CNC HEADS SPORTS/SALOON CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

– Anglesey Rounds 3, 4 & 5 Report

ALLAWAY DOUBLE IN ACTION PACKED WEEKEND

Simon Allaway’s Lotus Esprit V8 and Ben Roberts’ Locost 7 shared the victory spoils on a weekend of drama and attrition at Anglesey.

Qualifying

Ric Wood topped the 32 qualifiers after Saturday morning’s session in his ex Nigel Mustill Swedish Touring Car Volvo. “I had never driven it before the session as I only got it a week ago. I can only just reach the pedals,” he said. Bod Buckby’s Caterham shared the front row, but over a second back. “It didn’t feel brilliant, lots of traffic and understeer, scrappy and so surprised to be second overall,” he replied. Allaway and Deri Davies’ Darrian T90 were on row two. “I have a fan to turn on to cool the rear brakes, but I forgot and went full chat, tried to brake into Rocket and spun to avoid something solid,” Allaway explained. “I had a great run, but the tyres went off a bit at the end,” Davies added.

“It was an all BMW row three, with Chris Roberts’ M4 pipping Carl Bennett’s M3 by 1.794 secs. “I got a fuel issue though and it went into limp mode,” said Roberts. “I had a touch with Jason Hennefer’s Fiesta at Rocket. I thought he was giving me room, then we both accelerated together and touched,” he said. Gary Wardle’s Audi A3 TCR was next up, “I was on road tyres, saving my slicks for the races. So no grip though, but OK,” he reckoned. Alongside was Roddie Paterson’s Caterham, with a concern over an oil leak. “It was a loose hose spraying oil out. Then the engine cut as the pressure dropped, so just hoping it hadn’t done the bearings,” he said.

The Ginetta’s of Jamie Cryer and Ryan Nelson rounded off the top 10, just 0.092 secs apart with Cryer’s G20 just edging it over Nelson’s G56 GTA. “I was maybe a bit over cautious,” Nelson admitted. “My oil pressure light flickered at the end but otherwise it was good,” Cryer added. Phil White’s BMW 325CL was next up, “I was just trying to dial myself in, but OK really,” he reckoned. Paul Rotheroe’s Citroen Xsara VTS lined up alongside him, “I was on old tyres so they took a while to warm up and grip,” he added.

It’s ongoing development with Ash Hicklin’s Bentley GT, “when I was off the power the oil pressure built up, but on the power it was OK. But it’s a dry sump so shouldn’t do that,” he explained. Hennefer’s Fiesta ST180 was next to the Bentley, battle scarred after his contact with Bennett. “The wheel was hit and damaged the steering,” he said. Mark Primett had issues with his Banks Lotus Europa too, “it wouldn’t turn in on the slow stuff, but was OK with a perfect balance in the quick bits,” he reckoned. Matthew Jones had issues too with his clutch, which sidelined him from the opening race, with the gearbox out of his Ford Focus.

It was Rob Phillips’ first time out with a new team. His Honda Civic was 17th best, “first time out this year, but OK so far,” he said, as he had team mate Simon Graveley’s VW Golf Gti alongside, “I have spent a week on the SIM as it’s my first time at Anglesey,” Graveley added. Rounding off the top 20 were Steven Parker’s Ford Fiesta and Julian Wood in his ex Parker BMW Compact. “It was lifting the rear, so I am lowering it a bit. I nearly got it right though,” said Parker. “I lost some fuel through the breather,” Wood added.

Debutant Aled Dark headed the next row in his V8 Darrian T90. “I had a grassy moment through Target, learning my limits, but it broke the splitter,” he explained. John Madoc-Jones’ BMW E46 was alongside the Darrian, but had issues with his traction control, randomly coming on and off. David Jones was pleased to making progress with his Fords Focus, “we did a lot of work on the car over the winter and now it feels like I can race it,” he said.

Back with his Proton Putra V6 Duncan Aukland made his seasonal debut, a couple of slides, but no spins but my brakes were OK,” he reckoned. Louie Dobson’s Class E Ford Fiesta ST150 headed row 13, with the Class F frontrunners following. Rob Wakelin had class pole in the ex Dave Green Honda Civic. “I don’t have to lift in the corners like I did in my Peugeot, as it’s not quite so fast,” he admitted.

