CNC HEADS SORTS/SALOON CHAMPIONSHIP 2024

Croft – Rounds 3 & 4 Preview

After a bumper 30 car + entry for the opening rounds at Donington Park, it’s a little disappointing, but understandable after the high attrition at Donington, that only 20 are making the trip to Croft this weekend.

We have three of last years Class Champions in the line-up, with Class C winner Bod Buckby still getting used to his new Class B Caterham. Despite early teething problems at Donington, Bod even surprised himself, taking sixth overall in race two after retiring from the opener. Last years Class D Champion Riccy Walker has returned to defend his crown in another JCW Mini R56. He was second in Class in both races at Donington and in the top 10 overall too. The final returning Class Champion is Helen Allen in Class F, but this is her seasonal debut too in her Ford Fiesta Zetec. Unfortunately for Helen, she has no other cars in her class.

There’s also a returning former overall Champion too, with Simon Allaway back in action with his Lotus Esprit V8, with rebuilt engine hopefully sorted. It’s now 11 years since Simon took the title.

While Allaway is another solo runner in Class A, Buckby has six rivals for Class B honours. Former double Champion Jamie Cryer failed to make the start at Donington, after problems in qualifying with his Ginetta G20, but debutant Paul Masters had a great weekend in his Westfield. He was third overall in the second Donington race, after finishing fifth in race one.

Mark Primett also had a good run with his Banks Europa, taking a Class podium in race two and is one of the furthest travellers this weekend. Richard Hall is another who has upgraded his Caterham to a CSR, while the Class line-up at Croft is completed by Thomas Frankland’s Renault 5Gt Turbo.

Class D is another well supported Class, but a number were casualties at Donington. If Oliver Thomas has sorted his Subaru Impreza, he should be vying for Class honours with Walker, similarly Marshall Groves’ Vauxhall Vectra, which like Thomas’ Subaru, retired during race one.

Both David Jones’ Ford Focus and Steven Parker’s Fiesta ST had troubles too, Jones retiring in the first Donington race and Parker the second, after early promise. Clive Dix’s Mazda RX7 was a race one casualty, while Bob Claxton pulled his VW Golf Gti out after one race too. Cliff Butler completes the nine-car class, but is swapping his Vauxhall Carlton for his daughter Julie’s Holden Commodore this weekend.

With Class E and overall Championship leader Wayne Spiller’s Mazda RX8 among the absentees this weekend, both Peter Koukoulas’ Toyota MR2 and Matthew Jones’ Ford Focus will be looking to improve on their second place finishers from the opening rounds, while Julian Wood just looks to improve and get a finish in the ex Parker BMW Compact. Cavan Taylor’s Renault Clio completes the Class and will be just hoping to make his car driveable this weekend.

Qualifying takes place at 12.25 on Saturday for 20 minutes, followed by race one over 20 minutes at 3.50. Race two is on Sunday at 2.25.

Published by Peter Scherer for BARC NW, May 14th 2024.

Images by dwmotorsportphotography.com