Morris leads all-star Classic grid

Rick Morris put in a late hot lap to secure pole for the first SDC Classic Formula Ford race of the day, against current front-runners and some old sparring partners.

Morris, driving his Royale RP29, got a clear run and took four-tenths off erstwhile leader Andy Gosling’s already-impressive time. Van Diemen RF79 driver Gosling had set the pace on his second lap out and was the first driver to duck under the 2m19 mark.

James Rigby, in another RF79 previously used by Adriano Medeiros to win the championship, followed him into the .18s a lap later, but could not catch him. He will start third, just ahead of Snetterton winner Benn Simms in his Jomo JMR7.

A previous sparring partner of Morris followed in the shape of former title contender Tom McArthur, driving Simon Hadfield’s Titan Mk4. He overcame an early glitch and qualified fifth. His Hadfield team-mate Henry Chart, however, was less fortunate in the Van Diemen RF81 he sold to Hadfield a coupple of years ago: he failed to set a time after engine trouble.

Matt Wrigley, more often seen in a Historic Merlyn, put his Van Diemen RF78 in sixth, about half a second quicker than Jake Shortland’s Lola T440, running without its big airbox. James Fettiplace’s RF80 did its best to imitate this by trying to shed its engine cover. Fettiplace qualified 14th.

Chris Porritt will line up eighth in a Mk6 Titan, ahead of Lolas driven by Christian Goller and Calvin Bainbridge.

Debutante Isla Mackenzie was 26th in a Crossle 40F, with her Ballpark team-mate Grace Parkington in 21st, in a Crossle 25F.

The back of the grid may well be enlivened by the presence of racewinner Simon Toyne’s Class B Lola; Toyne was caught in traffic and unable to qualify. Oliver Chapman’s sister Lola also arrived but did not qualify.

Full results at TSL Timing