Toyo Tyres Jaguar Saloon & GT Championship - Rounds 4 & 5 Brands Hatch

Qualifying

The fully modified Class D XJSs of James Ramm & Colin Philpot filled the front row, covered by only 0.3 of a second, both posting 55 second laps. Ian Drage, in the less modified XJS showed his mastery of the circuit, leading another Brands maestro, Guy Connew by .082 of a second. Michael Holts X300 led Class B from Rodney Frost in his XJS. The standard XJS of Simon Blunt headed Kevin Dickins. Dickins slid off at Paddock Hill on the penultimate lap of qualifying. A minor electrical fault delayed Tom Robinson but, once rectified, he qualified 7^th, making an XJR sandwich with Adam Powderham - Derek Pearce’s XK8 in 6th being the meat in the sandwich. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to see the Chris Boon XK8 in the race as a suspension failure in an earlier race put paid to his chances. The first 20 cars were running sub minute laps, highlighting the massive improvements over the years of the championship. With rolling starts the order of the weekend, the first few laps promised to be very exciting.

Race 2 Sunday 15th July

For this race, Tom Lenthall replaced Pearce in the XK8 & Patrick Doyle entered his V12 XJS for Sunday only. Having practiced out of session they would be starting from the back of the grid, so fireworks were expected as they made their way through the pack.

If anything, Sunday was even hotter as the Jaguars assembled for the rolling start and, as on Saturday, Ramm stormed away to win, pursued again by Philpott but only after he displaced Robinson. Behind the battles commenced even more frantically than the previous day. Drage didn’t complete a lap and retired, so was not able to demonstrate his skill on the circuit. Blunt had a re-occurrence of his fuel problems and only completed 15 of the 18 laps which was a shame as he challenged the class leader Dunford for all the time. Doyle clambered thorough the pack to finish a fine 5^th, earning GT Drive of the Day. Lenthall also moved through to 11^th but could not displace Hill although David Howards XJ12 did get past Hill. The Frost/Holt battle continued from yesterdays race, with finishing positions reversed. The XJRs of Robinson & Powderham were in close combat with Connews XJ6 all the way.

The race finished a few laps early when Connew made contact with Lawrence Coppock on Paddock Hill because Coppocks car was left in a vulnerable position. A sad end to an excellent race.

Results:

Overall : 1st James Ramm 2nd Colin Philpott (XJSs) 3rd Tom Robinsn (XJR)

Class A 1^st Simon Dunford, 2nd Richard Crossley, 3rd Kevin Dickins (XJSs)

Class B 1^st Rodney Frost (XJS), 2^nd Michael Holt (X300), 3rd Gail Hill (XJSs),

Class C 1^st Dave Bye (XJ6), 2nd Richard Coppock (XJS), 3rd Chris Pizzala (XJS)

Class D 1^st James Ramm, 2nd Colin Philpot (XJSs), 3rd Tom Robinson (XJR)

GT driver of the day: Patrick Doyle : Saloon Driver of the day Tom Robinson.

The next 2 rounds will be at the very quick Thruxton circuit on 18-19^th August

Terry Dye

Competition Secretary