 563, 421, 321, 352

HEAT 2 VICTORY FOR 105 LOUIS WILLIAMS

The final stared with Williams gaining on Gary Webb on the first corner, before the pair both took 4^th from the mis-firing Andy Webb.  Walding and Williams then edged out a slight gap to Gary Webb behind as they set about chasing down the leading duo.  With 4 laps remaining Walding made his move, hitting Webb wide into turn 1, which also sent Emms wide and allowed the 563 car through on the inside to take the lead.  Webb recovered for 2^nd as Williams moved ahead of Emms on the exit of turn 2 and then snatched 2^nd into turn 3.  With 2 laps remaining Gary Webb passed Emms for 4^th as up-front Walding and Williams were separated by just a single car length.  Into the final corner, the chasing 105 car was just not quite closing enough to go for a last-bend lunge, and this allowed Walding through for his first win of the season and his first Swaffham final win ahead of Williams and Jess Webb.

Result: 563, 105, 185, 421, 321, 352