Reports > Castle Combe Bank Holiday race day August 26 2019

Josh Fisher 's Castle Combe Formula Ford title

The WPR team had three cars entered for the pair of Formula Ford races. Championship leader, Josh Fisher, was out in the Richard Hudson-Evans' Van Diemen JL14 and was joined by the two Class C Van Diemen RF89s of Steve Bracegirdle and James Colborn. Josh was fastest through most of the practice session but was pippped for pole right at the end and started the first race on the outside of the front row. Steve and James qualified 12th and 15th (2nd and 4th in Class C).

Josh made a good start to lead at the end of Lap 1 with Steve and James holding their starting positions. However, Josh was driving conservatively ("soft"!) and not exploiting the track limits to the full and got mugged by fellow championship contenders Luke Cooper and brother, Felix, who both got past on Lap 5 and this is the way it finished with Josh in 3rd and Steve and James, 12th and 15th.

The starting line-up for Race 2 was much the same although James was starting in 17th. Josh was determined not to make the same mistake as in Race 1 and drove more aggressively from the start leading all the way to the finish to secure his thirs Castle Combe Formula Ford championship title. Not that it wasn't close because for most of the race the three leaders were nose to tail but Felix Fisher occupied Luke Cooper's attention and prevented him from launching a concerted attack on the lead. It was nail biting stuff and team boss, Wayne Poole, could barely watch but was relieved when it finished with the win.

So, three Castle Combe Formula Ford Championships in three different cars - a tremendous result for both driver and team.

Steve and James had good races with Steve taking 12th (second in Class C) and James finishing in 14th. James would have finished higher had someone not have spin in front of him causing a gap to open up to the cars in front. Nevertheless James is thoroughly enjoying his first season in single seaters and finding much to learn.

Guy Parr and Steve Bracegirdle were entered in the Hot Hatch races in their Mini Cooper Ss and were very evenly matched. They qualified in third and fourth places in Class E for Race 1 with Guy just ahead but their positions were reversed for Race 2. Unfortunately at the end of practice Steve's drive belt broke and the team decided to withdraw the car rather than risk damage. With Steve being unable to take the start Guy had a good mid field race, running third in Class which became a Class win as the two Class E leaders crashed on Lap 12 bringing out a red flag.

Guy Parr also brought his Mini Cooper S out for the Castle Combe Saloon Car Championship race finishing 23rd in Race 1.