MA5DAs AMASS AT OULTON
August 24, 2011 - Paul McErlean
More than 100 Mazda MX5s will be at Oulton Park tomorrow. Photo: Jon Elsey Photography
The massed ranks of the Ma5da MX5 Championship for Mk1's and the MX5 Cup for Mk3's will descend on Oulton Park tomorrow for a one day meeting packed with eleven races, seven of which feature the Japanese marque.
At least 83 Mk1 MX5s will line up for qualifying on Saturday morning and will then be split into five groups. There are then five races, each of which will feature two groups, producing a grid of around 30 cars. This ensures that the vast numbers of Mk1 competitors get to complete two rounds each. 2009 champion Tom Roche has the lead after the first four rounds and he is desperate to win back the crown he lost to Rob Boston last year.
Speaking of Rob Boston, he is the man heading the fledgling points table in the MX5 Cup. Having gained full MSA Championship status for 2011, after a series of races in 2010, there are now 36 Mk3 MX5 cars built for the first year of the successful off-shoot.
One man rolling back the years in the Pre 90 class of the Avon Tyres Formula Ford 1600cc Northern Championship is Medina Sport boss John Loebell. John hasn't competed regularly for many years, but with all his customers running in the Post 89 category this season, he has taken the opportunity to compete himself in Pre 90 – and what a great job he is doing, leading the points table by 17 points from Jeff Hodgson.
Meanwhile, the Post 89 class is being led by Liverpuddlian John Murphy, despite some mixed result at the Donington away day. John will need to be back on form as the chasing pack of Jamie Jardine, Martin Short and Chris Chisnall are closing in fast.
The Design911.com Porsche Championship makes its annual visit to the Cheshire circuit with Boxster campaigner Dave Clark threatening to carry all before him. The Southampton based driver has won all six rounds so far. There are plenty of Boxsters showing the potential to challenge Dave but none have been able to fulfil it to date.
The fight for top spot is closer in the 924's where Jayson Flegg, Andrew Hannington, Alfred Piesinger and Adam Croft have all taken the chequered flag this season but it's the Austrian exile Piesinger that looks down on the rest, albeit by just two points from Flegg.