Reports > Combe Countdown August 26th 2024
Mixed results but wins for Sam Mitchelll & Wayne Rushworth
The Formula Ford entry for the Combe Countdown races was larger than usual due to James Beckett's United Formula Ford series being on the event timetable. So, with 24 cars taking part in qualifying for the CCRC Gulf Race Fuels FF1600 Championship races it was a good performance for Alex Walker in the Classic Auction Review backed Van Diemen RF01 to take pole position for both rounds. Tommy Mac took first and second in Class C qualifying in his Van Diemen RF89 while Sam Mitchell was comfortably on pole for both races in his Class D his usual Classic Auction Review Class D Merlyn MK20a.
In race one Alex ran second for a couple of laps before falling back to fourth. Despite not being dropped by the leading trio drivers, Alex couldn't make up place and finished fourth, a second off the winner but took the fastest lap. Tommy made a good start to lead Class C but retired on lap 4 while Sam finished an impressive 12th overall, winning Class D and taking fastest Class lap.
In the second race, Alex led away from the start and held the lead for the next 4 laps but an incident on lap 5 dropped him to fifth. He managed to fight back to third by the end, a couple of seconds behind the leaders. Tommy, starting second in Class D, made a fast start to take the Class lead and held it until lap 7 when dropped to second in Class where he finished but with the consolation of fastest Class lap. Sam, as usual, mixed it with some of the more modern machinery, and won Class D with fastest lap.
The 30 minute Mark Sutton Remembrance race for closed cars saw Steve Bracegirdle enter in his Mini JCW and Wayne Rushworth in his MG ZR. Wayne only managed a single lap in practice and had to start on the back of the grid but drove back up through the field to finish eighth and win Class 4 (and take fastest lap in Class) while Steve was a little further back in 12th. Wayne also attempted to take part in the two Saloon Car races but encountered problems and was unable to participate.
Many thanks to Phil Johnson for an excellent set of images.
