Both Formula Ford 2000 and Historic Formula Ford are set for competitive opening laps at Cadwell, with fast starters topping the time sheets for both classes.
Samuel Harrison put his Reynard SF79 on top in the closing minutes of qualifying, with Ben Glasswell’s 1977 Reynard just three-tenths behind. Glasswell, who was also quick at Snetterton, enjoys the challenge of Cadwell. Graham Fennymore will line up an unfamiliar third in his SF81, albeit only eight-hundredths slower than Glasswell. He has been helping Glasswell with his car and may begin to regret this if Glasswell holds his lead.
Jordan Harrison (Lola T580), is three-quarters of a second further back, but if any trouble ensues further up, he will be well-placed to capitalise. Ollie Roberts, making his 2024 season debut in his SF79, is not far off his pace. They are both a little quicker than Andrew Storer’s SF79, but Storer’s consistent and methodical approach often pays off.
A Delta T81 driven by guest Murray Shepherd sits in seventh, only just ahead of Greg Robertson in his SF79. Two other Deltas driven by Anthony Denham and Benn Tilley make up the top ten. Richard Coleman (Reynard SF79) starts from twelfth and will be looking to get closer to the front, where he usually is.
The two protagonists of 2023, champion Callum Grant and runner-up Benn Simms, are making a guest return to the Historic Formula Ford championship and have claimed first and second on the grid. They spent qualifying trading fastest times and only 0.035s separates them, making for another potentially explosive start. The orange Merlyn of Grant and Simms’s white Jomo will be followed by the Heinz-inspired Merlyn Mk20/50 of Spencer Shinner, who ran well at Snetterton. Shinner had an unaccustomed trouble-free qualifying session and although he could not match the times of the two leaders, will be certain to add to his points tally. Another Merlyn, driven by Snetterton winner Neil Hose, is not too far behind and he and Shinner may well continue their Snetterton rivalry.
Unusually, only four Over 50 drivers are entered and they are led by Chris Porritt in his Titan, who qualified fifth. Paul Unsworth is sixth in his Lola T200, ahead of the sister Lola of Jack Butterworth, another driver making his first appearance of the year. Mark Wilkes is seventh in his Merlyn, followed by the Lola of Christian Goller, who had trouble caused by a broken clutch release bearing. Nigel Adams’s Lotus 61 wedge completes the grid.
Full results at TSL Timing
Vintage Formula Ford 