WheelSpin April / May 2016 - Scottish Motor Racing Club

Knockhill April 3rd 2016 SMRC Spring Meeting
APRIL / MAY 2016
www.smrc-uk.com
The season started on a wet note but after lunch the sun came out and the track dried. Racing was good all day and a decent crowd watched the action.
Scottish Legends Cars Championship
HEAT ONE: The track
was wet and light rain
came down as Legends
Cars started the meeting.
Dave Hunter led for four
laps chased by Stewart
Black over the opening
two laps. John Paterson
moved up the order
having started seventh.
Black dropped back on
lap three with a
David Hunter
suspected misfire as
Paterson moved up into 2nd to take up the chase. Paterson took the lead at Clark
on lap five, but Hunter stuck close they ran side by side up the hill on lap 6 but
Paterson kept his lead at Duffus. Hunter wasn’t to be denied and repassed
Paterson as they started the last lap. They finished close with Hunter winning by
just a few feet. Billy Wait inherited third on lap 7 after Ivor Greenwood and Ross
Marshall slithered off at Scotsman during a good scrap over 3rd. They restarted
and Greenwood passed Marshall to take 4th. Pino Palazzo completed the top 6
having nipped ahead of rookie Ryan McLeish on lap 7.
Result - 8 Laps
1 David Hunter 9m11.22s (66.19mph); 2 John Paterson +0.11s; 3 Billy
Wait; 4 Ivor Greenwood; 5 Ross Marshall; 6 Pino Palazzo. FL: Paterson
1m07.24s (67.82mph). Pole: Stewart Black. Starters - 11.
HEAT TWO: The sun started shining as Legends Cars emerged for their second
heat. John Paterson walked away with the race from pole position. By mid
distance, Dave Hunter had made it up to second place, having started seventh.
Ross Marshall had run second but had a moment at Scotsman and did a bit of off
roading which dropped him to third, which he kept to the flag, despite Stewart
Black’s best efforts. Ivor Greenwood took fifth place having run as high as
second on lap two, before
dropping back. Pino
Palazzo recovered from a
spin on lap two and
almost caught Ivor
Greenwood at the flag as
he finished sixth. Ryan
McLeish again took 7th
having passed Jeff
Pritchard on lap 6.
Result - 8 Laps
John Paterson
1 Paterson 9m00.97s (67.44mph); 2 Hunter +8.88s; 3 Marshall;
4 Black; 5 Greenwood; 6 Palazzo. FL: Paterson 1m06.62s (68.45mph).
Pole: Paterson. Starters - 11.
FINAL: Billy Wait led
from pole chased by
Stewart Black who took
over the lead at the start
of lap two. Black then
built up a couple of
seconds lead over a four
car battle for 2nd. Then
as lap two closed, Dave
Hunter moved into 2nd
followed by John
Paterson. These two
Ross Marshall
rapidly caught Black. On
lap three, Paterson took the lead at Clark corner with Black second and Hunter
now third. Hunter was soon past Black and was now close to Paterson on lap
four. But Paterson the defending champion pulled away to win by over five
seconds. Hunter easily held 2nd. Ross Marshall took third place despite Ivor
Greenwood’s best efforts as he really closed on the last lap and tried to run side
by side over the line. Black dropped back running 5th from lap 5 but clear of
Palazzo who had suffered a spin for the second race running this time at the
hairpin on lap 6 when right up with Black. Ryan McLeish put in a charge over
the closing laps, after starting last. He took Billy Wait for 8th on lap 9 at Clark
then demoted Jeff Pritchard on the last lap to claim 7th.
Result - 8 Laps
1 Paterson 10m26.42s (72.80mph); 2 Hunter +5.80s; 3 Marshall;
4 Greenwood; 5 Black; 6 Palazzo. FL Paterson 1m01.18s (74.52mph).
Pole: Billy Wait. Top Rookie Ryan: McLeish Starters - 11.
Driver of the Day: Ryan McLeish
Celtic Speed Scottish Mini Cooper Cup
in association with Yokohama Tyres, Wheels Around & Superchips
RACE ONE: The Mini
grid saw 23 cars out on a
wet track. Hannah
Chapman led from the
front row and was under
constant pressure from
returning former
champion Vic Covey Jr.
driving the guest car,
which supports CHAS.
Ian Munro was 1.5
seconds back in 3rd
Vic Covey Jr
heading a 4 car group. On
lap four, the safety car was deployed as fourth placed Reis Robertson’s car was
recovered from the gravel trap at Clark. The cars ran slowly behind it for 2 laps.
On the restart, Covey Jr was close to Chapman with Ian Munro now with them
in third. These 3 pulled clear of Des Wheatley who in turn opened up a second
on Paul Bell. While Bell also gapped his pursuers, which was a 5 car bunch led
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by Dylan O’Donnell. On the last lap, the experienced Covey Jr slipped past
Chapman at Butcher’s going on to win the first Mini race of the year. Chapman
and Munro went side by side at the final corner the hairpin, but Chapman held
on by less than a tenth of a second to keep the runner up spot. Munro was 3rd
three seconds ahead of Des Wheatley who had been 7th on lap 1 and finished a
strong fourth, pulling clear of Paul Bell in 5th. Into 6th a second later came Jock
Borthwick. He had taken the place on the last lap from Dylan O’Donnell.
Morgan Murray was glued to O’Donnell’s bootlid in 8th having made a late
move past Dominic Wheatley.
Result - 9 Laps
1 Vic Covey Jr 12m47.99s (59.38mph); 2 Hannah Chapman +1.48s;
3 Ian Munro; 4 Des Wheatley; 5 Paul Bell; 6 Jock Borthwick.
FL: Daniel Dreelan 1m07.63s (67.43mph). Newcomers class: O’Donnell
Ladies Cup: Chapman. Pole: Covey Jr. Starters - 23.
RACE TWO: The track
started to dry but was
still damp. Vic Covey Jr
led from pole and was
never headed, but behind
him there was plenty of
action. Ian Munro and
Hannah Chapman
collided at the first
corner Duffus, with
Chapman pulling off a
few corners later. There
Ian Munro
were a few other spinners
at the fist corner, but they restarted. Munro settled into second and pulled clear
of Paul Bell who was half a second ahead of Mark Geraghty, who had benefitted
from lap 1 spinners and moved up from 10th. Dominic Wheatley went past him
on lap on lap eight to take fourth at Scotsman. As the last lap started, there were
four cars fighting over third place with Wheatley holding the place. Then
Geraghty spun off at Scotsman and retired. Further round the lap, a coming
together between Morgan Murray and Jock Borthwick allowed Paul Bell past to
take fourth place. William Blake demoted Brandon Walsh on the last lap to take
fifth. While at the hairpin for the last time Morgan Murray went off into the
gravel when fighting over 5th and Jock Borthwick came home 7th right behind
Brandon Walsh who made up 2 places at the end.
Result - 9 Laps
1 Covey Jr 10m09.90s (67.30mph); 2 Munro +1.21s; 3 Dominic
Wheatley; 4 Bell; 5 William Blake; 6 Brandon Walsh.
FL: Borthwick 1m06.47s 68.61mph. Newcomers class: Wheatley
Ladies Cup: Taelor Shand. Pole: Covey Jr. Starters - 23.
RACE THREE: The top eight cars were reversed on the grid with Dylan
O’Donnell starting at the front. Laps 1 and 2 were behind the safety car due to
oil having been dropped on the track going up the hill. Marshals had cleared it,
but officials thought it was still slippery. The cars started racing with Jock
Borthwick right on O’Donnell’s bumper. Once racing began the gap was rarely
more than 3 car lengths until lap 6. O’Donnell held on up front to the last corner
of the race. Brandon Walsh ran 3rd early on heading a 4 car train. By lap 3 he
had been swamped and dropped to 6th. William Blake started fourth and was
3rd by lap 3. He closed on the two leaders and took 2nd from Borthwick on lap 6
at Clark. Blake closed onto O’Donnell’s bootlid pressing him over the last few
laps. He made his move on the last lap at the final corner, lunging past to win his
1st Mini race. Borthwick was 3rd a second behind O’Donnell. Paul Bell grabbed
fourth on the line from Des Wheatley after Wheatley had sat behind Bell for
most of the race, before slipping past on lap eight. Vic Covey Jr recovered from
eighth at the start and lost time when the safety car went in, having let a gap
develop. He chased the front cars and got past Brandon Walsh on lap 6 holding
the place to finish sixth.
Malcolm McNab charged
over the closing laps and
made up a couple of
places to get home 7th
with Walsh in 8th just
holding off Munro.
