Race Report: Croft 22nd - 23rd July

Qualifying

Although the records show Cloud & Dry, the track was quite damp in qualifying. Butterfield quickly got back into the groove with a fastest lap, leading Colin Philpott’s championship leading XJS. The Adam Powderham’s Supercharged XJR annexed 3^rd from Patrick Doyle’s 6 Litre XJS. Simon Blunt led Class A from Daniel Stewart. Lawrence Coppock suffered lost coolant on lap 4 after posting 6^th fastest whilst Dean Sewell’s XJ6 had an alternator failure.

Race 2

Sewell had replaced a faulty alternator overnight to line up on the grid. Lawrence Coppock was a non starter with gearbox problems, a poor reward after making the long journey north. Son Richard more than upheld family honours though. As his own car was still out of action, Nick Ward kindly lent his XJ40, having already loaned his XJS to Thomas Butterfield for the weekend.

If Saturdays race was good, then Sundays was outstanding from the start.

Doyle got a good start from the 2^nd row & took Butterfield, only to cock a wheel up on the kerb at Clervaux & spin, giving the following pack cause to take evading action. Philpott led for a few corners until a moment on the grass let Butterfield into the lead. This meant the 2 fastest cars were trailing round at the back. Philpott took Doyle at the Complex & spent the race passing the whole grid with the exception of Butterfield, who held him off to win by 4 secs. Doyle clawed his way back but a couple of spins at the Complex stopped any further progress. Sewell pulled in on lap 4. Meantime the XJR twins of Robinson & Powderham (a quick spin) headed a mighty battle from Boon & Coppock, with Holt working the XJ40 to 6^th behind Boon. Stewart held of the very experienced Bye, who was giving his XJ40 its all. The 2 Simons, Dunford & Blunt had a race long battle with the former crossing the line first to earn Drive of the Day.