CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship – Donington Rounds 6 & 7 – Preview

Championship leader Jon Woolfitt once again heads the entry at Donington Park with his Spire GTR. Five consecutive wins leave him with a five-point lead in the Championship, so he will be looking to add to his tally with two more chances this weekend.

After a very lengthy rebuild Simon Allaway heads Class A in his Lotus Esprit V8, hopefully with a fully functioning gearbox after problems at Croft. Ric Wood is bringing his Holden Commodore, where he will be joined by James Aukland’s Capri and Garry Wardle’s Seat Cupra TCR, both making their seasonal debuts in the Championship. Completing the class line-up is Richard Rudd in the ex Piers Grange turbo charged Ford Escort Mk1, after a successful debut at Croft netted him two overall podiums and Andrew Southcott in his MG Midget Lenham.

There’s a strong Class B line up with 9 cars hoping to challenge Woolfitt’s supremacy, led by Darren Owen who will be hoping to get further this year at Donington, having blown his Escort RSR’s engine in qualifying. It's his first outing in the Championship this year too. Stephen Riley’s Caterham 420R and Thomas Frankland’s Renault 5GT Turbo both came out at Cadwell, with Riley an overall podium challenger. Connor Modro was absent from Croft, but has shown increasing pace since changing to his Ginetta G40, while Ben Roberts was a debutant at the last Oulton round in his Honda powered BMW E30.

Richard Hall came back into the Championship last year with a Caterham 420R, having previously raced a Ginetta G20, while Robert Wakelin’s Peugeot 205 and David Green’s Honda Civic both made seasonal debuts at Croft too. Wakelin had two great duels with Tim Foxlow’s Escort, but Green had problems with his car going into limp mode. Colin Robinson’s immaculate Escort completes the class, again on his seasonal debut.

With no takers in Class C, there are three starters in Class D. Having missed the last few rounds Oliver Thomas came back strongly at Croft with his Subaru Impreza and if all is well, looks unbeatable in the class. Ric Walker’s Mini R56 JCW heads the class in the championship and although Ralph Underwood’s TR7 V8 is entered, he failed to show at Croft.

Defending Champion Jamie Cryer is back in Class E after missing Croft. His Ginetta G20 is still third overall in the Championship though, with the ever quickening Ian Bamber’s similar car his closest threat. Steven Parker’s BMW Compact is out for the first time this season, with Peter Koukoulas’ s Toyota MR2 out for only the second time and Allan Scott debuting in a Mazda 323.

Graeme Smith’s Mazda MX5 has been unbeatable in Class F and is second overall in the Championship. David Bird makes a welcome return with a Toyota MR2, while Brian and Helen Allen are out again in their respective Ford Puma and Fiesta Zetec S. Newcomer David Beecroft (of Junior Saloon fame) is out on the other side of the barrier in a Citroen Saxo (of course!).

All the action is on Sunday, with qualifying at 9.10 for 20 minutes, race one at 12.40 and race two 17.30, each for 20 minutes plus a lap.

The BARC are livestreaming on their Youtube channel and Facebook

Facebook Saturday - 12:10 = https://www.facebook.com/events/5317667108270466/?ref=newsfeed Sunday - 10:30 = https://www.facebook.com/events/775301057042411/?ref=newsfeed

YouTube Saturday - 12:10 = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zautt03KnAM&list=PLq7G7RpK5FWqaFss2OJghOkGSlbzs3b-p&index=19 Sunday - 10:30 = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWmhAisnmNY&list=PLq7G7RpK5FWqaFss2OJghOkGSlbzs3b-p&index=20