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News: Silverstone Race Report
GAZ Shocks Production BMW Championship
Rounds 3&4 Silverstone 20/04/2009
With round two of the GAZ Shocks Production BMW Championship moved from Donington Park to Silverstone at the last minute, the stage was set for some first-class motor racing. Following the first three races at Brands Hatch four weeks previously, the forty-three BMW pilots were geared up ahead of Silverstone’s two races.
Greg Rose was driving Robin Welsh’s car at the Northamptonshire circuit, while Tim Wilson had picked up a new sponsor after his double win at the Brands Hatch season opener. The car will be re-livered for Castle Combe in his sponsors’ colours.
Round 3
Race Position Chart (by Adrian EDDY)
Race one began with Len Colley on Pole, Mike Dugdale second and Rob Smith third. Brands race winner Tim Wilson started fifth with Dave Arrundale, who experienced difficulties during round one in a pleasing sixth.
As the forty-three strong field headed into Copse (turn one) for the first time, it was Colley, Dugdale and Smith who got the jump on their rivals. As the race progressed through the opening laps, it was the said battle, above, followed by Tim Wilson, who were in combat for the lead. Before long, an unlucky Wilson was forced off of the track at Brooklands and into retirement, due to a lack of brakes; for the leading trio this meant they had one less rival to worry about.
This battle for the lead was one that would see them through to the chequered flag, with Colley and Smith extending the gap back to Dugdale by nearly 3 seconds.
There were numerous battles going on throughout the field, with Liam Crilly and Alan Wileman in a race long scuffle. After much place swapping throughout they eventually crossed the line forth and fifth, respectively, with the latter progressing from ninth on the grid. Just seconds behind, Lawrie Dunster and Nigel Olive-Jones were in another race long tussle, running nose to tail for the 20 minute duration.
As well as a number of epic battles for position race one saw some outstanding drives through the field. Having started 31st on the grid Mickey Daly drove an impressive race, thundering through the field to 21st. Additionally, Kevin Welsh soared from 14th on the grid to 8th at the flag.
Speaking after his first PBMW win, Len Colley said: “I’ve been competing in this championship for the last three years and we’ve put a lot of effort in.”
Second place man Rob Smith said: “I just couldn’t get him [Colley]; I was trying my heart out every lap.”
Third place finished, Mike Dugdale, commented: “I had a good start and got settled down in third. I was just a bit too far away from Len and Rob to be able to catch them.”
Round 4
Race Position Chart (by Adrian EDDY)
Due to his race one retirement, Tim Wilson was forced to start the second race of the day from 38th on the grid, giving him plenty of work to do. Due to the previous race result Colley had secured pole position, with Smith alongside on the front row. Adrian Eddy managed to start the race despite his car having been rolled in the TTRS race, only an hour and a half previously.
As the field headed towards the Maggots-Becketts complex on lap one Colley and Smith were caught in a collision, resulting in the leading duo being pushed down the field; thus allowing Crilly into the lead.
As Crilly tried to extend his lead over second place man Dugdale, the latter made a slight mistake allowing Wileman to snatch second away from the former. Despite the error Dugdale was not about to allow Wileman to scurry off into the distance, and soon fought back, gaining back his original position.
Neil Adams had a hairy moment exiting Copse when he spun, luckily being avoided by the pursuing cars. Unfortunately this meant he had to make up lost ground, but after dropping to the rear end of the pack he managed to climb back to 31st
Before long the battle for second was being fought out between seven cars, which allowed Crilly to extend his lead even more at the front. After dropping down the field following the lap one mêlée, Smith had wrestled his way back through to second, and was soon chasing after Crilly, shadowing his every move.
With the race approaching half distance, Smith was still echoing Crilly’s manoeuvres, as he did with Colley in race one; as the pair exited Copse, the former seized the opportunity to edge ahead of Crilly and into the lead. In the manner of repeating race one battles, Olive-Jones and Dunster were once again running nose to tail for the sixteen lap duration.
After 20 minutes of fantastic racing it was Smith who exited Woodcote to take the chequered flag. Crilly crossed the line second with Dugdale third. Tim Wilson had an amazing drive through the field coming through from 38th to 10th. Colley eventually finished 18th after the first lap skirmish with Smith.
Commenting on his race win, Rob Smith said: “It was a great race, I don’t know how we did it. I dropped to sixth at the start and just picked the cars off.” He added:
“I’m over the moon!”
Second placed Crilly said: “I was nearly gifted a win but I knew the guys behind were quicker than me. It’s a good result for me though.”
Subsequent to his Silverstone success, Rob Smith has now inherited the championship lead, with Liam Crilly second and Mike Dugdale third.
Race Report by Leanne Fahy (leannefahy@hotmail.com)
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