The new motorsport season got underway at Wiscombe Park last weekend with the two-day Woolbridge Motor Club Spring meeting. The venue, a few miles from Honiton, is commencing its 65th season.
On Saturday, it was Dorset motor engineer, Rod Thorne who topped the times in his Pilbeam MP43. The ex-British Championship winning sports racer chassis now powered by a mighty 5 Litre Rover V8 was quite a handful on the tortuous 1000 yard course.
Rod was hotly pursued by Wiscombe specialist Ed Hollier – Force HC – and Tom Williams – MWR Storm – a self-built car designed by his father Mike with whom he shares the car. Ed and Tom were less than a second behind Rod.
On Sunday, Ed Hollier completed a great start to his season by setting the fastest time - two seconds quicker than his Saturday best. Again, it was extremely competitive for the top three places with Andrew Forsyth – OMS CF04 – and Tony Wiltshire – Ralt RT34 – just a second behind Ed’s time.
Outside of the top three, the conditions suited the many four-wheel drive Subaru Imprezza’s and Mitsubishi EVO’s.
The event hosted the first two rounds of the Wiscombe Park Tillicoultry Quarries Championship. With two Class wins from the weekend, Axminster garage owner, Julian Rinaldi – Ford Fiesta - is the early Championship leader.
Julian is currently also leading the ASWMC Championship too. Filling second place is Matt Vann – Audi TT – and James Nash - Caterham Roadsport – in third place. Both Matt and James also won their respective classes on both days.
It was very pleasing to see some racing drivers making their debuts at Wiscombe. Downton MC member, Kieran Stevens, competed on Saturday in his Citroen C2 Furio - he is only just 17 and yet to pass his driving test!
Competing in the Classic Marques Speed Challenge was Fraser McKay in his Scimitar SS1, and Lucy Cocks who shared a Renault Clio Cup 172 with her father, Martin. They encountered mechanical issues in Saturday practice, prompting an unplanned drive to Exeter to purchase parts so that they could compete on Sunday.
Racing resumes on a newly laid track with the Torbay MC and Wildlife Autosport meetings on May 13 & 14, followed by the 500 Owners Association and Vintage Sports-Car Club event on May 20 & 21.
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