Hannah Chapman had
retired mid race, so
newcomer Taelor Shand
took the Ladies Cup class
again.
William Blake
Result - 9 Laps
1 Blake 12m43.619s (53.75mph); 2 Dylan O’Donnell +0.12s;
3 Borthwick; 4 Bell; 5 Dominic Wheatley; 6 Covey Jr.
FL: Covey Jr 1m04.60s (70.60mph). Newcomers Class: O’Donnell
Ladies Cup: Shand. Pole: O’Donnell. Starters - 23
Scottish Saloon & Sportscar Championship
RACE ONE: Adam
Kindness led from pole on
lap one on the wet track.
His four wheel drive
Subaru kept ahead of
Colin Simpson until lap
two when the Marcos
took the lead, but both of
these cars were then
Ian Donaldson
passed by Ian
Donaldson’s Evo as they
went up the hill on lap 2. Donaldson got to Duffus and had a trip into the gravel
trap but was quickly back on track. This moment dropped him back to fourth. By
lap three, Donaldson had again grabbed the lead and this time pulled away. Colin
Simpson was pressed by Adam Kindness until midrace before Kindness went off
at Scotsman and retired. The next person in third was Graham Davidson with the
Noble. He closed in on second place getting to within a couple of seconds on lap
8 but then
dropped back
Coiln Simpson
with a
suspected
clutch problem.
So up Into third
place by lap
nine was Paul
Brydon who
started
fourteenth and
last on the grid
in his BMW
M3. Davidson
held fourth
until the last
lap when he retired, letting Mark Dawson take the spot in his new ex Andrew
Morrison SEAT Leon Cupra. Into fifth came Phil Dryburgh in his Ginetta who
also started on the last row and made up 6 places in the opening 2 laps then
dropped back a little. He benefitted from Scott Tollan spinning his Escort
Cosworth on lap 5. The top 6 was rounded out by Graham Robertson his BMW
had dropped 2 places to 8th by lap 3 but he was having fun, as he drifted the
BMW through Clark mid race. Tollan got home 7th ahead of class B1 winner
William Robson is his Focus.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Ian Donaldson (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 11m49.065s (77.18mph); 2 Colin
Simpson (Marcos Mantis) +19.72s; 3 Paul Brydon (BMW M3); 4 Mark
Dawson (SEAT Leon Cupra); 5 Phil Dryburgh (Ginetta G50);
6 Graham Robertson (BMW E46 M3). Class winners: Simpson, William
Robson (Ford Focus RS), Charlie Fraser (Westfield). FL: Donaldson
56.851s. Pole: Adam Kindness (Subaru Impreza). Starters - 14.
RACE TWO: Ian
Donaldson led from the
start, but this lasted just a
couple of corners before
Colin Simpson nipped
past at Butcher’s with his
Marcos. Simpson was
under pressure from
Donaldson for a few laps,
but his Marcos was
smoking from the rear. On
Phil Dryburgh
lap five, Donaldson had a
huge off at Duffus sliding
on the gravel for quite a way, but recovered back to the track and was now in
fourth place. This left Adam Kindness in 2nd a couple of seconds behind
Simpson with Phil Dryburgh’s Ginetta 2 seconds back in third. Donaldson as on
the move and was 3rd by lap 7 and in the lead on lap eight. Kindness held 2nd
2
on lap 8 as Colin Simpson had pitted following a black and orange flag.
Dryburgh was now third 2 seconds back with Paul Brydon’s M3 in fourth a
further 3 seconds behind. On lap nine, there was more drama as the leader
Donaldson’s car had engine problems and stopped on the back straight.
Unbelievably, just after Kindness took the lead he also suffered engine problems
too and stopped 100 yards later on. Dryburgh sailed past, but officials soon red
flagged the race after the new leaer had done 9 laps. The places were then taken
from a lap earlier but omitting the retired cars. Dryburgh had his first win in the
Championship with the Ginetta G50. Brydon was 2nd with Mark Dawson
getting on the podium in his new Seat. Scott Tollan came through for a good 4th
and a class win. He’d been under pressure from Graham Robertson’s BMW for
much of the race. Robertson was just over a second back in 5th and had eased
away from William Robson, who was the first of the treaded tyre class cars.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Dryburgh 8m01.24s (75.81mph); 2 Brydon +4.87s; 3 Dawson;
4 Scott Tollan (Escort Cosworth); 5 Robertson; 6 Robson.
Classes: Dryburgh, Tollan, Robson, Fraser. FL: Donaldson 55.06s (82.82
mph). Pole: Donaldson. Starters - 13.
Scottish Formula Ford Championship
in association with Beatson’s Building Supplies
RACE ONE: Jordan
Gronkowski led from pole
and controlled this wet
race. He was pressed in
the early laps by Neil
MacLennan, who had
Jamie Thorburn for close
company. By lap four,
Gronkowski had opened
out a one second gap, as
MacLennan also eased
Jordan Gronkowski
clear of Thorburn. The
cars slowly spread out during the rest of the race as Gronkowski drove well and
took his first win in over 18 months. The top 3 had remained in place all race.
Matthew Cowley, on his first start took a good fourth having nipped past
Sebastian Melrose as they left the grid. He became lonely towards the end of the
race as he left Melrose who was a safe 5th. David Thorburn took sixth place
having held off an early challenge from Class B runner Matthew Chisholm who
then spun on lap three at Scotsman. Chisholm restarted in 10th but recovered to
finish seventh and take the classic class honours. His usual Classic rival Neil
Broome did a lap, pitted and then returned on lap 7 so wasn’t classified.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Jordan Gronkowski (Van Diemen JL012K) 12m48.77s (71.19mph);
2 Neil MacLennan (Ray GR09) +2.73s; 3 Jamie Thorburn (Ray GR15);
4 Matthew Cowley (Van Diemen JL13); 5 Sebastian Melrose (Ray
GR14); 6 David Thorburn (Ray GR15). Classics: Matthew Chisholm
(Van Diemen RF92). Newcomer: J Thorburn FL: Gronkowski 1m03.20s
(72.16mph). Pole: Gronkowski. Starters - 12.
RACE TWO: After a
delay to remove the oil
from the previous races,
the Formula Fords
started behind the pace
car. Jordan Gronkowski
quickly opened up a one
second lead as he was
chased by Neil
MacLennan. But
MacLennan closed up
and on lap 3 seized the
Neil MacLennan
lead at Duffus Dip. The
teenager then ran away
and was never headed as he won by five seconds. Young Jamie Thorburn ran
third from the off and slowly hunted down Gronkowski. On lap eight Thorburn
dived past at the hairpin to take second. Gronkowski then sat on his gearbox for
the next four laps, but finished third, half a second back when the flag fell. Well
behind these three in 4th was Sebastian Melrose. He had a lonely race from mid
distance after passing Matthew Cowley on lap 5 and pulling clear. In 6th
Matthew Chisholm took the classic honours once again and spent the last 5 laps
only half a second behind Cowley. While Neil Broome cam home 7th and 2nd
classic having demoted David Thorburn on lap 11.
Result - 12 Laps
1 MacLennan 13m33.81s (67.25mph); 2 Jamie Thorburn +7.62s;
3 Gronkowski; 4 Melrose; 5 Cowley; 6 Chisholm.
Classic: Chisholm. Newcomer: J Thorburn FL: MacLennan 57.61s
(79.16mph). Pole: Gronkowski. Starters - 12.
Scottish BMW Championship
RACE ONE: Greig
Sutherland took pole and
led from lights to flag to
take his first win.
Sutherland never got
away, but kept his head
and always had a few car
lengths gap on the wet
track. There was a three
lap safety car period after
a coming together
between Robert Marshall
Greig Sutherland
and Ray McDowall on lap
7 but Sutherland kept David McNaughton at bay. McNaughton was always close
behind him and these two got clear of Cliff Harper who had been pulling away
from Gary Clark, but following the safety car period they ran nose to tail for a
couple of laps. They finished a second apart at the flag. Neil MacInnes took fifth
after a good battle with Steven Goldie. They swapped places a couple of times
with MacInnes finally getting the place on the last lap. Goldie then dropped back
to seventh behind Lee Elrick as the last lap closed. Phil Dryburgh got home 8th
having started 10th and was pressed by Alistair Smith and Douglas Simpson
mid race. These two dropped back late on though Smith recovered to get 9th on
the last lap from Richard Sutherland. The winner Geig Sutherland said: “That’s
absolutely perfect. I was trying to achieve my first win last year and finally
achieved it. I had to watch David in my mirrors as I was struggling to keep the
tyres warm following the safety car.”
