A warm and sunny day greeted the British Racing & Sports Car Club’s first four-wheel meeting of 2017 at Oulton Park on Saturday.
Welshpool’s Graham Seager put his 147GTV on pole position for the first of two BRSCC Alfa Romeo Championship races at the Cheshire parkland track.
After a poor start Seager was relegated to third into Old Hall corner, having been passed by the 147GTA’s of Roger McMahon, from Milford, and Wokingham man, Ray Foley.
Seager regained the lead by the start of lap two, but the car failed out on circuit the following lap.
Foley also retired his car on lap three leaving the Fiat Puntos of Chris and Simon McFie in second and third respectively, which was the order at the chequered flag, McMahon taking a comfortable win.
The Twin Spark Cup was won by Tom Hill, of Brighton, in his 156 (fourth overall) after a race long scrap with Andrew Bourke in his GTV.
Race two saw McMahon missing from the grid due to failing oil pressure, thus promoting Chris McFie to pole position with the other Punto of Simon McFie next to him on the front row.
From the start, Chris McFie pulled out a good lead to take the win. Tom Hill and Simon McFie, having run second and third, both retired leaving Andrew Bourke to take second place, and first in the Twin Spark Class, and Simon Cresswell, from Radlett, third at the wheel of his 156.
After the Alfa’s only visit to Oulton in 2017 it leaves Andrew Bourke at the head of the Championship as the Series heads elsewhere.
Elsewhere there were wins for Joshua Smith, from Milnthorpe, and Luke Williams in the Avon Tyres Formula Ford Post ’89 Championship.
Jaap Blijleven, from Haarlem in Holland, took two wins in the Avon Tyres Formula Ford Pre ’90 Championship.
Manchester man Greg Speight started the season well, claiming a second in class in race two of the Electrovape.co.uk XR Challenge.
Starting from sixth place in his Fiesta XR2, Speight claimed third spot in race one, before bettering his result in the second encounter. Overall honours were taken by Mark Robinson, taking two wins in his XR2.
“I was happy with Saturday’s results,” said Speight. “My lap times became quicker and more consistent throughout the meeting. I had a good start and then a great battle with Steve Poole in the first half of race two, and eventually managed to pull away.
“I’ll be looking to get a little closer to the front next time out.”
In the Toyo Tyres Porsche Championship, there were two wins for Ed Hayes, from Follyfoot in North Yorkshire, in his Boxster. Hayes leads the Series from Rick Styrin and James Coleman.
The Toyo Tires Porsche Series visits Cadwell Park on the May 6/7 alongside the BRSCC Alfa Romeo Championship, while the XR Series visits Oulton again for rounds three and four on May 6 alongside the Avon Tyres Formula Ford Series.
