Tuesday August 23, 2016 at 4:32pm
Round five of this year’s British F2 Sidecar Championship heads to Croft a circuit that has been on the championship calendar for a number of seasons and there will inevitably be some spectacular action on virtually every part of the track.
Clervaux on lap one of a sidecar race is as good a first corner as any in the country, but the Complex and Hairpin sections have had their share of excitement as well.
Over the years, the circuit has been particularly rewarding to a few teams. Tom Hanks and Steve Wilson in the 90s won here whenever they went on to become British Champions. Ian Bell partnered by Neil Carpenter, as well as Steve Norbury with Scott Parnell, in the ‘noughties’ did likewise, while this year’s overall TT Champions, John Holden and Andy Winkle, dominated in their title years.
So, that’s the secret then, win here and you could be British Champions!! Well, last year’s two races here were shared by Lee Crawford/Patrick Farrance and Pete Founds/Sam Christie. And it is Founds, now with Jevon Walmsley in the chair, who leads the title chase with 170 points and Crawford/Farrance are in second place with 117. Third placed are Steve and Mattie Ramsden on 110 while fourth with 81 points are Lewis Blackstock and Paddy Rosnay thanks to four successive podiums at Anglesey and Cadwell.
In the F2 Cup, Gary and Darryl Gibson lead with 157 points gained from eight consecutive podium finishes! Blackstock is second, Nick Dukes and William Moralee third.
The Gibsons, along with Founds/Walmsley in the main championship, could clinch ‘their’ title this weekend but this is Croft and nothing can be guaranteed!