Reports > Pre '90 FF Championship Oulton Park 31st March 2012

First race meeting of the year at Oulton Park for WPR and good performance from Wayne Poole

The WPR team ventured North to Oulton Park's International Circuit for its first race meeting of 2012. Keen to do battle in the Pre '90 Avon Tyres Formula Ford Championship were steve Bracegirdle (Vand Diemen RF89), Don Boyack (Van Diemen RF88) and, without the benefit of Friday testing like Steve and Don, Wayne Poole himself in his own Van Diemen RF88.

An encouraging field of 30 cars assembled for practice which went well for the team with Wayne qualifying 8th, Steve 13th and Don 18th - a good start to the season.

In Race 1 Wayne made a good start getting up to fifth after the first lap and then to third by lap 5 and running with the leaders. A hard fought group then began swapping positions allowing the leaders get away but after trying to take Island flat the ensuing grassy/gravelly moment saw Wayne drop back to 6th by the end of the race. Steve was running comfortably in mid field but a problem on lap 7 saw him drop back and needing to fight back through the bottom half of the field to finish 17th.  Don got to the start but unfortunately a split clutch pipe meant he couldn't start.

In Race 2 Wayne again made a good start, getting up to third by lap 3 this time but history repeated itself with a lock up and spin entering the second chicane which saw him drop back to finish sixth again. Nonetheless good racing! This time Steve held his position in a busy mid field group to finish 14th while Don made the start and ran steadily to the end finishing a satisfied 25th.