Jonjo Lee’s Mini Cooper, Errol Taylor’s Toyota Yaris and Helen Allen’s Ford Fiesta Zetec S followed. “I am softening the front for the race, as I had a bit of understeer,” said Lee. “It was more power but less steering and the suspension was too soft on slicks,” Taylor added.

While Allen had a troublefree session, there were two other qualifiers. Connor Modro had to pull off with a rear puncture on his Westfield Aero and Nick Haynes’ Fiesta ST150 had clutch issues. Alek Modro’s Westfield only managed to two slow laps, “it was misfiring like crazy, possibly the coil,” he said. But that was two laps more than Ben Roberts’ Locost. “The battery voltage was too low to run the ECU,” he confirmed.

Race 1

Barely were the lights out for the opening race when chaos reigned. Allaway made contact with Wood’s wheel spinning Volvo on pole as they left the line, before Wood was then clipped by Davies’ Darrian too, before Paterson hit him full on and the red flags were out. “It was the car or the barrier as I just jumped on the brakes after a good start,” said Paterson. “I got alongside Ric and thought I could get through, but then we had contact,” Davies added.

Both Paterson and Wood were out for the weekend, and Allaway headed for pitlane too with a damaged wheel as the rest readied for a restart. But there was more drama too when Primett expired on the grid before the green flag lap. “I had a great start at the first attempt, but then it wouldn’t run as it fouled the plugs,” he explained.

Buckby led the restart through Target, from Davies, Bennett and Chris Roberts, but Wardle spun at Rocket as he tried to challenge Cryer for fifth, promoting Rotheroe into the top six. Davies had led from the Banking, with Roberts taking Bennett for third. Buckby had battled back in front, only to lose out at the Bus Stop and so it was the Darrian that led to complete lap one, while both Haynes and Connor Modro retired to the pits. “I had no brakes into the Banking, then hit Duncan and spun him,” said Modro.

The lead pair had already broken clear after two laps, with Chris Roberts clear in third too, but from the back of the grid after missing qualifying, brother Ben was already sixth and chasing down Bennett and Cryer. Nelson had lost out at the start, but then got into a dual with Rotheroe for seventh, but in front of them the Roberts Brothers were getting closer and closer, after Ben took Bennett for fourth at the International Hairpin. Nelson finally breached Rotheroe’s defence on lap four and a lap later Cryer was into fifth at Bennett’s expense. White had consolidated ninth, while 10th placed Phillips was being hunted down by Hennefer, after he had demoted Graveley.

Buckby had patiently sat behind Davies but as they charged up to Rocket for the sixth time he was back in front, with Ben Roberts challenging Chris for third too. A lap later Buckby again led into Rocket, but Davies collided with his rival, putting them both out of the race and bringing out the safety car. “I had got the lead before down the back straight, then trying to gap Deri and he missed his braking point and hit me,” said Buckby. “I just missed my braking point and if I hadn’t hit Bod I would have totally overshot the corner, so all my fault,” Davies admitted.

With the safety car heading back to the pitlane, there was just thee the final sprint to the flag. But it was now Ben Roberts leading, from Chris, Cryer, Bennett, Nelson and Rotheroe. Wardle got White for seventh as the race went live again and was soon challenging Rotheroe too. But on lap 10 Cryer spun at the Corkscrew and Nelson at the Bus Stop, as Bennett began to close on Chris Roberts too. “My brakes just locked up and I spun, but then found the diff mount had broken too,” said Cryer. “I just got over excited when I saw the green flag, tried to be greedy and threw away a podium,” Nelson admitted.

Ben Roberts eased well clear in the final laps to win by over 15 seconds. “I was unaware where I was until I caught Chris and then found I was the leader after the safety car. I had to do a lot of thinking to work it all out, but then got the vibes of a shock win,” he explained. Bennett snatched second from Chris Roberts on the last lap, but had his own issues. “The front wheel bearing collapsed about half way through and I lost the brakes, but it had been good racing with Jamie,” he said.

