Pembrey Return For 750 Motor Club

After five years away Pembrey saw the return of the 750 Motor Club, 9 Formulae took part across the two days.

In the Hot Hatch, regular front runner Ben Rushworth made an error in the lead up to the qualifying session having just been out testing. This resulted in Rushworth from starting at the back of the grid. Steve Sawley started from pole with Class B racer Rodren Vella alongside. It was Martin Ward in the red Honda Civic that got a brilliant start jumping from 4th to 2nd by the first corner, sadly mechanical issues prevented Ward from retaining that position eventually finishing 5th. Rushworth made a brilliant start climbing to second by the end of the first lap. Steve was able to hang onto the win as Rushworth never recovered the gap that Sawley created, Ward finished 3rd in class. Vella claimed a fine 3rd overall and 1st in class B with Phil Wright finishing 2nd in class and Dawn Boyd scored her first podium of the season. Michael Winkworth was victorious once again in Class C with Mac Mccarthy and Paul Kaynes in 2nd and 3rd. Race two normal service resumed with Rushworth gaining the lead and never looking back. Sawley finished 2nd just over 5 seconds behind. There were more woes for Ward as the mechanical gremlins came back forcing a retirement. Phil Wright also suffered car problems having to pull off on the green flag lap, this led the way for Vella to take another class victory with Dawn Boyd and Callum Houchen rounding out the Class B podium. In Class C Winkworth and Mccarthy finished 1st and 2nd this time they were joined on the podium by Charlie Cole.

Classic Stock Hatch provided two close races. Marcus Ward fresh from his double Mallory win, looked like the man to beat. Pete Morgan claimed pole position with Ward alongside. The two battled race long with Ward just in front, Morgan tried a few moves unsuccessfully, sadly Morgans engine expired before the end. Marcus was victorious with Edward Cooper and reigning champion Lee Scott rounding off the podium. Scott Ward who qualified in 4th place his best to date finished a fine 5th. Race two was round two of the battle between Ward and Morgan, this time Morgan had the upper hand leading for the duration. Behind was the battle for the podium places. Scott Ward found himself in a battle with Edward Cooper and Andy Philpotts and Lee Scott. Morgan the race winner was given a time penalty for track limits pushing him down to 10th place. Ward took victory once again, the battle behind saw Scott Ward finish a career best 2nd with Cooper behind in 3rd. Jason Wood had a strong race finishing in 8th with some more solid points in the bag.

Locost racing was as action packed as always. Ben Powney qualified on pole with Championship leader Mark Burton in 2nd. Race one was initially red flagged due to an incident between Glenn Boyer and Geoff Peek. On the restart Burton took the lead which he held until the last lap when the slipstreaming of the Locost pack meant Louis Wall crossed the line in 1st by 0.25 second, Martin West rounding the podium out. Polesitter Powney ended up finishing 7th. Despite a spin Tim Penstone – Smith set the fastest lap and new track record. The second race featured red flags once again, on the shortened restart it was Burton this time who took victory with West finishing 2nd, Powney finished 3rd with race one winner Wall in 4th. Race three featured a red flag at the end, Powney moved up the order throughout the race to take victory followed closely by Wall, West and Burton. Tim Penstone – Smith finished in 7th to help maintain his championship position.

In RGB we saw a double win for Paul Smith in his Mittell. Billy Albone had assembly area drama in race one when his car wouldn’t start. He then borrowed a car of a fellow racer Jonathan Mcgill and finished in 2nd after having to start from the back. The start of race one however started with a red flag due to an incident between Oliver Hewitt and Chippy Wesemael, Paul Smith was also caught up in it but thankfully no lasting damage which allowed him to take the restart. Danny Andrew led for the first few laps until his bad luck struck once again and he retired the car. Colin Chapman finished a fine 3rd scoring his first podium in the championship. Race 2 Albone was back in his own Spire but still couldn’t find a way past Smith. Danny Andrew finally had some better luck and finished in 3rd place.

Clio 182 Championship races, saw Andrew Tibbs get back to winning ways. Mark Balmer carried on his Rockingham form and claimed pole position, leading the way in race one were he was victorious with Tibbs behind in 2nd. Championship leader Patrick Fletcher struggled in qualifying and again in the race were he finished 4th after a close battle with Jack Kingsbury. Race two saw Tibbs try and break away, with Patrick Fletcher and Kingsbury following closely behind. Don De Graff worked his way up to 4th with Balmer in 5th. The whole field was covered by just 30 seconds showing how close this championship is. In race 3 the conditions changed with rain coming down. Tibbs once again victorious this time De Graff finished 2nd with Ryan Polley finishing 3rd. There were dramas for championship leader Fletcher who had contact with Kingsbury resulting in Fletcher being disqualified. Jay Daniels finished a brilliant 6th gradually moving up the order throughout the three races.

The Sports Specials race wins were shared between Rob Johnston and Matthew Booth. With less then half a second between them in race 1, 3rd place man Nigel Brown finished some 37 seconds behind. In class B Lee Emm continued his run of good form after swapping his Locost for a Locost 7 powdered by a Mazda engine, leading the way taking class victory. Class C went to Sylvia Mutch in her MEV MX150R. Race two saw Booth win by 2.4 seconds, this time Leighton Norris was victorious in the Class B honours with Lee Emm recovering from going off circuit to claim second in class. Class C again went to Sylvia Mutch.

The 750 Formula was dominated once again by Ed Pither, with pole and two wins. Bill Cowley and Mark Glover fought out second place in race one with Glover coming out on top. Bob Simpson continued his consistent run finishing 5th. Race two saw Glover retire promoting Cowley and Gough up onto the podium, Bob Simpson going one better and finishing in 4th.

Historic 750 Formula saw double victory for Simon Boulter in his Time 3B, beating regular frontrunner Christian Pederson. Martin Depper finished a fine 3rd. Greg Swan tried out Lyndon Thrustons car finishing 7th in race. With Pederson not starting race two Martin Depper and Mike Whitby rounded the podium places.

In the MX5 it was regular frontrunner and championship leader Paul Maguire who took the spoils in two of the three races of the weekend. However race 2 saw his championship rival Ben Hancy take a well deserved victory by just 0.3 second.

We all look forward to the next meeting at Cadwell Park at the end of July