JUNIOR & FORMULA BLUE CHALLENGE ROUND 1
Following a harrowing winter period in full lockdown, which required the re-arrangement of the scheduled March opener, round 1 of the Blue Challenge took place at the Clay Pigeon Raceway on April 11th.
For the first time in several years, a Junior Blue grid was included. Here the newbies fought it out using lap times to determine the eventual winner. Throughout the series of timed sessions, the times were gradually lowered and indeed the eventual fastest took the lead in the very last session, with Rhys Staddon winning from Jamie Dart and Rudie Morten.
In the near capacity, Formula Blue grid ( 3 drivers were still under covid traveling restrictions) , an incredible weekend practice and racing took place. The grid included the top ten drivers from 2020, plus seven new drivers including four novices. Three different drivers took Heat wins, namely, Anthony Cleal, Richard Puddle and Dave Watts.
On-grid for the Final was Dave Watts on Pole, with Russell O’Neill sat alongside. The 2nd row had Rich Puddle and Serita Shone. Anthony Cleal and David Waldron filled row 3. At the start, Watts took the lead but a spin sent the hapless O’Neill spinning into Cleal, taking them both out. They both restarted dead last and proceeded to climb back up through the field. Cleal however, retired on lap 11 with a damaged rear bumper. O’Neill continued on his charge making it up to a very creditable 9th place, posting the fastest lap on the way.
At the front Watts very quickly established a lead which he was never to lose. Puddle was equally clear in 2nd from Taylor Waldron in 3rd. In 4th was the flying Sam Dible having started in 21st place, following a Heat weight infringement. Immediately behind Michael Bell had got the better of Serita Shone whilst overtaking a backmarker a few laps from the end. Billy Thomas, new to Formula Blue, having only just run in his new MAXI engine the week before, finished a very creditable 7th. In the novice race Tom Parker got the better of Kieran Quirke in 15th place.
Drivers now have two weeks before round 2 at Mansell Raceway on April 25th.
After this first round, Rhys Staddon heads the Junior Championship from Jamie Dart. In the Seniors, it is Dave Watts who takes the lead on 0 points.
2nd is Rich Puddle with 5 points and Taylor Waldron 3rd with 10 points.
In the Blue Master sub-class, it is Russell O’Neill who emerges in the lead with Billy Thomas 2nd and David Waldron in 3rd.
David Waldron fronts the Blue Veteran sections with 2 points from Kevin O’Neill ( 6 points) and David Goode in 3rd ( 8 points). Kevin O’Neil had a stormer of an opening round, in the Blue Legend sub-class, starting on Pole and finishing 1st. Behind him came David Goode and Chris Underhill.
In the Top weight sub-section, Billy Thomas holds a clear lead with 0 points, 2nd is team mate Ben Joseph on 5 points, and 3rd Paul Dible with 7 points.
The BLUE grid now moves on to the next (2nd) round at the Mansell Race Circuit, where the BLUE grid is full and closed.
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