CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship – OULTON PARK FINAL ROUNDS - PREVIEW

It’s finals weekend again at Oulton Park, with the usual double header, double points to crown the 2024 CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Champion.

Only one point splits Lee Bull’s Class E Renault Clio and Steven Parker’s Class D Ford Fiesta ST at the moment, but Parker still has to play his joker. Paul Masters is currently third in the Championship with his Class B Westfield, with Connor Modro back too in his Westfield, having missed the Anglesey triple header, and currently lies fourth.

Championship sponsor Ric Wood is due out in brother Julian’s Kia Optima again, heading a three-car Class A entry. Garry Wardle’s Audi A3 TCR is currently third in the Class, but with Simon Allaway’s Lotus Esprit and Jum Hutchinson’s Escort absent, he should clinch the Class title. Chris Petch’s Ginetta G50 completes the Class on his seasonal debut.

In Class B Masters and Modro have some stiff opposition. Roddie Paterson returns in his Caterham C400 and will be vying for overall race wins. Modro already has three wins under belt, while Ben Roberts will be hoping for a troublefree weekend in his Locost, to net his first, after finishing second in both Oulton races earlier in the season. Former Champion Jamie Cryer should move his Ginetta G20 into the top three in the Class, with Bod Buckby stepping down a class, but Mark Primett’s Banks Lotus Europa can’t discounted either. Alek Modro’s Fiesta ST150, Colin Robinson’s Ford Escort Mk1 and Den Davies’ Darrian complete the class.

Gary Warburton’s Mini Miglia has had little or no competition in Class C this year, but this Saturday he has Bod Buckby in a Caterham 310R, having stepped down from class B.

Chasing Parker in Class D will be Riccy Walker’s Mini F56 Challenge, another still to play his joker. But he has Ryan Nelson’s similar car to compete with, having made his race debut at Cadwell Park. Oliver Thomas will be pushing for a Class win in his Subaru Impreza, after another year of ups and downs. Clive Dix has had a mixed season too with his Mazda RX7. Long time supporters Ralph Underwood and Bob Claxton are due out in their TR7 V8 and VW Golf Gti and are joined by the BMW of rallyman Jon Madoc-Jones and Peter White’s Vauxhall Carlton GSi.

While Bull hopes to seal the Class E title, he has Paul Rotheroe’s Citroen Xsara VTS vying for the class wins. Matthew Jones’ Ford Focus is currently second in the Class ahead of Rotheroe, closely followed by Julian Wood’s BMW Compact. Cavan Taylor is back with his Clio and Stuart Connolly finally makes his delayed Championship debut with his Honda Civic. Oulton medic Nick Haynes is racing his Fiesta ST150, joined by Louie Dobson’s similar car, while after contesting race one, Rob Phillips hands his Honda Civic to debutant Chris Reynolds.

Siblings William and Georgie Bartlett are debutants to, sharing a Renault Clio and finally Helen Allen flies solo again in Class F with her Fiesta Zetec S.

It’s very qualifying at 8.30am, before lights out for race one at 11.30, before the finale at 3.05.

Published by Peter Scherer for BARC NW, October 9th 2024.