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12th October, Ipswich Stadium, European
Championship
Report from Sayell Racing website
Club Chairman Andy Collins became the first
front-engined midget driver to win the European Championship
since Toni Scheepens took the same car to victory in 1994
when the event was staged at Ipswich this weekend. With very
greasy conditions it was a race that favoured the heavier
cars; with just that and a full set of wet tyres in his favour
ultimately Collins made victory look relatively easy taking
a well served win by almost half a lap. 16 cars made the grid
with the two promised German entries failing to show for the
second time this season.
The two support races went to Chris Phillips
who starting from the yellow grade took and then held the
lead from lap one in each event. Collins and Sayell taking
second and third in the first heat and Barry Goldsby and Gary
Bonner the runner up places in the shorter second heat. The
meeting also saw the formula debut of SEGTO star Alan Buckland
who although not eligible to take part in the main event was
out in the support races. Buckland was probably more at home
on the conditions than most, gliding the ex-Clarke car round
the corners and thus managed to score points in his first
race finishing 8th and went even better in the second event
finishing 5th.
Lowe took an early lead throwing it all away
(as he so often does in big events) on the second lap. Collins
took up the running but Lowe recovered quickly and took it
back again 2 laps later then pulled ahead whilst Collins followed
two or three cars behind. They were soon lapping into the
back of the field with cars spinning or simply struggling
for grip. Clarke another of the heavier cars was taking a
steady approach and thus held on to third place whilst fending
title holder Sayell struggled for almost 20 laps with Daz
Rycroft who gingerly hugged the inside line running full slick
tyres. Sayell crawled all over the back of the VW but was
unable to find any grip to go round him.
Collins having found grip on the outside eventually
closed in on Lowe and passed around 10 laps from the end,
a lap later Sayell finally got by Rycroft and once he did
so rapidly left him behind to chase the top 3. But the lead
two had lapped all the way up to third with Collins passing
Clarke around the 5 lap mark. Unfortunately Lowe stood between
Sayell and Clarke so although Sayell had him in his sights
was unable to unlap himself with Lowe and challenge for third.
Collins was well clear at the flag, whilst Clarke (3rd) Lowe
(2nd) and Sayell (4th) crossed the line in procession. Afterwards
Collins expressed his delight at taking his first major win
since joining the club in 1995 and dedicated his win to his
baby daughter Sophie (born 2nd Oct).
European Championship 1st Andy Collins, 2nd
Harold Lowe, 3rd Nail Clarke, 4th Rob Sayell, 5th Daz Ryecroft,
6th Gary Granger, 7th Ez Walker, 8th Andrew Bilby
Race 2 1st Chris Phillips, 2nd Andy Collins,
3rd Rob Sayell, 4th Joe Bourne, 5th Ez Walker, 6th Harold
Lowe, 7th Gary Granger, 8th Alan Buckland
Race 3 1st Chris Phillips, 2nd Barry Goldsby,
3rd Gary Bonner, 4th Harold Lowe, 5th Daz Ryecroft, 6th Rob
Sayell, 7th Andy Collins, 8th Gary Granger
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