“It was all going Ok, a bit of understeer but I had nursed it the whole race and though the safety car would help. But after Ben had caught me I raced him and it went into limp mode again at the end and lost second place to Carl,” said Chris after losing a Class D win to Bennett. Wardle topped Class A and snatched fourth place from Rotheroe on the last lap. “I spun on cold tyres on the first lap, trying too hard, but had great fun fighting back through. I finally got Paul out of Rocket on the last lap and almost got third on the line,” said Wardle. “As it got windier it made me angrier and faster and I was determined not to give in easily to Gary at end,” Rotheroe added.

White completed the top six, “unscathed and a bit surprised, shocked actually,” he reckoned. Hennefer had lost out to the BMW driver on the last lap as they duelled for second in Class A, “my tyres just went off after the safety car,” Hennefer admitted. Behind them Phillips held onto eight, with Parker, Jones, Graveley the recovering Cryer and Nelson following. “I couldn’t catch Jason, but was happy where I was and didn’t want to crash,” said Phillips. “The changes I made were better, got heat in tyres and the balance was good,” said Parker. “I saw two things I’m not used to, the last lap board and the chequered flag,” Jones added. “I lost power from the turbo at the end and lost a couple of places on the run up to Rocket for the final time,” said Graveley

Wood, Madoc-Jones and Dark completed the race unlapped. “ I kept out of trouble and had a blinding race, one of my best and enjoyable,” said Wood. Dobson and Aukland were next home, before the Class F podium trio of Wakelin, Allen and Taylor, after Lee lost second place on the last lap. “I just stayed out of trouble, no damage, no problems,” said Wakelin. “I found it hard turning in, but kept out of trouble, Taylor added. “I was trying to chase Rob and blew my engine on the last lap,” Lee concluded.

Race 2

It was down to 25 starters for Sunday morning’s race after Saturday’s drama’s, but both Ben Roberts and Connor Modro were starting on the back of the grid again.

Allaway led from the start and was soon building on his lead, with Buckby in second, from Chris Roberts and Bennett, before an early gap to Wardle, White, Nelson and Rotheroe. By the end of the opening lap Ben Robets was already sixth, before taking Wardle and Bennett on consecutive laps, then setting his sights on brother Chris in third again.

There was a four-car train for seventh, as White, led Rotheroe, Nelson and Hicklin, but further back Parker had a half spin at Church. The top four were well clear with Bennett keeping Wardle at bay for fifth, but catching them both was Connor Modro, after Rotheroe had lost out to both Hicklin and Nelson, dropping him to 11th. Hicklin started to challenge White for seventh too and got by on lap five, with Nelson following, but the Ginetta then began to challenge the Bentley on the Tom Pryce Straight.

Six laps in and the Roberts brothers had swapped for third, but Allaway and Buckby remained well in the clear. Modro then demoted Bennett a lap later, leaving him under threat from Wardle.

Although Allaway backed off in the closing laps, he was still 8.6 secs clear of Buckby at the flag. “I had been losing my brakes, so backed off just to make sure I kept Bod behind,” said Allaway. “My car felt really good. I could see Simon more as he slowed, but it was too much and I was more concerned about Ben catching me,” Buckby replied.

With Modro taking third from Chris Roberts after 11 laps, he was soon reeling in Ben for second place. “Two more corners and I would have had him. The brakes were still only 75% but otherwise the car was great,” said Modro. “My clutch was slipping so I just tried to manage the pace. I could see Connor and my rear tyres had gone off, so I was struggling a bit,” Ben admitted.

Fifth was still enough for Chris Roberts to take Class D, “I just did my own thing, a quiet race and slowed it down as I had a plan,” he said. Wardle headed Bennett from lap 1ap 10 and consolidated his advantage for sixth, “I lost places at the stat as usual, then got Carl near the end when he outbraked himself at Rocket,” said Wardle. “Yes I locked up and Gary got through, after I got an early gap. Ryan was closing at the end too,” Bennett added.

Nelson, Hicklin and White rounded off the top 10. “I had got squeezed at the start by White and Rotheroe, so had to work hard, But I was catching Carl at the end,” Nelson explained. “I lost ground when my tyre pressures went up, Phil White was all over me in the corners, but fortunately I drove away on the straights and kept hold of ninth place,” said Hicklin. “Proper racing, but I just couldn’t match him on the Straights,“ White added.

