Reports > Success for WPR at Castle Combe on Oct 1

Class win for Tom Margetson and Carnival result for Olly Bull

Wayne Poole Racing bought out a couple of their 'big guns' for the final race meeting of the year at Castle Combe and they didn't disappoint! Former Class C Combe champ, Tom Margetson, took the Class win in the final round of the FF Championship race while Class B front runner, Olly Bull, fresh from a couple of Class wins and high overall placings around the country in 2011 took an excellent fourth overall in the Combe FF Carnival race. Pete unfortunately didn't make the start as he had a clutch problem in the Carnival practice and it wasn't fixed in time.

Enjoying the hottest October day on record (although this was to cause a few problems later on) proceedings began with practice for the first FF race. Pete Diccox in his Van Diemen RF89 only managed a couple of laps before a puncture and dislocated mirror bought his qualifying to an end but he still managed a 1m 20s. Steve Bracegirdle was very pleased with a 1m 15.38s PB in his RF89 as was Vince Mann having his first race in his new RF89 who got into the 1m 16s.

All three drivers made good starts with Tom taking an early Class lead only to lose it to Championship conteneder David Cobbold as he allowed a faster runner through. However, Cobbold was experiencing a sever misfire and, stuttering out of the Esses, was tagged by a closely following Tom who was able to get past in the ensuing kerfuffle and pull away for the win. Steve and Vince ran consistenlty a little further back with Steve taking third in Class only just missing out on second due to yellow flags at Camp on the final lap.

Guy Parr (Nemesis 02) and Des Andrews (MegaHart) were out in their Vauxhall powered sports racers in the GT race and posted competitive qualifying times to line up 5th and 9th respectively. At the start the two  leaders (Shanley and Tilling) rushed off into the distance but behind them Guy and Des were embroiled in a frantic battle for third with 5 other cars. There was plenty of position chaning and side by side running until mid distance when things settle down a bit. Unfortunately after 9 lpas both cars retired with smoke appearing out of the back of Guy's car and Des coasting into the pit lane.

Practice for the FF Carnival saw times a little slower but Olly was pleased to line up 7th in his Swift SC92 with a 1m 13.0 dead. Tom was 13th in the Reynard 89FF and Pete, Steve and Vince further back in their RF89s. Pete did well to get into the 1m 16s while Steve only managed a couple of qualifying laps at the end after a leaking brake pipe was spotted while in the collection area..

At the start Tom dived into the pits to start from the pit lane as his clutch was dragging and wouldn't hold on the start line but quickly caught his WPR team mates only to drop back after an off with Mike Madge before catching and passing them again! Pete, Steve and Vince all ran closely for a few laps until Steve pulled away and Pete retired having buzzed the engine and pulled off at Quarry.

Star of the race was Olly Bull who got up to fifth on the opening lap and was then embroiled in an intense battle with the two Cooper brothers finally coming out on top to take an excellent fourth overall.