Result - 12 Laps
1 Greig Sutherland 20m34.63 (55.41mph); 2 David McNaughton +0.93s;
3 Cliff Harper; 4 Gary Clark; 5 Neil MacInnes; 6 Lee Elrick.
FL: Harper 1m08.92s (66.17mph). Pole: Sutherland. Starters - 21.
RACE TWO: Greig
Sutherland led from the
start pressed hard by
David McNaughton over
the early laps. By lap 3
there were 4 cars nose to
tail at the front with Cliff
Harper and Gary Clark in
3rd and 4th. McNaughton
briefly led up the hill on
lap 4 then lost 2 places at
Scotsman corner to run
David McNaughton
3rd but was back in 2nd
by lap 6 demoting Gary Clark. The leading group were still 4 cars all nose to tail.
On lap 7 the leader Sutherland had a coming together with a backmarker at the
exit of Clark corner. He retired a lap later. This left McNaughton leading and he
pulled out a second gap on Gary Clark who had taken 2nd on lap 8. On the last
lap Clark closed right up as McNaughton had an opposite lock moment at Clark
corner, but McNaughton stayed ahead and took his first win by less than 2 tenths
of a second. Cliff Harper was a couple of seconds back in a solid 3rd. Behind
these three we had 5 cars battling over 4th with Lee Elrick moving into 4th on
lap 11 at Clark corner and then holding off Neil MacInnes and Steven Goldie to
the flag. Phil Dryburgh was 7th less than a second back at the flag with Alistair
Smith glued to his bumper.
Result - 12 Laps
1 McNaughton 17m13.42s (52.96mph); 2 Clark +0.19s; 3 Harper;
4 Elrick; 5 MacInnes; 6 Steven Goldie. FL: McNaughton 1m03.92s
(71.34mph). Pole: Sutherland. Starters - 21.
Driver of the Day: David McNaughton
Scottish Classic Sports & Saloon Championship
Race One: The track was still wet as Harry Simpson set off from pole and was
never headed in his Ginetta G4R. Former champion Tommy Gilmartin had his
3
Morgan +8 close on lap
one but then spun the car
at Scotsman corner on lap
two, and restarted in sixth.
Raymond Boyd and Stan
Bernard took second and
third in their 911s and
they eased clear of Alex
Montgomery’s MGB GT
V8. Gilmartin recovered
quickly and by lap five
was up to third. A lap later
Harry Simpson
he outbraked Boyd for
second at the hairpin, but
he spun again, this time going into the mud on the outside of Clark corner.
Simpson ran away well clear of the field to win, as Boyd eased a couple of
seconds clear of Bernard to make it a Porsche 2-3. Montgomery was a lonely
fourth and the last unlapped car. Jimmy Crow was top saloon in his Escort MK1
in fifth having had Ian Daltrey’s Alfasud class winner for company albeit a few
seconds behind all race. Grant Allan was 7th in his 911 and was shadowed by
newcomer Andrew Graham in a TR8 for most of the race, after Graham passed
John Bennett and James Braid’s Alfa Romeos by lap 2.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Harry Simpson (Ginetta G4R) 13m24.39s (68.03mph); 2 Raymond
Boyd (Porsche 911) +22.92s; 3 Stan Bernard (Porsche 911); 4 Alex
Montgomery (MGB GT V8); 5 Jimmy Crow (Ford Escort); 6 Ian
Daltrey (Alfa Romeo Alfasud). Classes: Simpson, Boyd, Montgomery,
Crow, Daltrey. FL: Tommy Gilmartin (Morgan +8) 1m04.41s
(69.024mph). Pole: Simpson. Starters - 12.
RACE TWO: Harry
Simpson led all the way
although Raymond Boyd
chased him and was
close until half distance
in his 911. Boyd also
eased slowly away from
his class rival Stan
Bernard who held third
until lap eight, when
Tommy Gilmartin went
past in his Morgan.
Raymond Boyd leads Tommy Gilmartin
Tommy had started at
the back of the grid, but
shot up the order having got to 6th by lap 3. He then passed Jimmy Crow on lap
4 before outbraking Alex Montgomery at the hairpin on lap 6 to run 4th.
Montgomery had a steady race and was a few seconds behind Stan Bernard
early on. Montgomery closed on Bernard’s 911 late on but stayed 5th. Jimmy
Crow was top saloon in sixth but had a lonely race in his Escort. In 7th was
Andrew Graham who had been pressed by John Bennett in the opening laps and
then slowly got a few seconds clear of the Alfa. It had been two dominant wins
for Harry Simpson and he was awarded drive of the day.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Simpson 26m42.67s (54.58mph); 2 Boyd +4.13s; 3 Gilmartin;
4 Bernard; 5 Montgomery; 6 Crow. Classes: Simpson, Boyd, Gilmartin,
Crow, Daltrey. FL: Gilmartin 59.04s (77.24mph). Pole: Simpson.
Starters - 12. Driver of the Day: Harry Simpson
Scottish Fiesta Championship
in association with Yokohama Tyres
RACE ONE: The rain
had stopped but the track
was still damp for the
first race of the
afternoon. Wayne
Macaulay led all the
way, pulling well clear
of the rest in his Fiesta
ST. Kevin Whyte got
past Peter Cruickshank
as they left the grid and
held him off until lap ten
as they kept close. Then
Cruickshank pulled past on
the way up the hill. He
quickly opened out a second
gap which was nearly 3
seconds at the flag. These
three were well clear of the
XR2 battle which saw Jim
Deans hold off Steven Gray
all the way and survive a
moment on the last lap
avoiding a spun out car at
the chicane. Stephen Ward
completed the top six in his
Wayne Macaulay
ST and was always a couple
of seconds back from the
top XR2s, but finished ahead of Barry Farquharson who easily took the XR2
newcomer’s class and was 3rd XR2 in 7th. We had lost 2 cars on lap 2 as
Andrew Christie and Russell Morgan went off together at Scotsman. Gordon
Haston spun there as well but got going though retired late in the race.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Wayne Macaulay (Fiesta ST) 13m19.30 (68.47mph); 2 Peter
Cruickshank (Fiesta ST) +18.75; 3 Kevin Whyte (Fiesta ST); 4 Jim
Deans (Fiesta XR2); 5 Steven Gray (Fiesta XR2); 6 Stephen Ward
(Fiesta ST). XR2 class: Jim Deans, XR Newcomers: Farquharson
FL: Macaulay 1m05.46s (69.66mph). Pole: Macaulay. Starters - 14.
RACE TWO: Wayne Macaulay controlled the race from the front. He led all the
way to record a second win of the day. He was two seconds clear of Peter
Cruickshank by lap 3 who
was under lots of pressure
on the now dry track from
Kevin Whyte. Macaulay
eased away and won by
three seconds in the end
with his ST. Behind him,
there was a spirited battle
for second. Veteran Peter
Cruickshank fended off
Kevin Whyte until lap
eight. The change of place
happened at Duffus.
Whyte then held 2nd on
Peter Cruickshank
the road but received a
time penalty post race,
which promoted Cruickshank back to 2nd. Stephen Ward moved into fourth on
lap two in his ST passing the spirited XR2 battle, which saw Deans lead Gray
early on. They had Barry Farquarson for close company in the early laps. Ward
then held fourth throughout, but behind him Gray went past Deans to take the
XR2 class lead on lap six at Duffus then slowly pulled clear. Deans had Andrew
Christie’s ST pressing
him and it finally passed
him on lap 10 at Clark.
Post race officials
reversed the places
giving Christie a time
penalty. Farquarson had a
couple of wide exits to
the chicane which
dropped him back and
late on Gavin
Butterworth took 9th
overall and 3rd in XR2s
from him.
Steven Gray
Result - 12 Laps
1 Macaulay 17m46.97s (51.29mph); 2 Cruickshank +5.18s; 3 Whyte;
4 Ward; 5 Gray; 6 Deans. XR classs: Gray. XR Newcmers: Farquharson
FL: Macaulay 1m02.47s (73.00mph). Pole: Macaulay. Starters - 14.
Kevin Pick
Jim Deans
4
Knockhill May 1st 2016
Celtic Speed Scottish Mini Cooper Cup
in association with Yokohama Tyres, Wheels Around & Superchips
RACE ONE: A big grid
of 28 cars started the
programme on a wet
track. Kyle Reid beat
guest car driver Aiden
Moffat into the first
corner and led the race all
the way to the flag. He
put in a sparkling display.
