Teenager Jake Wood was among the headline grabbers at the 750 Motor Club meeting at Brands Hatch last weekend as he snatched victory from reigning Classic Stock Hatch champion James Haslehurst within yards of the flag to claim his first-ever win in the category.
Wood’s father Jason initially took the lead from the outside of the front row at the start of race one in his Vauxhall Nova GTE before the race was abruptly halted after Richard Kelsall rolled his Ford Fiesta XR2i at Paddock.
At the restart, polesitter Haslehurst steered his Peugeot 205 GTI into the lead chased by the Wood family duo, with son leading father in their respective Novas. The trio remained in the same order throughout the race until Wood Jr pulled out of Haslehurst’s slipstream on the run to the finish and won the drag to the line by a mere 0.038 seconds. The result sparked plenty of emotion in parc ferme as Wood celebrated his triumph with his father, who came home third.
Haslehurst led again at the start of race two but soon found himself under pressure once more from multiple series champion Lee Scott (Fiesta XR2i) and the Wood duo. Scott muscled his way to the front at Graham Hill Bend just after half-distance before going on to secure victory, while the Woods also usurped the troubled Haslehurst at Druids before the end, with father coming out on top this time. Racing newcomer Harry Palmer, grandson of 750 Formula legend Bob Simpson, also impressed with a fine charge to fourth in his ex-Peter Osgerby Nova.
Matt Highcock and Jake Paice were the initial pacesetters in the opening MX-5 Cup race on Saturday as they headed a well-supported field during the early stages. The series newcomers looked set to continue their personal duel for the lead right up to the end but that all changed when Highcock tripped over a backmarker and was left beached in the Paddock gravel. Paice was also caught up in the collision and was forced to retire moments later.
Tomlinson was one of the winners among hectic MX-5 Cup scraps
Photo by: Gary Hawkins
Former Junior Saloons racer Ben Smiles looked set to be the beneficiary after he had pulled off a superb move at Druids to usurp both Matt Hallam and Michael Pearce, but he was later excluded after his car was found to be underweight. Hallam was also penalised for a yellow-flag infringement, handing Pearce the win ahead of Ian Tomlinson.
Race two promised to be full of intrigue as reigning 120 Coupe Cup champion Highcock, Paice and MX-5 maestro Ben Short (unable to participate in the opener due to being a reserve) charged through from the rear of the grid, but the intervention of a late caution period prevented a potential grandstand finale. Tomlinson took the win ahead of Roger Chesneau and Highcock respectively.
Short made a blistering start to take an early advantage in the third race, but Paice then forced his way ahead at Druids on the fourth tour. Highcock also relegated Short to third before Short snatched the position back on the run to the line, as Paice narrowly held on for the win.
Matt Higginson made the perfect start to the defence of his F1000 title by taking a lights-to-flag win in the opener, but he was never given a moment’s peace by Tom Westworth, who shadowed him throughout the 20-lap contest. Higginson was out of luck in the reversed-grid race two, though, after being involved in a shunt with Dan Hunter at Clearways. Damage incurred in the incident sidelined Higginson for the remainder of the weekend and left Westworth to battle James Clennell for the wins.
Both drivers had spells in the lead during an exciting second contest, but Westworth made a decisive move on the dash down towards Graham Hill Bend on the final lap to ensure victory. Race three was an altogether calmer affair as Westworth won from Clennell and Sam Satchwell.
Seddon (r) had to work for 120 Coupe Cup victory
Photo by: Gary Hawkins
Anthony Seddon survived a brush with George Heler to win the opening 116 Sprint and 120 Coupe Cup race in his BMW 120i after poleman Mack Priestwood was penalised for positioning his car too far forward from his allotted grid slot. Priestwood made amends in the second race, taking victory ahead of Heler after both had made slow starts. Reigning champion Peter Keen claimed the 116 class spoils in both contests, with race two being a particular highlight as he fought off the challenge of Will Abraham and Luke Fox. Keen completed a treble success on Sunday afternoon in the sole 90-minute 116 Trophy race after working his way ahead of Abraham, who later received a penalty for failing to pit within the mandatory window.
Anton Landon claimed victory in the first Sport Specials race in his Duratec-powered Cyana Mk2 after fending off the Fisher Fury of Marcus Crook. Third was taken by Gerard O’Donoghue in his MEV Exocet R, a result which marked his best in the category. The top two finished in the same order again in race two, but third was claimed by Stuart Thompson in his MK Indy RR after he withstood a race-long challenge from Stewart Mutch’s MEV.
Sam Wright looked set to be heading for a double win of his own in the pair of Historic 750 Formula races in his Coventry-Climax powered Village V2 but, after taking victory in a shortened race one, a spin into the Clearways gravel in the second event helped former Swiss Formula Ford 1600 racer Jo Zosso snatch the glory in his DNC MK3MW.
One driver able to seal a convincing double win was Lewis Barker in his Honda Civic Type R, as he twice headed home brother Ryan’s similar car in the pair of Hot Hatch encounters. Reigning champion Gordon Macmillan claimed a pair of thirds in his BMW Compact, the car running with a three-litre engine for the first time.
Other double winners were Leon Morrell in the Radical Club Challenge and Mike Eustace, who made a race-winning comeback in BMW Car Club Racing at the wheel of his E46 M3 following a hiatus.
Eustace was at the head of the BMW Car Club Racing pack both times
Photo by: Gary Hawkins
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– The Autosport.com Team
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