As always, the trip to Ipswich is a long day so we set off early for the trip to the Suffolk oval, and the only chance this year to get some track time in there before the world final in September.
We took 4 cars to the meeting, Frankie, Phoebe, Frankie JJ and Karl made the trip, all looking for the final WCQ points to get a place in a semi, in a meeting that was 2/3 format.
Heat 1
The weather had been wet then dry all day but it was a wet slippery track for heat 1 where we had Karl alongside Finn Sargent (526) with the reds and Frankie at the back alongside Ryan Harrison (197).
The race was eventful with 4 periods of yellow flags for crashed s and to remove damaged cars, but in the end it was Charlie Sworder (5) who took the chequered flag with Karl 2nd and Frankie 3rd, after a great battle with Ryan mid-race.
Heat 2
Frankie was straight back out for heat 2 and he lined up at the back alongside Matt Newson (16), with Frankie JJ at the front of the reds with Shaun Webster and Phoebe at the front of the blues with Ashley England (346).
The race was pretty quiet after the yellow flag frenzy of heat 1 and after moving through from the pack it was Simon Traves (47) who was first over the line with Phoebe 2nd and Shaun Webster 3rd ………. or was it!!
Well that was the initial result of the race, however after a delay, Simon Traves car failed post-race scrutineering and the race win went to the driver in 2nd place, and Phoebe had her first ever win in a BriSCA F1, and she was delighted, and so well deserved.
Heat 3
Phoebe was back on track for heat 3 and this time was near the back of the blues with Frankie JJ and Karl at the back of the reds.
In another fantastic race for Phoebe she came through the pack well, in another heat that didn’t have any stoppages, to finish her 2nd heat in 3rd place behind race winner Josh Smith (191) and Jon Horne (19) who was 2nd.
Final
The meeting final was excellent with action all the way and incidents throughout the pack.
There were a couple of periods of waved yellows, firstly to recover the Rob Cowley (73) car after it lost a wheel then to recover another couple of cars stranded on turns 3 and 4. After this we had an excellent race for the chequered flag, with Simon Traves, Courtney Finnikin (551) and Liam Gilbank (20) all challenging for the lead.
In the end it was Simon Traves who put the disappointment of heat 2 behind him to take the win with Liam pipping Courtney to the line for 2nd and a well deserved 3rd for the former F2 driver from Hampshire.
Frankie finished 8th with Frankie JJ 11th and Phoebe 12th.
Grand National
All 4 cars made it out for the grand national, and yes again it was an eventful race. We had early yellows after a train of cars went into the fence coming off the back straight, Callum Thornton (368) came off worst but was OK. Then we had another pile up in the same location where Paul Harrison (in the ex-512 car) ended up on top of Liam Gilbank’s car. And after this the back bumper of Luke Wrench’s (560) car was ripped off after a bit hit from Simon Traves and Courtney Finnikin ended up on top of the fence, but again all were OK.
In the end it was the man who started the race right at the back, Tom Harris (1) who came through to take yet another win, with Frankie JJ 7th, Frankie following him over the line in 8th.
And added to this, Phoebe was also voted joint ‘driver of the day’ on the Stoxnet forum too!
https://forum.stoxnet.com/topic/34596-driver-of-the-day-2022/?do=findComment&comment=452851
So after an excellent meeting where all our drivers picked up points, and Phoebe got her first F1 win, we head off to Odsal next weekend for the 2022 British Championship, see you all there..
#WainmanRacing #BriSCAF1
Photo’s ©Colin Casserley
