CNC HEADS SPORTS SALOONS – CADWELL PARK PREVIEW

Cadwell Park hosts the second outing for this year’s BARC North West CNC Heads Sports Saloon Championship, but unlike the Oulton Park opener, it’s a double-header.

First round winner and 2016 Champion Paul Rose heads the 28 car entry in his Saker and after retiring at Oulton, team mate Steve Harris will be hoping to go the distance this week.

Joining them in class A will be James Aukland, making his seasonal debut with his Ford Capri, while Guy Carter’s TVR Tuscan and Stephen Keenan’s MK Indy RR are out again after debuting in the opening round.

There are two drivers making their first appearance of the year in the championship in class B. Luke Armiger has done a lot of work to his Vauxhall Tigra and should be near the front overall, while Roddie Paterson, a long-time supporter of the championship, heads down from Scotland again with his Caterham R400. The Woolfitt brothers Jon (MK Indy) and Paul (Lotus Exige) both have the pace and Jon’s starts are becoming legendary. They should both feature strongly at Cadwell, if they have the reliability and a bit of luck.

Tony Ellis and former multiple champion Paul Dobson both debuted their new cars at Oulton, Ellis was pleased with his result in the Gemini Elva, but Dobson lost drive within yards of the start and his Locost triggered a red flag stoppage.

Class C is a little short on numbers but Iain Gorrie’s Spire GTR is out for the first time, joined by Dave and Alastair Chilton’s MK GTi’s. Garry Wardle’s Porsche 997 heads class D and should be at the front overall, but Oliver Thomas will be hoping for better weather, as his Subaru Impreza struggled for grip in the wet opener. Completing the class quartet are Mike Hurst, who had a disastrous opening round too in his Seat Leon Cupra and Ralph Underwood who gave Oulton a miss too in his TR7 V8.

Class E could be the closest contest of the day, as Paul Rotheroe gets back up to pace, after returning at Oulton with his Citroen Xsara after a year out. He has Jamie Cryer’s Ginetta G20, now with a bigger engine, veteran Chris Maries in his Honda Integra R and Steve Rowles, who had the pace but no luck yet again, picking up a puncture at Oulton with his Honda Civic Type R. Brian Allen had hoped to debut his Ford Puma at Oulton, but it wasn’t quite ready, while Alex Modro’s Ford Focus should be pristine again after an off during qualifying at Oulton.

With Helen Allen busy walking the Great Wall of China, there are only three in class F. Robert Wakelin hadn’t even sat in his Honda Civic before debuting it at Oulton, but he is up against class champion Clive Dix’s Ford Puma and David Green’s Honda Civic.

The races are both on Sunday with classes being split, starting at 10.10, 11.55, 2.40 and 3.45.