After a dramatic weekend at Northampton and a week of uncertainty re the destination of the ‘European’ we returned to nearer home and Odsal for our next meeting which included a semi -final for Phoebe, Frankie JJ and Karl. We had 6 cars there in total, Frankie, Danny, Phoebe, Frankie JJ and Karl, and also Charlie Sworder (5) who was using an FWJ hire car for his semi.
Heat 1
Frankie and Danny took to the track for heat 1, and the early leader was Daniel Ford (18) who was having a great race. There were a couple of stoppages for damaged cars, and this allowed the reds to catch Daniel at the front. Daniel still lead from Rich Bryan (238) but with 5 to go he was caught and at the same time Frankie’s outside rear let go so we had a 1-2-3 of Daniel, John Lund followed and Craig Finnikin with Danny 5th.
Daniel Ford drove well for his first win an a BriSCA F1, with Craig nudging the 53 car aside for 2nd and John Lund finishing 3rd. Neither Frankie nor Danny finished in the top 10.
Heat 2 (first 2022 Semi)
Phoebe, Frankie and JJ were in the semi and were joined by another FWJ car as Charlie Sworder was using a hire car for his race too.
The drivers lined up with Charlie inside row 4, Frankie inside row 5, Phoebe outside row 6 and Karl inside row 7.
Phoebe’s race ended as early as lap 4 after a spin the rear axle damage from another car colliding with her, which left her and Ant Lee (339) stranded in the middle of the turn 1/2 bend. From the restart Matt Newson (16) had the lead from Paul Hines (259) with Charlie 4th and Karl 6th, while Frankie puled off.
About half distance the 16 car retired leaving Paul Hines out front with a decent lead over Paul Harrison (2) with Simon Traves (47) and Charlie battling for 3rd.
After a final stoppage for Ashleigh Wareham (492) who rolled her car on turn 3, in her first shale outing in her F1, Paul Hines took the win with Paul Harrison 2nd and Charlie an excellent 3rd.
Consolation
Phoebe needed a lot of work on her axle so didn’t make the consolation, but Frankie, Danny and Frankie JJ made it out, and after a brief stoppage for recovery of the stranded 44 car of John Brown, Frankie passed early leader Matt Newson to take his first win as 2022 European Champion. Frankie JJ was 3rd, and Danny finished 4th.
Final
Frankie, Danny, Frankie JJ and Karl all went out for the final, and by lap 4 Karl’s car had Liam Gilbank’s (20) car on his bonnet resulting in retirement for them both.
Just before halfway there was another yellow flag period and from the restart Frankie took the lead from John Lund and never looked back. There was another restart (for a trackside marker tyre) on the racing line with 3 to go, but Frankie kept the lead and won from Craig Finnikin 2nd and Daniel Ford with another excellent drive to finish 3rd.
Grand National
Frankie lead the drivers off from the lap handicap for the grand national with Phoebe, Danny and Frankie JJ in with the reds, and after another brilliant drive we had another Frankie Wainman win, but this time it was JJ who took the chequered flag after a great race with both John Dowson and Liam Gilbank, to make it a great evening for Team Wainman. Frankie managed 7th from a lap down!
Congratulations also to Charlie Sworder on an excellent 3rd place and a grid spot for the 2022 World Final.
Next up for Wainman Racing is Mildenhall next weekend, see you there.
#WainmanRacing #BriSCAF1
Photo’s ©Ian Bannister