In 2nd place Moffat came
under pressure from
Malcolm McNab, who
was on his bumper by
mid race. They ran side
Kyle Reid
by side at the hairpin on
lap 5 but Moffat managed to ease clear over the closing laps. McNab had to
fend off Hannah Chapman as she was right with him by lap 7. Hannah had
demoted Jock Borthwick on lap 2 at the hairpin but he stayed around half a
second behind her car. On lap eight, Jock Borthwick and Chapman clashed at
the hairpin, leading to Borthwick’s retirement. Chapman continued and finished
4th. Chris Reid came fifth with Robbie Dalgleish rounding out the top six. Mark
Geraghty had run 6th and by mid distance was close to Jock Borthwick. He
dropped well back late on. Ian Munro made some places during the race, starting
13th he finished 8th just behind Morgan Murray who was in the train disputing
5th for much of the race.
Result - 9 Laps
1 Kyle Reid; 2 Aiden Moffat +3.28s; 3 Malcolm McNab; 4 Hannah
Chapman; 5 Chris Reid; 6 Robbie Dalgleish. Fastest lap: Dalgleish
1m06.64s (68.43mph). Newcomers: Dalgleish. Ladies Cup: Chapman
Pole: Moffat. Starters - 28.
RACE TWO: The track
was virtually dry as Kyle
Reid set off from pole and
was never headed. He was
under pressure from
Malcolm McNab who
close a second gap by the
end of lap 3.But Reid kept
his concentration after
spending a couple of laps
behind the safety car, after
two cars went off at
Morgan Murray
Scotsman and one
finished up on its roof, though the driver was soon out of the car. Kyle quickly
had a couple of car lengths gap on McNab who was under attack from Morgan
Murray. On lap 6 Murray
grabbed 2nd and closed
on Reid sitting a few car
lengths back as the final
3 laps were run. Kyle
Reid took a good win his
2nd of the day. Morgan
Murray was in turn
pressed hard by Malcolm
McNab who held 3rd.
The top three had just
over half a second gap
on Hannah Chapman in
Robbie Dalgleish
4th , she had Robbie
Dalgleish glued to her
bumper for virtually the whole race. Just behind this pair came Ian Munro with
Dominic Wheatley who were close over the last couple of laps. Aiden Moffat
had a race to forget having started in 2nd, he was slow away and got caught up
in Chris Reid’s problem at the chicane on lap one as Chris spun. He dropped
back through the pack and finished well down the order. Kyle said: “I’m
delighted. Morgan was pushing me later on and Malcolm had also pushed me
hard the start.:
Result - 9 Laps
1 Kyle Reid; 2 Morgan Murray +0.44s; 3 McNab; 4 Chapman;
5 Dalgleish; 6 Ian Munro. FL: Dalgleish 1m02.93s (72.466mph).
Newcomers: Dalgleish. Ladies Cup: Chapman Pole: Kyle Reid.
Starters - 28
RACE THREE: This
was an exciting race as
the top five finishers from
race two were reversed.
Pole sitter was Robbie
Dalgleish, but he was
swallowed up going into
the first corner. Hannah
Chapman then led a 5 car
train at the front for the
first couple of laps, with
Morgan Murray on her
Malcolm McNab leads a train
bumper and Robbie
Dalgleish 3rd. Then as lap 2 ended there was a sort out at the hairpin and Hannah
dropped back to 4th. Morgan Murray now led for a lap and a half before Robbie
Dalgleish took over as Kyle Reid slipped into 2nd having made 3rd at the hairpin
a lap before. Kyle Reid, winner of races one and two took the lead at Butcher’s
on lap five. He didn’t make any mistakes and slowly pulled clear of a big gaggle
of Minis headed by Dalgleish. Two laps from home, McNab grabbed 2nd from
Dalgleish, while Morgan Murray moved up to fourth. A car length behind was
William Blake in 5th who held off Jock Borthwick and Paul Bell. Hannah
Chapman had been bumped down the order and came home eighth in what was
an action packed race. Aiden Moffat again had no luck and retired mid race.
Result - 9 Laps
1 Kyle Reid; 2 McNab +0.69s; 3 Dalgleish; 4 Murray; 5 William Blake;
6 Jock Borthwick. FL Bell 1m02.93s (72.47mph). Newcomers: Dalgleish
Ladies Cup: Chapman. Pole: Dalgleish. Starters - 28.
Scottish Legends Cars Championship
HEAT ONE: Legends
first heat was run on a wet
track. Andrew Dunn had
pole but by Scotsman
corner on lap 1 John
Paterson was leading.
David Hunter and Stewart
Black took over 2nd and
3rd after Dunn had run
wide. Hunter closed on
Paterson and took the lead
at Duffus on lap 4. A lap
Stewart Black
later Paterson spun at the
hairpin, he was unable to restart his car and had suspected gearbox issues.
Hunter ran away for an easy win. The race was red flagged and finished early.
Stewart Black was a solid second ahead of Ryan McLeish and Billy Wait as
these two pulled away from Ross McCulloch. While Dunn got home 6th.
Result - 5 Laps
1 David Hunter; 2 Stewart Black +12.28s; 3 Ryan McLeish; 4 Billy
Wait; 5 Ross McCulloch; 6 Andrew Dunn. Fastest lap: Hunter 1m07.06s
(68.00mph). Pole: Dunn. Starters - 9.
HEAT TWO: Stewart
Black led lap one with a
gaggle of cars close
behind, headed by Billy
Wait. John Paterson, who
had been running third,
slowed at the hairpin and
headed for the pits early
on. David Hunter had
been fourth on the first
lap, but quickly moved
up, he was 2nd on lap 2
5
Ross McCulloch
and got into the lead on lap three. Hunter didn’t pull away however, as an
inspired Black held onto the leader, although lost ground on the final lap with a
missed gear. Into third came Ross McCulloch who had an entertaining race. He
was in third but spun off at Clark on lap three dropping to sixth. Jeff Pritchard
inherited third then spun off at the hairpin. So Billy Wait became the 3rd driver
in a lap to take this position. This let McCulloch fight back and he was back in
third by lap five, passing Billy Wait. However, it was not over yet as Andrew
Dunn got into 4th on lap 5 and closed down McCulloch passing him on lap six
for third. But the inspired McCulloch retook third on the last lap. Dunn was half
a second back in 4th as Billy Wait and Ryan McLeish completed the top 6 a few
seconds back.
Result - 8 Laps
1 Hunter; 2 Black +3.12s; 3 McCulloch; 4 Dunn; 5 Wait; 6 McLeish.
FL: Hunter 1m00.10s (75.87mph). Pole: Paterson. Starters - 9.
FINAL: There was
plenty of excitement
despite the small grid.
John Paterson’s difficult
day continued as he
retired on the green flag
lap, which delayed the
start. Billy Wait was up
into the lead half way
around lap one and stayed
in front until lap three,
when David Hunter got
David Hunter
past. Hunter was under
pressure from a fired up Stewart Black who had been driving well all day. But
over the last few laps Hunter eased away. Andrew Dunn ran third on the road,
then late on Ryan McLeish got past Dunn to finish 3rd. Dunn took 4th at the flag
but was penalised for a jump start and classified 6th. Hunter’s win saw him
complete that rare feat of three Legends wins in a day, while Stewart Black’s
strong performance earned him driver of the day with three second places at the
meeting. Billy Wait and Ross McCulloch ran close and were classified 4th and
5th.
Result - 8 Laps
1 Hunter; 2 Black +3.65s; 3 McLeish; 4 Wait; 5 McCulloch; 6 Dunn.
FL: McLeish 1m00.32s (75.60mph). Pole: Paterson. Starters - 7.
Driver of the Day - Stewart Black
Scottish Formula Ford Championship
in association with Beatson’s Building Supplies
RACE ONE: The
Formula Ford single
seaters had a wet track,
but the lead battle was
good. Neil MacLennan
held off Jordan
Gronkowski for the
whole race. They were
rarely more than one
second apart, but
Gronkowski couldn’t get
any closer. Even after an
early safety car period
Sebastian Melrose
for Neil Broome’s
stranded car at Duffus,
they were always about a second apart. Sebastian Melrose nipped into third
followed by Matthew Cowley. These two battled all race with Melrose taking his
first ever podium, while Cowley spun off on the last lap at Clark but didn’t drop
a place as he recovered quickly. These two had been following Jamie Thorburn
early on but Jamie dropped back behind Seb and Matthew after trying a late
braking manoeuvre on Gronkowski at the hairpin. Jamie then spun off at Clark
Corner after contact with David Thorburn on lap 3. Jamie finished up in the
gravel but got going, now last. David ran 5th all the way. We saw Jamie recover
and by lap 11 he was up to 6th having made up over well over 10 seconds
deficit. Jordan Gronkowski said: “Congratulations to Neil. He drove a good race
I just couldn’t get close enough to really challenge.”
