Vernon and Sheard Share Knockhill Spoils

Kieran Vernon just holds onto his Championship lead coming away from Knockhill by finishing ahead of his nearest rivals in the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship.

It was a Vernon, Spencer McCarthy, Julian Barratt 1, 2, 3 in the first race, but a podium full of Speedworks Motorsport racers in the Team’s first ever clean sweep as Paul Sheard lead home Phil Sykes and Richard Sykes in the second.

Barratt qualified on pole for both races with Vernon alongside him, but a heavy rain shower before the second race scuppered their race for they remained on dry tyres whereas those who decided to change to wets came through to triumph.

Race 1

The top three remained in close proximity to each other in the first race ran in dry but cloudy conditions. Vernon lead into the first corner and held his lead until the 14th lap when McCarthy came through to the front for two laps.

First lap dramas came early for Michael Ralph who spun at the Seat Curves, Peter Dignan spinning coming out of Clarke’s, Edd Straw giving a barrier a little nudge and disturbing the setup of his car and Neil Merry also having a trip through the gravel at Seat at the end of the first lap.

Paul Marsh and Russell McCarthy enjoyed an opening mini-battle between them – both trading places until the fifth whereby Phil Sykes got ahead of McCarthy along Butchers.

A safety car period followed a lap later to recover local girl Emily Fletcher’s car from the gravel at Scotmans.

Thirteenth time into Seat Curves, Sykes just gets the advantage over Marsh but a nudge up the rear sends Sykes spinning off the circuit but able to recover to 9th but would go on to retire five laps from home.

A drive-through penalty was handed to Marsh for the incident which had him eventually finish in 6th place.

Pistonhead’s Peter Dignan had a fantastic recovery drive finishing in the top ten after his opening spin. Russell McCarthy’s race didn’t calm down either – Andy Smith keeping the pressure on until two laps to the flag where he nipped ahead for fourth place.

The two team-mates of Richard Sykes and Paul Shard also entertained the Knockhill visitors once Smith had moved ahead of Sheard on the 11th, Sykes also lead Sheard out of the hairpin. Further exchanges too place until Sykes managed to hold off Sheard to remain ahead to the end.

“That’s some more points towards the Championship!” said Vernon. “I had some pressure at some points but came out in the lead and that’s all that counts.”

Race 2

It was a gamble that paid off for the three Speedworks Motorsport stars of Paul Sheard, Phil Sykes and Richard Sykes when a heavy rain shower dampened the circuit just before the G20s were to be released on track.

The rain had stopped by the time the race started, and some hoped a dry line would form and give them the advantage towards the end of the race but this wasn’t the case for the three main Championship contenders of Kieran Vernon, Spencer McCarthy and pole-sitter Julian Barratt who all started on the dry tyres.

“Our tactic was to go out on same tyres as Spencer so as to try and beat him in the race” said Vernon. “I ended up 7th and Spencer 9th, so it worked so I’m not disappointed about not being on the podium.”

For Richard Sykes, he had a great fight from him from the back of the grid after problems in qualifying. Hit charge through the pack to finish on the podium was surprise for him, as he could see Paul Marsh ahead of him on the track in second place- pressurising leader Sheard for the lead, but a 10-second penalty given by the stewards dropped him down to 4th on the declared results.

Being “out of position at the start” was the reason for Marsh’s penalty – much to the dismay of the Tockwith Motorsport driver – especially after his race one penalty.

A start-line accident involving Paul Morgan and Neil Houston red flagged the race – Morgan’s car was left stranded with front-end damage after a coming-together with the pit wall.

An impressive run by Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship Peter Dignan had him finish in 5th in his Pistonheads-liveried car as did Steve Rigby, finishing in the top ten. Andy Smith – in contrast – had one his worst results down in 15th.

“The conditions early on were tricky so I knew I needed to make hay while it rained," said Sheard. "Once I was in the lead I tried to pull away, but it was difficult with Paul Marsh right on my bumper for a lot of the race."

“I thought I was in for third – was settling for third and was happy to take third but second’s much nicer” said Phil Sykes.

“I’m very happy with that” said a delighted Richard Sykes. “Qualifying last and getting up the grid, I’m very happy and made it a Speedworks 1, 2, 3!”

Rounds 7 and 8 will run at Croft, North Yorkshire on 26th / 27th April – the home circuit of Ginetta Cars.