Reports > Castle Combe Countdown Aug 30th 2021
Mitchell takes his first Class A win at Combe
The WPR team arrived at Castle Combe on August Bank Holiday Monday to be faced with cool and overcast conditions still looking for Ben Mitchell's first win in the Richard Hudson-Evans owned and Classic Auction Review backed Van Diemen RF99. Ben was joined by James Colborn and Steve Bracegirdle in their usual Class C Van Diemens with Steve also taking part in the CCRC Hot Hatch race with his Mini Cooper S.
Ben qualified on the front row, just a tenth behind reigning Combe Champion, Luke Cooper while Steve qualified third in Class C in the middle of the field with James just three tenths behind.
As the race got under way there was a three way squabble for the lead going into Quarry for the first time which saw Ben emerge in the lead ahead of a four car train covered by less than a second. Then on Lap 4 another three way squabble into Quarry saw Ben come out third and the positions remained close but static until Lap 9 when another competitor dropped oil in the Esses. By avoiding the oil and keeping his momentum Ben was able to take the lead around the outside of Old Paddock and jump away while his rivals were getting back up to speed. As the laps wore by his pursuers began closing in but an accident at Camp brought the race to a slightly premature close at the end of Lap 13 to give Ben a well deserved and maiden win in the Van Diemen as well as the fastest lap in the race.
In Class C James made the better start and completed Lap1 in twelfth place and third in class. He moved up to 11th after a quiet race to finish on the lead lap. Steve ran just behind James but stopped at Bobbies on Lap 7.
Steve also took part in the Hot Hatch race, qualifying well in 21st in a large field and went on to finish 19th in the race, second in Class E.