Sebastian Melrose said: “The laps couldn’t go quick enough and I finally got a
podium. It was a good race and Matthew Cowley was fair.”
Result - 12 Laps
1 Neil MacLennan (Ray GR14); 2 Jordan Gronkowski (Van Diemen
JL012K) +0.95s; 3 Sebastian Melrose (Ray GR14); 4 Matthew Cowley
(Van Diemen JL13); 5 David Thorburn (Ray GR15); 6 Jamie Thorburn
(Ray GR15). Classics class: Matthew Chisholm (Van Diemen RF92).
Newcomers: Matthew Cowley. Fastest lap: Gronkowski 1m01.02s
(74.74mph). Pole: MacLennan. Starters - 9.
RACE TWO: Neil
MacLennan led all the
way. He was pressed by
Jordan Gronkowski for
the first four laps, but
then pulled away.
Gronkowski was
untroubled in second as
he pulled clear of Jamie
Thorburn. In the early
laps, Sebastian Melrose
Jamie Thorburn
held third but went off at
Clark having run wide and into the gravel, gentling touching the barriers, which
saw him retire. David Thorburn had run as high as fourth on the opening lap, but
slipped back down the field to finish sixth behind Matthew Chisholm the top
classic class runner. Matthew Cowley took fourth place having passed David
Thorburn on lap 3 then slowly got away. David Thorburn was in more action
from lap 7 as Matthew Chisholm closed on him, sat on his tail then went past on
lap 11. Neil Broome then closed up and also passed Thorburn. But on the last lap
Thorburn regained 6th as he exited the chicane when Broome got 2 wheels on
the grass and mud which slowed him.
Result - 12 Laps
1 MacLennan; 2 Gronkowski +4.33s; 3 Jamie Thorburn; 4 Cowley;
5 Chisholm; 6 David Thorburn.
Classics class: Chisholm. Newcomers: J Thorburn FL: MacLennan
55.09s (82.77mph). Pole: Maclennan. Starters - 9.
Scottish Saloon & Sportscar Championship
RACE ONE: Another
wet race. Ian Donaldson
powered off into the
distance in his four wheel
drive Evo and was never
under any pressure. His
only concern came late in
the race as a backmarker
spun in front of him
exiting the chicane, and
he had to take to the grass
Colin Simpson heads Mark Dawson
in avoidance. On lap two,
Paul Brydon’s second
placed BMW M3 opposite locked through the chicane as he held off Roddie
Paterson’s Caterham. The next lap around Brydon spun off at Scotsman and
restarted in sixth. Paterson held second now and would do so until the flag, as he
eased away from Colin Simpson’s Marcos which was third. Brydon recovered to
fourth place passing Mark Dawson’s Seat on lap seven, but Dawson was then
safe in fifth well clear of Finlay Crocker in his new Honda Civic. Post race,
Paterson received a time penalty for starting in the wrong grid slot, but still held
second. Four cars retired during the race including the striking Ultima GT of
Alistair McMillan which had been 8th early on, then diced with Finlay Crocker
over 6th before a misfire set in on lap 9 and he retired 2 laps later.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Ian Donaldson (Mitsubishi Evo); 2 Roddie Paterson (Caterham)
+17.62s; 3 Colin Simpson (Marcos Mantis); 4 Paul Brydon (BMW M3);
5 Mark Dawson (SEAT Leon Cupra); 6 Finlay Crocker (Honda Civic
TCR). Class winners: Donaldson, Paterson; Simpson; William Robson
(Ford Focus RS). FL: Paterson 55.69s (81.89mph). Pole: Donaldson.
Starters - 13.
RACE TWO: Roddie Paterson shot away from pole, beating pole man Ian
Donaldson into the first corner. Roddie and his Caterham were never headed for
the remainder of the race, as he pulled well clear over the closing stages. Ian
Donaldson had maintained a couple of seconds gap, but eased off towards the
end and finished over 20 seconds down. Third place was held throughout by
6
Paul Brydon’s BMW M3.
Colin Simpson was fourth
on lap one in his Marcos,
but dropped a place to
Finlay Crocker. Then
Simpson had the first of 2
spins at the hairpin. He
would get home sixth.
Finlay Crocker had shot
up to fourth on lap two
passing Dawson and
Roddie Paterson
Simpson then held what
became a lonely 4th place
until the end. Mark Dawson had his Seat into fifth by lap four and then dropped
a place to Gary Wait, but Wait’s Sierra Cosworth stopped on lap six handing the
place back to Dawson. Graham Robertson took 7th in his BMW M3 he had
followed Graham Wait early on after Wait went past him on lap 2.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Paterson; 2 Donaldson +23.16s; 3 Brydon; 4 Crocker; 5 Dawson;
6 Simpson. Class winners Paterson, Donaldson; Brydon; Robson.
FL: Paterson 51.60s (88.37mph). Pole: Donaldson. Starters - 13.
Scottish Classic Sports & Saloon Championship
RACE ONE: The first
Classics race was again
on a damp track and
provided a good three car
battle for the race win.
Tommy Gilmartin led all
the way in his Morgan +8
despite lots and lots of
pressure and it was a fine
performance. On lap one,
Raymond Boyd had his
911 Porsche close to the
Tommy Gilmartin
Morgan, but dropped to
third on lap two as Harry Simpson got ahead of him. Simpson sat on the
Morgan’s tail until lap ten as 3 cars ran nose to tail at the front. Then Boyd
retook second, only to slow later that lap on Railway Straight and head to the
pits. Gilmartin took the flag by two tenths of a second from Simpson. Into third
came Jimmy Crow his Escort was top saloon, but it hadn’t been an easy run. He
got past Alex Montgomery’s MGBGT V8 on lap two and managed to pull out a
small gap, but the MG closed him down and the last laps were very close. Into
fifth came Andrew Graham in his TR7 V8 having started tenth and working up
through the field. The newcomer is finding his feet with the TR. Coming through
to complete the top six was John Bennett in his Alfa Romeo. Boyd rejoined the
race a lap down but still went on to win his class as class rival Grant Allan hadn’t
got past him. Ray said: “The car just died, I don’t understand it. I’d just got past
Harry, so I went into the pits, stopped and restarted the engine and it was fine.”
Race winner Tommy Gilmartin said: “It was hard work and Harry was always
there. My visor fogged up as well. But it was a good 3 way scrap which anyone
could win.”
Result - 12 Laps
1 Tommy Gilmartin (Morgan +8); 2 Harry Simpson (Ginetta G4)
+0.22s; 3 Jimmy Crow (Ford Escort); 4 Alex Montgomery (MGB GT
V8); 5 Andrew Graham (Triumph TR8); 6 John Bennett (Alfa Romeo
Sprint GT). Class winners: Gilmartin, Simpson; Crow; Ian Daltrey
(Alfasud); Raymond Boyd (Porsche 911). FL: Simpson 1m04.77s
(70.40mph). Pole: Gilmartin. Starters - 11.
RACE TWO: Tommy
Gilmartin led from pole
in his Morgan, but at the
third corner Butchers he
went off onto the grass
and dropped back to fifth
place. Harry Simpson
took over at the front and
shot away in his Ginetta.
He quickly opened up a 4
second gap and extended
this as he took the
Alex Momtgomery
victory. Gilmartin fought
back and by lap three had
regained second place
having passed Raymond
Boyd’s 911 and Alex
Montgomery in his fast
starting MGB GT V8.
Boyd was up to third by
lap three and had a lonely
run home to third.
Andrew Graham’s TR7
Jimmy Crow
V8 chased down Crow
and Montgomery. He
passed Crow’s Escort to come home fifth, but couldn’t catch Montgomery’s MG
though was closing, but he ran out of laps. Jimmy Crow was 6th top saloon again
and was also awarded Driver of the Day.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Simpson; Gilmartin +23.04s; 3 Boyd; 4 Montgomery; 5 Crow;
6 Graham. Class winners: Simpson, Gilmartin; Crow; Daltrey; Boyd.
FL: Simpson 57.37s (79.49mph). Pole: Gilmartin. Starters - 11.
