Reports > Combe challenge July 4th 2020
Podiums for Colborn, Bracegirdle and Cox as racing returns
Racing in general and Wayne Poole Racing in particular, began their 2020 season at Castle Combe behind closed doors on Saturday July 4th.
As team boss, Wayne Poole, said "the racing was a little strange but it was nice to be back out" and the team arrived with a trio of Formula Fords and a couple of saloons for the Hot Hatch races.
The Formula Fords were the Class C Van Diemen RF89s for Steve Bracegirdle and James Colborn and they were joined by team newcomer, Chris Warden, in a Class B Swift FB91. Unfortunately the weather didn't welcome racing back to Combe and practice was held in very damp conditions. James continued the good form he showed in 2019 by qualifying 3rd in Class for both races with Steve (not a big fan of the wet) a little further back. Chris was getting to grips with the car, conditions and track and qualified near the rear of the field.
As the start for the first Formula Ford race approached conditions had improved and Steve made a cracking start to complete Lap 1 in 14th place which improved to 12th by Lap 8. Unfortunately on Lap 9 three cars got past including James who was recovering from a poor start and he went on to finish 13th and second in Class with Steve three places further back. Chris had an uneventful race and although running at the finish was unclassified, having misjudged the chequered flag as he was about to be lapped by the winner!
Race 2 was largely a re-run of the first with Steve again beating James off the line only to be passed on Lap 3 again with both going on to claim podium places (2nd and 3rd) in Class C. Chris again got in some welcome seat time with a good run to the finish in 21st place.
For the pair of Hot Hatch challenge races Graham Cox and Steve Bracegirdle were back out in their familiar Clio and Mini Cooper mounts. They qualified in mid field for both races and in Race 1 Steve made another excellent start, making up 6 places off the grid to sit directly behind Graham. He got past on Lap 2 (thhere may have been some contact apparently......) and eventually finished 15th and fourth in Class. Graham dropped back and finished 22nd.
Race 2 saw a bit of a reversal in fortunes as both drivers made good starts and Graham getting past Steve on Lap 2 and going on to finish 14th and second in Class F with Steve a couple of places behind.
