The Pirelli Ferrari formula classic Series annual visit to Snetterton saw 11 cars entered for the three 20-minute races held on the 3-mile long ‘300 circuit’, the entry being lower than normal due to the clashing Masters Historic Festival at Brands Hatch in which several of our regular racers were competing.

Qualifying

Before Qualifying the PFfc competitors led the Ferrari parade for a couple of laps of the circuit, with a group photo and grid walkabout.  Then it was down to the serious business of Qualifying, and whilst the Snetterton 300 circuit provides ample space for a clear run, the 3-mile length and subsequent lap times in excess of 2:10 sec means that there are less laps available within the 20-minute session in which to set a competitive lap time, or indeed two competitive lap times as the starting positions for Race 2 are determined by the 2^nd fastest laps posted during Qualifying.  At the end of the 20-minute session Tris Simpson (Group 5 355 Challenge) topped the time sheets a full 2-seconds clear of the similar machinery of Tim Walker, with Vance Kearney’s 355 Challenge a further 0.5-seconds adrift.  Andy Riddoch (328 GTB) headed the Group 3 runners just 1.3 tenths of a second quicker than Peter Fisk in his 328 GTB, with Jago Keen (308 GTB) the fastest in Group 2.  Tony Claringbould’s Mondial T being the only Group 4 entry, qualifying in 8^th overall.

Race 1

As the lights went out Vance Kearney got a good start and quickly got past Tim Walker into 2^nd place.  Peter Fisk suffered with a slow releasing clutch, which became apparent when he engaged 2^nd gear off the startline, quickly being passed by everyone and falling to the back, before launching a recovery drive through the field which saw him eventually catch the Group 3 leader Andy Riddoch.  But as the old saying goes, catching is one thing, but passing is another, and as the chequered flag fell the two were separated by just 0.8 seconds in 4^th & 5^th overall respectively behind the three Group 5 cars of Tris Simpson, Vance Kearney and Darren Mills.  Clutch woes also befell Tim Walker who retired at half-distance with a badly slipping clutch.  Jago Keen took Group 2 honours and Tony Claringbould made up the Group 4 podium.  Tim Shearman (328 GTB) was delighted with 3^rd in Group 3 on only his 2^nd ever race meeting having had a great battle with William Moorwood (Group 2 308 GT4), although Tim had to withdraw from Sunday’s activities after discovering a crack in the chassis.  Peter Everingham (328 GTB) was another retirement having pulled into the pitlane one lap from home.

Race 2

Sunday morning dawned damp and cloudy, with the circuit in that half wet, half dry greasy state.  Pole sitter Tris Simpson withdrew before the start with a faulty clutch release bearing, a replacement being ordered and couriered to the circuit for Race 3.  This elevated Tim Walker to P1 only for him to retire to the Pitlane at the end of the two formation laps with a broken clutch master cylinder, leaving Vance Kearney to lead the cars away at the start.  Vance had already discovered just how slippery the track conditions were with a quick spin on the formation lap.  Changeable track conditions are always a recipe for an exciting race and a shake-up of the usual form, and this race lived up to that expectation with multiple position changes as everyone got to grips with the conditions.  Lap 2 of the race saw Andy Riddoch in the overall lead in his Group 3 328 GTB until succumbing to the superior straight line speed of Vance Kearney’s 355 Challenge, before a scary spin dropped him to 4^th overall behind Peter Fisk and Darren Mills.  Fisk was revelling in the conditions in his 328 GTB and at the chequered flag was a full 25-seconds clear of 3^rd placed Mills, and just 8-seconds behind the Group 5 car of race winner Kearney.  Jago Keen had a lonely race finishing in 5^th overall and 1^st in Group 2, ahead of the Group 4 winner Tony Claringbould who was the last of the classified finishers following a couple of spins.

Race 3

With a few mechanical woes and a couple of drivers unable to stay until the end of the day, a much depleted grid lined up on a dry track for Race 3, with Vance Kearney on pole position ahead of Peter Fisk.  As the red lights illuminated Vance lurched forward and was a full car length in front of his starting box as the lights went out, thereby incurring a 10-second jump start penalty.  Tris Simpson in his now repaired 355 Challenge started 5^th and quickly got up to 2^nd position behind Kearney as the cars approached the Montreal Hairpin for the first time.  Kearney put up a good defence for the rest of the first lap until Simpson eventually managed to pull alongside starting lap 2, and take a lead he would keep for the remainder of the race, the gap at the end being 8-seconds before the application of Kearney’s penalty.  Peter Fisk held on to 3^rd overall to take Group 3 honours along with the RNR Performance Cars Driver of the Meeting award chosen by the race commentators.  Andy Riddoch was a distant 23-seconds adrift in 4^th overall and 2^nd in Group 3 ahead of William Moorwood, the only remaining finisher in 5^th overall and 1^st in Group 2.  As an added bonus for Peter Fisk he, or rather Kudu Motorsport were also awarded the Superformance Best Prepared Car award, as chosen by the local safety Scrutineering team.

Thanks to Steve Burns, Race Series Co-ordinator, for his report