Scottish Fiesta Championship
in association with Yokohama Tyres
RACE ONE: The last
race of the morning was
on a damp track, and
Wayne Macaulay cruised
away from the rest to take
an untroubled win in his
ST. Josh Orr started his
first ever ST race as a
guest having being top
newcomer in XR2s last
year. He put in a very
Josh Orr
competent display and
was not troubled qualifying 2nd and running 2nd as he pulled ahead of Kevin
Whyte, who had a lonely run to third. Behind these three came a tight battle with
three STs contesting fourth spot until mid distance, when George Runcie fell out
of fourth as he went autocrossing at Butcher’s and dropped well back. Russell
Morgan and Stephen Ward swapped places on lap 9 and Ward just held on to
finish 4th. Behind this scrap the XR2 battle raged between Steven Gray and Jim
Deans. Gray got the XR lead from Deans on lap 1 at Butchers , but Deans retook
the place at the hairpin on lap 3. These two had Barry Farquarson close for
company as he hung onto Gray’s bumper mid race, but he dropped back after
sliding wide late on at Scotsman, but still took the newcomer’s class. Deans held
on all the way to take the
XR2 win even though
Gray was only a car
length behind on the last
lap. George Runcie
brought his ST into 9th
behind the top three
XR2s passing a
determined Gavin
Butterworth on the last
lap as he recovered from
his earlier off.
Result - 12 Laps
Barry Farquharson
1 Wayne Macaulay (Fiesta ST); 2 Josh Orr (Fiesta ST) +10.56s; 3 Kevin
Whyte (Fiesta ST); 4 Stephen Ward (Fiesta ST); 5 Russell Morgan
(Fiesta ST); 6 Jim Deans (Fiesta XR2).
XR2 class: Deans. XR Newcomer: Farquharson. FL: Macaulay
1m04.96s (70.20mph). Pole: Macaulay. Starters - 15.
RACE TWO: The battle for the lead was a 3 car ST scrap from the start. Wayne
Macaulay held off Josh Orr and Kevin Whyte for 3 laps as they ran nose to tail.
On lap 4 these three ran side by side up the hill with both Whyte and Orr passing
Macaulay as they went into Duffus. Whyte emerged in the lead with Orr 2nd, but
a lap later Orr went off at Scotsman kissing the tyre barrier, having got onto
damp kerbs. The safety car came out then 3 laps later racing resumed, with
Whyte under pressure from Macaulay. These two ran close for the final 6 laps to
7
the flag, as Whyte took
his first win of the year.
Behind the top cars
Stephen Ward had opened
up a few car lengths on
Russell Morgan. After the
safety car Ward held onto
3rd despite lots of
pressure from Morgan,
then from lap 8 George
Runcie, as 5 cars were
Kevin Whyte leads Wayne Macaulay
nose to tail over the last 2
laps. These 3 STs having
been joined by the top two XR2s. The XR2 battle had been raging from mid
race. Jim Deans had got away early on, putting George Runcie between him and
defending Champion Steven Gray. Then Runcie got past Deans and Gray caught
Deans up post safety car. Gray nipped past Deans on lap 10 only for Deans to repass him a lap later and they finished close together. Graeme Cuthbert was 3rd
XR2 and top newcomer having taken the place when Barry Farquharson stopped
suddenly at Clark on lap 10 as his near side rear wheel decided to break free and
he pulled up without too much drama. Gordon Haston was 9th and 4th in XR2s
having chased Graeme Cuthbert from mid race.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Whyte; 2 Macaulay +0.18s; 3 Ward; 4 George Runcie (Fiesta ST);
5 Morgan; 6 Deans. XR2 Class: Deans. XR Newcomer: Cuthbert
FL: Orr 1m02.09s (73.44mph). Pole: Macaulay. Starters - 15.
Scottish BMW Championship
RACE ONE: Gary
Clark led all the way on a
drying track and was
never under any serious
pressure. But the fight for
second place was much
closer. Neil MacInnes
held 2nd until lap four,
when Steven Goldie
nipped past at Scotsman
and pulled a couple of
seconds gap. Later on
Gary Clark at the start
Goldie was slowed by a
backmarker allowing MacInnes to close onto Goldie’s bumper, but Goldie held
on for his best finish so far. The battle for 4th was also close with Douglas
Simpson initially holding the place before Lee Elrick passed him on lap four.
Elrick held the place ahead of a group of 3 cars. Cliff Harper had recovered from
a slow start where he was 8th on lap 1. He then battled back getting into 6th by
lap 5 and was right with Elrick. In a close sixth was Michael Courts who had
held off Harper until lap 8. Douglas Simpson came home seventh having been
ahead of Harper and Courts early on he then lost 2 places to them on lap 5 but
eased away from Martin Buchan for a few laps, before Buchan charged on the
last lap and got the gap down to half a second.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Gary Clark; 2 Steven Goldie +3.54; 3 Neil MacInnes; 4 Lee Elrick;
5 Cliff Harper; 6 Michael Courts. Newcomers class: Goldie
Fastest lap: Clark 1m03.40s (71.93mph). Pole: Clark. Starters - 19.
RACE TWO: On a dry
track the BMWs had
plenty of battles
throughout their busy
field. Gary Clark led all
the way and was never
under threat as he pulled
out a five second lead by
the end of the race. Neil
MacInnes stuck with him
over the opening two laps
then drifted back. Cliff
Steven Goldie
Harper came up into 2nd
having been fourth on lap one. He moved up to third on lap two at the hairpin
and then took over 2nd on lap seven from MacInnes. Meanwhile Michael Courts
grabbed third on lap ten at the hairpin, having been in sixth on lap one and
worked his way through a tight gaggle of cars. On his bootlid at the flag was Lee
Elrick who had demoted
Neil MacInnes at Clark on
lap eleven. MacInnes was
now safe in fifth a few
seconds clear of Steven
Goldie was 6th. He had
started on the front row,
but had drifted back in a
tight pack of 6 cars over
the early laps. He was
well clear of Martin
Buchan who had fought
Cliff Harper
past Richard Sutherland
on lap 8, after Sutherland
had led a train of 5 cars mid race. Elrick took the newcomer’s class from
MacInnes. Driver of the Day was Gary Clark.
Result - 12 Laps
1 Clark; 2 Harper +5.10s; 3 Courts; 4 Elrick; 5 MacInnes; 6 Goldie.
Newcomers class: Elrick. FL: Clark 1m03.10s (72.27mph). Pole: Clark.
Starters - 20. Driver of the Day - Gary Clark
ECURIE ECOSSE - A BRIEF HISTORY
Ecurie Ecosse was formed in 1951
by Edinburgh accountant David
Murray. Under his leadership the
team achieved a huge number of
international race victories, the
most prestigious being overall
victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in
1956, and finishing 1st and 2nd in
the same race in 1957. Ecurie
Ecosse took the racing world by
storm and to this day has an unprecedented reputation as a winning formula. In
1983 Ecurie Ecosse Association Member and Edinburgh businessman Hugh
McCaig took control of the team and led it on to further great success,
including:
1985:
1986:
1987:
1988:
1995:
2013:
2nd, C2 World Sportscar Championship
Winners, C2 World Sports Car Championship
Winners, Index Of Performance, Le Mans 24 Hours*
2nd in class and 8th overall, Le Mans 24 Hours
2nd, C2 World Sportscar Championship
Winners, British Thunder Saloons Championship
Winners, British Touring Car Championship
3rd, British GT Championship (Drivers’)
3rd, European Le Mans Series (GTC)
Kevin Pick
2014:
Winners, British GT Championship (Drivers’)
3rd, British GT Championship (Teams’ with Barwell
Motorsport)
3rd, Blancpain Endurance Series Pro-Am
(Teams’ with Barwell Motorsport)
3rd, Blancpain Endurance Series Pro-Am (Drivers’)
2015: Winners, British GT Championship (Teams’ with Barwell
Motorsport)
2nd, British GT Championship (Drivers’)
*This is awarded for the best performance in terms of the combination of speed
and fuel efficiency.
Three Formula One World Champions and every Scottish Formula One winner
has raced for Ecurie Ecosse. They were the first privately entered outfit to beat
works teams in the British Touring Car Championship. An extraordinary list of
legendary drivers have raced for Ecurie Ecosse including Jim Clark, Sir Jackie
Stewart, Ian Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jack Brabham, Innes Ireland, Masten
Gregory, Roy Salvadori, Richard Attwood, Ron Flockhart, Brian Redman, David
Coulthard, Allan McNish, Johnny Dumfries, David Leslie and Tom Walkinshaw.
Ecurie Ecosse remains one of the world’s most important and influential teams
still in existence, while there are very few still operating today that have such a
rich and historical background.