Rotheroe kept his 100% Class record in 11th, while Phillips and Graveley were the first drivers a lap down. “It was tight at the stat and I had a touch at Rocket and I think it knocked the steering out a bit, plus my window popped out too,” Rotheroe explained. “On my own really, probably a bit too good,” Phillips reckoned. “I had been catching Rob until I over did it and spun at Rocket,” Graveley replied.

Parker was next home, recovering from his half spin, he moved up when Matthew Jones pitted to retire with a sub frame bracket breakage, the same that forced father David pitwards earlier in the race. “I spun when I lent in it too much, over exuberance, lost the rear and ruined a tyre, so finished with it flat,” Parker explained.

Dark comfortably held off Hennefer, “I was on three cylinders for most of the race,” said Hennefer. Dobson and Aukland followed, before Wakelin took another class win over Allen. Wood, with a throttle issue and a down on power Taylor completed the finishers, after Madoc-Jones retired, when his BMW went onto four cylinders.

Race 3

There were still 20 survivors on the grid for the final race of the weekend and from the start it was Allaway in front, from Buckby, Ben Roberts, Chris Roberts and Bennett through Target. Dark was out of contention straight away after being nudged into a spin at the first corner. Ben snatched second exiting the Banking, but Allaway soon made it decisive, with Buckby back into second from lap two, while Chris and Bennett held station.

Wardle took sixth from Nelson on lap three, leaving the Ginetta driver under further threat from Hicklin’s Bentley. While the lead pair went clear, Ben and Chris were locked together for third on lap four and briefly exchanged, which brought Bennett back into the frame too. Wardle had managed to consolidate sixth, as Nelson and Hicklin continued their dual, while Rotheroe, White, Hennefer and Parker were all well spread behind.

Allaway took his second of the weekend with relative ease, “I lost the brakes again after about four laps though, then just managed them after that. I did have a moment at Rocket, but otherwise it was under control,” he said. Buckby briefly found himself under threat from the Roberts’ though for second. “It all closed up when the throttle stuck. I kept tapping it until it cleared, then it happened once more, but I was Ok and it was a brilliant race,” he said.

Ben Roberts took his third podium but had to nurse it home. “The diff broke on the away to assembly. I was managing it and then wondered why Bod slowed, but my car was awful in left handers and then Chris arrived too,” he explained.

Chris’s challenge was partially thwarted again by going into limp mode. “I was going well and being told to slow down, so pressed reset. Carl got by a lap from the end and Gary was closing too. Then Carl got a bit sideways at the final Hairpin on the last lap, so I had a go into the last corner and hit him,” he admitted.

So Chris came home fourth, with Wardle through too, before Bennett recovered from his spin to take sixth. “There wasn’t a gap so Chris was being a bit ambitious. I didn’t seeing him coming, just a flash of white as he hit me and spun me on the last corner,” Bennett added. “I had been really trying to get close enough to challenge Carl and put pressure on without too much risk, but I didn’t have to in the end,” Wardle added.

Nelson was a solid and clear seventh, “a much better start, I expected the Bentley to challenge me more,” he said. Rotheroe managed to ease away from Hicklin too, “I was able to stay with the Bentley and Ginetta early on, then we spread out,” he explained. White managed to pip Hicklin too a lap from home, “the gearbox was getting a bit hot, it went into limp mode for a while and then cleared again,” Hicklin added. Hennefer was the final driver to go the full distance, “I managed to hang onto Phil White’s BMW for a while, but had understeer and lost touch,” he said.

In 12th it was a solitary race for Parker, “I was consistent though, but my rear tyres are done,” he reckoned. Dobson and Aukland were next home, from David Jones, despite the latter’s midrace stop. “I had been on the grass a bit so came in to get the radiator cleared,” he admitted.

Wood had been catching Dobson until his BMW lost power and he retired, which left the Class F trio of Wakelin, Allen and Taylor to complete the finishers, with Wakelin taking the win despite being held up at the start, when dark’s Darrian was spun out. “I had to stop at the first corner when two cars collided,” said Wakelin. “I got Rob for the lead at the first corner and then Errol got me,” Allen explained, but she fought back to claim second in class from lap nine. “Great fun, I could see Helen coming for me though,” Taylor concluded.

https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2025/252227nws.pdf

Published by Peter Scherer for BARC NW, June 02nd 2025.