Arthur Forster proved to be the man to beat in two of the three races at Croft, but the third became a duel between Martin Depper and Oli Mortimer, with rain becoming the deciding factor in Mortimer’s favour. In the Club class though Luke Caudle took a clean sweep.

As the lights went out in race one Forster led the initial charge out of Hawthorn from Depper, Phil House, Lee Allen, Mortimer, debutant Chris Knox and Shaun King. “I got Martin around the outside, I pushed him over a bit but left room for his car too,” said Forster. Allen then put a wheel on the grass at Tower as he tried to hold off Mortimer, which almost allowed Knox through too.

As Forster, Depper and House started to stretch out, Mortimer was left to head a four car train for fourth. Knox took Allen for fifth at the Hairpin on the fourth lap, but a lap later Allen successfully rechallenged at Clervaux, before the young Scot finally made it stick and took King with him. But their duel allowed Mortimer to go free in fourth, but with little impression on the lead trio.

By the end of lap six Forster had started to make his lead look decisive, while further down Steve Liquorish forced out Jason Richardson at the Hairpin for eighth, as both closed on Allen, and Carl Bennett pulled out of 10th at the Complex with a puncture. But the threat fired Allen up to close on King once more.

Apart from Forster the lead group started to close up too, with Mortimer finally making inroads as House challenged Depper for second. But with a couple of laps remaining Depper suddenly upped his pace, at the flag though it was still the North East Playboy in front by 0.667s over team mate Depper. “I got blocked by a club class car when I was lapping him and the gap suddenly closed,” said Forster. “I backed out a bit with Arthur, it was discretion, thinking of the team not just myself, “Depper replied.

House just held onto third from the rapidly closing Mortimer. “It was a steady result, but the others must have had a really good set up and it’s their home track,” said Mortimer. Knox retained a fairly solitary fifth, with Allen sixth after a couple of exchanges with King., which allowed Liquorish to close too. Richardson, Sait, Grimshaw and debutants Ben Harvey and Chris Smith completed the S class runners.

Caudle led the Club class from the start and never looked back. Joey Powis had a couple of stabs for the lead and hit Caudle’s rear as they braked for the Hairpin on lap four. Powis spent the next few laps defending from James Blyth, which also resulted in a clash exiting the Hairpin. Powis had tried for the lead, but ran wide onto the grass. Blyth nosed ahead, but Powis forced his way back on into the side of Blyth’s car.

Powis stayed close to Caudle for the remaining laps as Blyth fell back in a safe third, while Nick Booth had a solo run to fourth. Sarah Parsons survived a barge from Kevin O’Conner to consolidate fifth, leaving O’Conner, Josh Waddington and Craig Freeman to complete the finishers.

Race Two

Depper made sure he kept Forster at bay at the start of race two, as they were joined by Mortimer in an early break. Allen, House and Knox led the chasers, with Allen’s attempts to go clear in fourth lasting one lap, before House and Knox closed in again.

By the end of lap three Mortimer started to fall back from the lead pair, “it was getting a bit hot so I backed off, put the heater on and opened the windows,” he explained. Within a lap he was back challenging, which forced Forster into action too. “I could see Martin was struggling a bit and with Oli closing, so I decided I needed to be in front,” he said after leading out of Tower. Mortimer almost followed at the Jim Clark Esses, but Depper fought him off until the Hairpin a lap later.

Back in fourth Allen had respite again as House, Knox and Liquorish fought over fifth. They had numerous exchanges over the next few laps, before Knox broke free to chase Allen, leaving House to battle on with Liquorish. “Chris did a lunge at Tower and I lost momentum to avoid damage,” said House.

Although Forster kept the advantage, he couldn’t afford to relax as Mortimer kept himself in with a chance right to the flag. Depper fell back in a safe third, “I overcooked the tyres and had understeer everywhere. I held it is long as I could but third was comfortable,” he said. Knox finally stole fourth from Allen with a lap go, “I missed a gear and he got me,” admitted Allen.

Liquorish had managed to get sixth from House at the Hairpin on lap seven, but was robbed by a late puncture. “There was a horrendous noise in the car and I just hoped it wasn’t mechanical. But then on the last lap the tyre went big time,” he explained. Both Bennett and Richardson came by before Liquorish limped to the flag in ninth, ahead of Sait, Harvey and Grimshaw.

Club class leader Caudle was in the clear after two laps as Blyth tried to hold off Powis for second. Behind them Booth was clear in fourth as Parsons and O’Conner duelled again over fifth. At the flag Caudle had four seconds in hand, with Powis equally comfortable in second, after taking Blyth at the Hairpin on lap eight. “I just couldn’t get back to rechallenge Joey, the car felt flat,” said Blyth.

Booth spent most of the race on his own again, while Parsons shook off O’Conner from lap eight, who was well clear of Waddington and Freeman.

Race Three

The familiar reverse top six grid placed House on pole for rolling start, but it was Allen that grabbed the lead with House sideways at Hawthorn on a chaotic opening lap. Depper shot into second and joined Allen in a attempted break, which failed to survive as the top six were nose to tail into Tower on the second lap, with House in third, from Knox, Mortimer and Forster.

Depper made a dive for the lead at Tower on the third lap, but failed and almost lost second to House.  Allen then went wide on the exit and Depper charged ahead. House was poised to follow, while Knox was mugged at the Hairpin. Mortimer grabbed fourth and Forster was fifth past the pits before the Scot regained his momentum.

Depper made the most of his freedom as the scraps behind continued. Allen did his best to fend off House at the Complex, but his efforts not only gave the former VW Cup Champion third, but allowed Mortimer through too. But the pressure continued to mount on Allen, who after Forster got by at Tower, found Knox and Liquorish in his wheeltracks. But Allen muscled his way back in front of Forster for a couple more laps, before finally giving best.

Mortimer had managed to hunt down House and take second into Tower on lap seven, but Depper was still comfortably clear until the rain started to fall. “I slowed down and then drifted wide at Clervaux and Oli got me. I nearly got him back but he held it well,” said Depper. “I just took a few more chances and nature was on my side,” Mortimer replied after taking victory by 0.3secs.

House retained a clear third, “the car was really good, I just had some damage from Lee on the second corner when he got the lead,” he said. Although Forster eventually managed fourth, his race was far from memorable. “By the time I battled through the leaders were well gone,” he said. Allen fended off any threat from Knox to hold onto fifth and with Liquorish pulling off again, Richardson, Bennett, King, Sait and Harvey all moved up. 

“I don’t know about easy I thought it was quite tough,” said Caudle after dominating the Club Class again for his third win of the weekend. Parsons led the chasers for the first three laps, while Blyth played catch up.  “I got hit at the first corner, but then worked through and got Sarah at Tower,” said Blyth.

Sarah Parsons held onto a well deserved third, as Powis was frustrated behind a defending O’Conner, which also allowed Booth to challenge. Powis finally secured forth with two laps to go, while both Booth and Waddington made it past O’Conner too. Freeman completed the finishers.

Peter Scherer

The final meeting of the season is at Snetterton on the 26th and 27th September.  See the points table for championship standings so far.