8
Rory’s Races - The Drama Unfolds
ELMS ROUND 1 - SILVERSTONE, UK - CIRCUIT LENGTH 5.891 KILOMETRES
Winning a European Le Mans Series race on home turf sounds too good to
be true!! Well this proved to be the case at Silverstone as my JMW
Motorsport Ferrari 458 GTE took the chequered flag with a commanding
lead, but would be excluded for a technical irregularity, all in the same day.
Friday’s practice was
hindered by rain showers
but we gained some dry
running in the afternoon.
The track was pretty
slick due to the cold
conditions, but I got the
feeling that our line up
was looking strong.
We woke up to snow and
sleet on Saturday
morning and our
qualifying session was
Not so favourable conditions
nearly cancelled. It was
Andrea’s job to qualify
the car and he did an amazing job in the tricky conditions, sticking us 3rd on the
grid just behind the factory Aston Martin of Ritchie Stanaway and Richard
Leitz’s Porsche.
Our strategy for the 4 hour race was to start with Rob, then rotate between
myself and Andrea to the finish. Our biggest restriction was fuel consumption as
we could only just reach the 1 hour mark on a full tank!
Rob did a cracking job at the start, avoiding a huge first corner pile up and
holding third position throughout his 60 minute stint.
I drove next with Andrea taking the third hour - he had an incredibly tough time
with the front left tyre breaking up early in his stint and causing the car to lose a
lot of grip, saying he felt like a passenger but still managing to bring it home in
2nd place.
I jumped in with 75 minutes remaining so an extra fuel stop would be needed to
get the #66 Ferrari to the end. JMW race engineer Hugues kept the pressure on
over the radio as we leap frogged the Aston Martin to take the lead but we still
needed to build a gap to account for our scheduled pit stop.
I pushed to limit, trying to lose as little time as possible through the traffic and a
little bit of luck was thrown our way in form of a full course yellow, so while our
competitors trickled around the track at a maximum speed of 80 kph, I darted
Andrea out, Rory in
into the pits to receive a splash of fuel and returned to the track with our lead
intact.
With 4 hours now complete I crossed the line to take the victory for JMW
Motorsport as well as the championship lead.
Standing on the podium with Rob, Andrea and Jim (team owner) was an
incredible moment. We really put so much into the race and it showed in both
our performance and the result.
Then, after the bubbly was sprayed, the press conference was complete and I had
left Silverstone, the bad news then came through. Our Ferrari 458 GTE was
found to be missing a 2016 aero update on the flat floor - a part that was
introduced to improve the airflow underneath the car and therefore increase
downforce and grip. The fact that we were without this update meant that we
were actually at a disadvantage, but rules are rules and it must be fitted, so
despite Ferrari and JMWs best efforts, the series organisers chose to exclude us
from the results and take away our 25 championship points.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow for the whole team but it’s really comforting to hear
how positive and motivated everyone is - it’s time to move on and there’s no
time for agonising over it.
Rory Butcher
Jonny Adam wins first time out with TF Sport at British GT opener
Reigning British GT champion Jonny Adam made the perfect start to the
2016 British GT season, by helping his new team to clinch a win at Brands
Hatch.
The Aston Martin factory star made the switch to TF Sport to partner with Derek
Johnston in the close season, but in familiar surroundings behind the wheel of a
V12 Vantage GT3 continued to show the pace that landed the title the previous
season. After a strong opening stint by Johnston, who brought the TF Sport
Vantage in for the driver change in third position overall, some smart pit box
strategy while the race was under a full course yellow flag allowed Adam to
rejoin in the lead.
When racing resumed Adam wasted no time in dropping the hammer on a track
where he has enjoyed considerable success in the past, setting a new British GT
lap record at the Kent circuit, as he opened up a comfortable gap over the
chasing pack.The race was then concluded early by a red flag with just over 20
minutes remaining. However, the victory was somewhat marred for Adam by an
accident involving his long-time backer and mentor Phil Dryburgh.. To Adam’s
relief his fellow Fifer escaped unhurt after his car left the track at high speed.
Reflecting on the event he said, “This is a great way to start the 2016 British GT
championship off with a new team and teammate. TF Sport performed brilliantly
all weekend and the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 was once again extremely
competitive against the new machinery in the series this year.
“Derek drove really well and his stint before the full course yellow was very
consistent. It was a great call by our team boss Tom Ferrier to stay out and pit
later than most of our competition, no doubt about it that was the turning point in
our weekend.
“After the race I
was just very
relieved that Phil
came away from
his accident with
no serious harm
done. It was a
pretty scary
incident, but also a
testament to how
well-protected
drivers are in a
modern race car
like the Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
“The next round at Rockingham will be tricky with the 20 seconds success
penalty, but we’ll be aiming to be in the lead pack and try to build on the
momentum we’ve generated with this win.”
Before Adam’s next British GT outing at Rockingham on May 1st he will once
again take on Europe’s GT racing elite in an Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3
alongside Ahmad Al Harthy and Devon Modell in the Motorbase Perfromance
squad when they contest the opening round of the 2016 Blancpain Edurance
Series at the legendary Italian circuit of Monza on April 24.
9
SOLID START TO BRITISH GT CAMPAIGN FOR BLACK BULL ECURIE ECOSSE
Black Bull Ecurie
Ecosse kicked off
their British GT
Championship
campaign with a
solid showing at
Brands Hatch.
Running their new
McLaren 650S GT3
for the first time
competitively,
Drivers Alasdair
McCaig and Rob
Bell showed the true
speed of their car in
racing conditions,
but were prevented
from achieving the result they deserved by an early race stoppage that called
time on their efforts.
After starting the McLaren fourth, McCaig ran solidly inside the top 10 during
his stint, but the complexion of the scheduled two-hour race changed after 40
minutes. A multi-car accident caused a full-course caution just ahead of the
opening of the mandatory driver-change window.
With the pit-lane crowded as most of the 30-car field pitted together, a
miscommunication resulted in McCaig having to queue up behind the team’s
GT4 entry for service and losing time as a result.
Bell was behind the wheel when racing resumed and set about making up
ground from 14th place. His pace brought three fastest laps early in his stint, and
the factory McLaren driver had climbed as high as seventh when the race was
red-flagged and a result declared after another incident.
Despite finishing lower than anticipated, the race pace shown by the McLaren
has given the team great confidence ahead of the next round at Rockingham,
Northamptonshire, on May 1.
In the GT4 category the team made history on two fronts. Not only did Sandy
Mitchell become the youngest driver to contest a British GT event at 16 years
and 41 days, but he and co-driver Ciaran Haggerty also gave the brand-new
McLaren 570S GT4 its British GT debut.
Mitchell ran comfortably inside the top 10 during the opening stint, but had his
progress hindered by the full-course caution, preventing him from making
ground up on his rivals at a time when his lap times were significantly the faster.
Ciaran took over the car once the pit window opened and was the quickest GT4
car on track during the closing stages of the race as he moved up to sixth spot.
He was within touching distance of fourth when the red flag-induced early
conclusion spoiled his chances.
Alasdair McCaig, Driver, Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse: “For our first time with two
new cars, the pace we’ve shown is extremely encouraging. We knew Brands
would be something of a fact-finding mission and we’ve certainly come away
having learnt an awful lot. Rob’s pace during the second half of the race was
superb and shows that the GT3 McLaren is capable of doing great things. I’m
certain we could have finished higher than seventh had circumstances not played
their part, and that shows that the car has enough potential to give us a very good
season. In GT4, I was very impressed by the showing of both Sandy and Ciaran,
both of whom were making their endurance racing debuts and who came
through their first driver change with flying colours despite the pit-lane being
very crowded.”
Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse was cruelly denied a maiden GT4 victory in the second
round of the British GT Championship at Rockingham after a late stop-go
penalty.
Piloting their McLaren 570S GT4 for only the second time, Scots teenagers,
Sandy Mitchell from Letham and Ciaran Haggerty from Johnstone, again
demonstrated their potential as race winners, when they led into the second-half
of the two-hour race.
Having started from third on the GT4 grid, 16-year-old Mitchell delivered a
blistering first 55-minute stint, moving the car up to second place.
Minutes after handing the Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse car over to his 19-year-old
team-mate, Haggerty had eased into a healthy lead.
But visions of a first win in the UK’s most demanding sportscar championship
evaporated when stewards adjudged the team had released the McLaren 570S
GT4 early, before completing the compulsory 155-second stop.
“It’s obviously not what we were hoping for,” team boss Hugh McCaig said.
“Certainly a few questions will be asked to identify exactly why the mistake was
made at the pitstop, because there’s no doubt it cost us a win.”
