7th June, 2009
Arena Essex, June Cochrane Trophy
The Grand Prix Midgets made the trip to Arena Essex with
the threat of heavy rain failing to deter the drivers. There
were welcome returns to the field for young Leon Retchless
in the Bullitt and Klaus Kilianski from Germany for the second
time this season.
Marc de Land could not get his car fired up in the practice
session and he had to sit out the first race leaving Leon
Retchless to set the early pace from Nigel Robinson who got
away well. Despite the quick start Nigel was soon caught and
passed by Gordon Pooley from third on the grid. Retchless
held on for a couple more laps before Gordon made it past
to assume the lead he would not lose over the remainder of
the 15 laps. At one stage it looked like Neil Clarke might
overcome the leader in his Sidewinder but despite setting
the fastest lap Neil ran out of laps and had to content himself
with the runner up slot from Daniel Pooley, Klaus Kilianski
and Phillip Retchless, the latter pair having had a great
battle throughout.
De Land made it to the grid for the second race – his first
ever laps of the Arena raceway but his engine was misfiring
badly in the early laps. Things were not helped by two re-starts,
the fist of which was down to Leon Retchless getting stuck
briefly on the line. The second was down to Daniel Pooley
losing a wheel. Possibly after some wheel to wheel action
with Clifford Bunn. Leon was away smartly on the third start
and led well as all eyes were on the eight strong pack of
blue and red graded drivers whp piled around bottom bend three
wide. It looked like it might end in tears but Kilianski tore
around De Land to take fourth with Clarke following through
from Phillip Retchless. Gordon Pooley retired from second
with fuel problems with Leon Retchless still in front, now
from Robinson. Kilianski was on a mission however and went
into second and then the lead a lap later down the main straight
with five laps to run. Clarke was tearing through the pack
as well and he soon took second with Phillip Retchless having
got the better of a dice with Jonathan Pooley to get into
third. Jonathan was having a miserable time as well and retired
with an electrical problem whilst Andrew Bilby retired with
a broken rod-end. De Land’s car fired into life with a handful
of laps remaining and although he was at the back of the field
he closed in on his rivals with a fair turn of speed over
the remaining laps. To underline just how competitive things
are this season the entire field was virtually all on the
same straight at the finish.
Kilianski was at the very back for the final (the June Cochrane
Trophy) but he was, as expected, very quick away. Leon Retchless
led from Nigel Robinson with Gordon Pooley again third from
a very fast starting De Land who looked like he had something
to prove. Pooley deposed Robinson and Retchless in successive
laps to take over at the front whilst De Land, Clarke, Jonathan
Pooley and Kilianski chased the leading trio. Retchless and
Robinson eventually dropped away although it was clear that
their pace was increasing race by race. De Land was catching
Gordon Pooley but not really quickly enough as Jonathan Pooley
reeled in Neil Clarke. The latter pair engaged in a thrilling
side by side stand off for a couple of laps with Jonathan
eventually taking third on the inside. His next target was
De Land and although Pooley caught him there was no hap on
the inside, De Land keeping his SRV glued to the inside line.
Pooley looked up the outside but seemed reluctant to commit
as Clarke was right behind and looked set to nip back up the
inside to get back into a podium position. That’s the way
it stayed to the flag with Gordon Pooley taking his second
win of the day from De Land with Jonathan Pooley third from
Neil Clarke and Klaus Kilianski. There was some equally great
racing further down the order with Philip Retchless, Clifford
Bunn, Andrew Bilby, Leon Retchless, Daniel Pooley and Nigel
Robinson all having a great race which the Arena fans clearly
enjoyed. Fastest lap in the race went to Philip Retchless
who had traded the honour with Klause Kilianski over the 20
laps.
