Cotswold Round 3 2008 race report

The third round of the series championship saw us at a new venue for the 1/8th section, namely the Cotswold circuit. Still looking for a completely dry race day the forecast at last seemed to look promising. I think all the drivers expressed there pleasure at the circuit feeling the elevation changes, along with the slightly shorter lap length made for a definite drivers track.

Practice saw drivers coming to grips with a new circuit and it did seem to take most drivers a little more time than usual to find a setting. However as the grip came up and drivers became more familiar with the track lap times began to tumble. If it doesn’t rain it can’t possibly be a round of our championship and at quarter to six the heavens opened and the monsoon conditions quickly washed away all the rubber from practice.

Good weather and a fantastic circuit

Race director for the weekend Dennis Jones wisely gave the drivers a slightly longer Sunday practice session in heat order and in the warm sunny conditions the grip soon came up.

Right from round one, heat one it was obvious that qualifying was going to be tight. We had seventeen laps posted by no fewer than 8 drivers in the first three heats. Jason Frost made that a quick 18 in heat four and in heat five no fewer than five drivers were into the 19’s. Qualifying went on at a frantic pace with a heat time that was just a few seconds quicker moving you up the order a disproportionate number of places.

Heat five of round three saw Richard Hicklin get everything together and post the only 20 lapper of the weekend in 315 seconds. However Richard couldn’t be complacent as there was a queue of driver’s just seconds behind him.

Damien Hosker won the D final with 53 laps whilst behind him was Giorgio Acanfors, (50) and Tony Clowes (50) The C final was won easily by James Connolly (61) from newcomer Paul Land (59), Roger Doran(58) coming home in third spot. Daniel Bancroft with 68 laps won the B final from Ross Simons (65) and Ashley Gouveia (64). Richard Hicklin crowned his performance in qualifying by winning the A final with 108 laps, Chris Heath chased him hard and was only eight seconds behind the winner, whilst third place Neil Diver was a lap down on the first two.

Neil Diver (3rd) Richard Hicklin (1st) Chris Heath (2nd)

Thanks to race director for the weekend Dennis Jones, and to the Cotswold club for making us welcome. Certainly all the driver I spoke to said they would like another crack at the circuit. Next in line is Mendip on the 15 June, see you there!