From leading the race, Haggerty rejoined in sixth and eventually fought back to
fifth before crossing the line sixth.
But hours after the race finished, the winning Ginetta was excluded, and the
Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse car promoted to fifth.
BLACK BULL ECURIE ECOSSE HIT BY
GREMLINS IN BRITISH GT3 ROUND 2
Black Bull Ecurie
Ecosse endured a
frustrating outing in
the second round of
the British GT
Championship at
Rockingham when its
GT3 car, which
started the race from
second on the grid,
suffered a mysterious
electrical gremlin.
Edinburgh’s Alasdair
McCaig comfortably held second place over the opening laps of the two-hour
race, before the intermittent problems surfaced in the team’s McLaren 650S
GT3. Exiting the final chicane to enter the ultra-fast banking on to the startfinish straight, the car intermittently lost power as the electrical system spiked.
As suddenly as the power dropped, it kicked back in, leaving McCaig exposed to
faster cars colliding with him from the rear.
The Scot managed to nurse the car through to the end of his 55-minute stint, but
shortly after handing the car over to team-mate Rob Bell, the McLaren works
driver suffered identical problems.
Forced to pit again, the team ‘rebooted’ the electrical system and the Newcastle
driver, having rejoined in 10th, finally finished seventh after posting the secondfastest lap of the race, a 1min 18.387secs.
“We certainly missed out on at least a podium finish today, team boss Hugh
McCaig, admitted. “We proved in qualifying we have the pace in the car, and it
was disappointing not to be able to maximise that in the race.
“The two drivers did everything they could, despite the problems they had
throughout the race. Yes, it’s motorsport, but it would be good to finally get just
that little bit of luck this year.”
Alasdair McCaig — Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 650S GT3 driver
“We did brilliantly in qualifying, started on the front row of the grid, and over
the opening laps comfortably held second in the race. But then the electrical
gremlins started rearing their head.
“They gradually just got worse and worse either side of the pitstop, to the point
where the engine was cutting out all the time and we were losing gears. It was
then a case of managing the cars behind me and staying out of their way as they
approached at speed.
“The car was losing all power exiting the chicane, and essentially I was coasting
down the start-finish straight, which on the fastest section of the track isn’t ideal.
“We tried a couple of new settings with the car, and that helped a little bit, but all
we could do was try the best we could under the circumstances. Essentially it
was a game of survival.
BLACK BULL ECURIE ECOSSE DENIED BRITISH GT4 WIN AT ROCKINGHAM
Ciaran Haggerty — Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 570S GT4 driver
“The car felt really good. We put new rubber on the car at the pitstop for my
stint, and the car was really good for the opening laps I was in the car.
“We had a comfortable lead and I was focusing on managing the gap to the car in
second place. But then I got the message about the pitstop penalties.
“I obviously then had to come in, and after we lost time with the stop-go, I went
back out and tried my hardest to get back up the order. Then we had a couple of
frustrating electrical issues with the car as well.
“But we need to remember, the McLaren 570S GT4 is still in its development
phase. We’re only going to get stronger, as a driver unit, a team and car.
“We’ve shown again that the car has the qualifying and race pace, so top three
results and wins aren’t far away.”
10
New motoring and
racing book from
Ian Scott-Watson
Border Design Books
Harelaw Moor Farmhouse, Greenlaw,
Duns, Scotland TD10 6XT
Black Sheep in the Fast Lane is largely anecdotal with chapters
about Ian Scott-Watson’s childhood and schooling during the
Second World Ward and his early club rallying and racing.
Ian also covers the Border Reivers Team, Aston Martin, Team
Lotus. Colin Chapman and the Lotus Elite and, of course,
Jim Clark himself.
The author’s farming and sailing experiences are included, together with the house designing business which also
included Ingliston motor racing circuit, the Snow-trac for which he and Innes Ireland were UK agents, chapters about
some of the characters (good and not so good!) that he met, a note about all the cars he owned and some comments
about modern motor racing. It is a very readable, often light hearted, entertaining read.
If you would like to order a copy, please complete the form below and Ian will send you a copy on receipt of £12
(including post and packing) or it will be available from the Jim Clark Room or to Club Lotus members from their
bookstore.
ORDER FORM
Name: ....................................................................................
Delivery Address: .............................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................ Post Code: ......................................................
Date: ..............................................................
I enclose £9.95 plus £2.05 post and packaging by cheque payable to Border Design Books.
We will send you the book once payment is received. We regret we are not yet able to accept credit/debit cards.
Signature: ................................................................................
www.borderdesign.co.uk
Teamwork Sees Visit Florida Racing Score Second in Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix
Monterey, California, USA. (1 May 2016) – Visit Florida Racing showed on
Sunday that even when it is raining, there is sun behind those clouds. Despite
starting the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda over a
minute behind the race leader, Visit Florida Racing drivers Marc Goossens and
Ryan Dalziel finished the race in second place, to notch the team’s best IMSA
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship result of the season so far.
Looking to make a vigorous defense of the team’s 2015 IMSA victory at the
California track, the team had been frustrated in the early practice and
qualifying sessions during the weekend, as the Corvette DP just didn’t have the
pace to be a front runner. But lots of data analysis, and another round of
adjustments in the morning, saw the car improve come race time.
Unfortunately the team had to start from the pit lane after not being on the
starting grid by the cut off time. The penalty also meant that the team was forced
to do a drive through pit lane once the race had started. But the increased race
pace, plus a fortuitous full course caution, strong driving and great pit work all
added up to a run to second place for Visit Florida Racing.
“The car came back to us during the first part of the race and we had more for
COMPETITION
Last issue we had a Touring car
racing at Knockhill. The car is an MG
driven by Colin Turkington.
This issue who is this famous driver on the left seen recently signing
autographs at Monaco and for a bonus point how many Le Mans victories
did he have, and can you name an F1 team he drove for?
Entries by email ([email protected]) or ansaphone - 0131 332 8287 by
June 30th. The Editor’s decision is final.
them,” said Goossens, who had to fend off a strong late race challenge from a
fellow Corvette DP. “Ryan did a great job, starting from pit lane and making
himself wait for traffic. I tried to do the same thing. Our pace wasn’t bad but I
don’t think we had the strongest car. Then when the accident happened between
the 5 and the 10, we thought we could come away with some good points. So
this is really a fantastic result, and a great reward for all the work the Visit
Florida guys put into working on the car and improving what we could this
weekend.”
“We obviously got lucky (with the yellow flag timing), but our race pace was
quite good,” said Dalziel. “We had a really good strategy to pit early and
leapfrog some guys. Marc (Goossens) had to hang on at the end. It was a really
tough weekend with a lot of bad luck so we feel we deserve a podium. We’ll take
it, and make the car better for the next one. We never hung our heads down; we
were frustrated but we focused on making it better. We’re not where we want to
be yet, we still have some work to do. We woke up this morning hoping it would
be better, but I don’t think we expected this!”
The result, which seemed completely improbable at the start of the race, was a
welcome return for a weekend full of hard work from the team.
DAILLY DRIVE - BRANDS HATCH BMWS
Reigning Scottish BMW Compact Cup champion Steven Dailly made it a
UK debut to remember with a fine display at Brands Hatch in April. The
24-year-old, from Edinburgh, had never raced at the Kent track before, and
based all his preparations on using computer game Project Cars. He
qualified well putting the the KC Motorsports BMW Compact on pole –
and was the only man in the field to get below the 57second mark on the
Indy circuit layout.
Former kart star Steven, who now lives in Aberdeen, battled for the lead in
the race.He was briefly in second place on lap one, but took the lead and
then battled with Richard Miles and Declan McDonnell. A safety car came
out on lap seven to spice things up. Steven and Miles made a break from
the restart and Steven posted the fastest lap of the race – a 58.01s on lap 10
but Miles got past two laps later and held on to win by 1.3s with Steven in
second.
Dailly was not to be denied a victory and only had to wait a couple of
hours before sealing his first English BMW Compact Cup victory, coming
home seven tenths of a second ahead of Miles. He had made a couple of
changes to the car’ set-up and that made the difference, as Steven was able
to hold off Miles’ charge and take the chequered flag.
Dear Kevin,
Ranald McIntyre has passed away on Friday 6th May just a few weeks after
his 90th birthday. Ranald was one of the original Ecurie Ecosse mechanics
and was David Murray’s personal mechanic before EE was established. I
don’t know how many of your members were familiar with Ranald, but I
thought you might like to pass on the sad news.
Best regards, Kenny Baird, Bo’ness Hill Climb Revival
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Editor: Kevin Pick: Email [email protected]
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