Linton Stutely was won his first Historic Formula Ford race of the season, coming out on top in a two-way lead battle after he and Callum Grant broke away from a front-running pack.
Stutely, in his Royale RP3, crossed the line with eight seconds to spare, but the time sheet tells a misleading story. He spent the majority of the race sparring with Grant’s Merlyn Mk20 and it was only minor contact at the chicane in the closing laps that gave him breathing space, when Grant went off-track. Previously, Grant had led Stutely by around a second, having made a break from being side-by-side with his rival for lap after lap, trading the lead.
Grant incurred the further misfortunes of a low-revving engine and a missed gear in the final lap, allowing Matt Wrigley’s Merlyn Mk11A/20 through to take second from him. Grant was third, with Benn Simms not far behind in his Jomo.
The initial lead group of Grant, Stutely, Wrigley and Simms effectively split up into two pairs after some pack drafting manoeuvres early in the race, particular involving Wrigley, Grant and Stutely. Simms was still somewhat down on power but drew closer towards the end. Their squabbles almost let Grant get away when Stutely was locked in, but he pushed back.
Will Nuthall (Jamun T2) was at the back of the leaders in the opening laps, but his car gradually lost power and he parked up on lap eight. His place was later taken by Sam Mitchell’s Merlyn. Mitchell had started at the back following his problems yesterday and done well to make up that many places with little incident, but he was unable to catch the front-running quartet. Still, he was fourth overall, safely ahead of fifth-placed Cormac Flanagan in his Alexis. On the way to his first Over 50 class win, Flanagan enjoyed a scrap with Merlyn Mk20 driver and fellow Over 50 leader Ross Drybrough, with Drybrough finishing sixth.
Spencer Shinner also had to start at the back after his off in Saturday’s race. He did not get quite as a far as Mitchell in his Merlyn Mk20/50, but was a respectable ninth, behind Jonathan Speak’s Merlyn. This was in spite of a track limits penalty.
Chris Willoughby completed both a Merlyn foursome and the top ten, a fair distance from Shinner and chased quite strongly by Jack Butterworth’s Lola.
Merlyn driver Mark Wilkes lost a top-ten position via a hefty track limits penalty, which dropped him to 12th. His team-mate and yesterday’s Over 50 winner Chris Porritt broke a gear linkage on the first lap and had to retire.
Full results at TSL Timing
Vintage Formula Ford 