ROCKINGHAM RACE 2: DICK HANGS ON FOR SIXTH

Speedworks Motorsport's Christian Dick fought a rearguard action to claim vital points for sixth place in the second Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship race at Rockingham.

Despite struggling for power - he was no higher than 14th fastest in the speed traps - Dick hung on under racelong pressure. On the final lap, he narrowly kept Swede Hampus Rydman at bay, taking second by just 36-thousandths of a second.

"There's something not quite right this weekend," said Dick. "That wasn't much fun because I was just defending all the time. The only positive is that a few of the people close to us in the championship have hit problems and we've scored some decent points."

Dave Jackon and Richard Sykes both claimed their second top ten finishes of the weekend in ninth and tenth. The pair ran together throughout the race, with Sykes briefly getting ahead at the hairpin on the penultimate lap only to run wide and allow Jackson back past.

"I should have got him," said Sykes. "This isn't my favourite circuit and I didn't feel I was driving particularly well, so to come out of the weekend with two top ten finishes is fantastic."

Tony Hughes survived a nasty moment to claim 14th, one place ahead of Jonny Hyde.

"A car went off and came back across the track in front of me," said Hughes. "I had to take to the grass to avoid him and just ended up massively sideways on the grass! I was just coming back onto the track and I hit Jonathan Hawkins. Fortunately we both carried on!"

Neil Merry was on course for a top ten finish, only to spin into the gravel while attempting to pass Dave Jackson.

"I thought I would be able to get past Jacko and just put down the power too quickly," said Merry. "I spun and just caught the edge of the gravel and got sucked in."

Rockingham race two results
1 Matt Nicoll-Jones, 15 laps in 26m14.075s
2 Spencer McCarthy, +5.267s
3 Rob Austin, +7.566s
4 Joe Osborne, +16.329s
5 Frank Wrathall, +18.202s
6 Christian Dick, +18.910s
7 Hampus Rydman, +18.946s
8 Andy Smith, +23.902s
9 Dave Jackson, +24.837s
10 Richard Sykes, +25.496s
11 Julian Barratt, +27.553s
12 Ross Edwards, +42.146s
13 Stuart Pearson, +48.697s
14 Tony Hughes, +54.677s
15 Jonny Hyde, +59.868s
16 Neil Houston, +61.901s
17 Duncan Gass, +64.756s
18 Michael Ralph, +64.964s
19 Sarah Franklin, +66.136s
20 Paul Morgan, +67.013s
21 Steve Williams, +69.468s
22 Jonathan Hawkins, +70.159s
23 Paul Moden, +2 laps
NC Daniel Laddiman
DNF Miles Masarati
DNF Neil "the bulldozer" Merry - spin
DNF Ben Elliott

ROCKINGHAM RACE ONE: DICK GOES FOURTH

Speedworks Motorsport Team Principal Christian Dick took a strong fourth place in the first of two Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship races at Rockingham despite struggling with a differential problem.

Dick made a strong start from the third row of the grid to jump to third, but was demoted by Ben Elliott at the first hairpin on lap five. He then absorbed pressure from Reflex Racing's Andy Smith - who at one stage passed Dick through Turn 1 only to lose the position at the hairpin - to hold fourth to the finish.

"The diff problem made it very difficult off the corners," said Dick. "I thought that if I could get ahead of Ben at the final safety car restart I might be able to hold him off long enough to get a podium, but unfortunately I wasn't strong enough off the last turn."

Richard Sykes and Dave Jackson, who started 13th and 16th on the grid respectively, leaped into the top ten at the start and stayed there to the end, slipping behind both Frank Wrathall and Paul Moden to finish eighth and ninth.

"I had one very good lap and the rest were rubbish," said Sykes, who owed his making up ten positions on the first lap to a bold dive around the outside of the first hairpin. "After the first lap it was just a question of defending because I had a bit of understeer and was a bit tentative. It's great to be back in the top ten yet again!"

Neil Merry lost 13th place on the last lap when he spun into the gravel on the final lap after being forced onto the grass on the run to the Tarzan Hairpin earlier in the race. Merry, who had been running 11th at the time of the incident, was unimpressed by his assailant - Swede Hampus Rydman.

"He just punted me straight off," said Merry. "I couldn't believe it, he hit me once then just hit me again. My second off was just driver error. I was so determined to get back ahead of him, which I did, that I ended up overcooking it trying to make sure he stayed behind!"

Tony Hughes was another Speedworks driver to make a flying start, jumping from outside the top 20 to run as high as 14th. He finished 16th to pick up more solid points in his first season of racing.

"I always make good starts, but it was difficult to stay ahead of people because I was a bit down on power," said Hughes. "I was reeling people in on the infield second but people could get past me easily coming off the last corner."

Jonny Hyde, who started 26th on the grid, climbed as high as 14th, but ultimately slipped to 20th as he struggled to put the power down.

Rockingham race one results
1 Spencer McCarthy, 14 laps in 25m13.445s
2 Matt Nicoll-Jones, +0.755s
3 Ben Elliott, +1.145s
4 Christian Dick, +2.085s
5 Frank Wrathall, +3.260s
6 Andy Smith, +3.528s
7 Paul Moden, +3.916s
8 Richard Sykes, +4.689s
9 Dave Jackson, +5.454s
10 Julian Barratt, +6.062s
11 Stuart Pearson, +6.437s
12 Hampus Rydman, +9.267s
13 Ross Edwards, +10.423s
14 Jonathan Hawkins, +12.880s
15 Neil Houston, +13.078s
16 Tony Hughes, +13.834s
17 Paul Morgan, +14.133s
18 Duncan Gass, +16.604s
19 Michael Ralph, +17.439s
20 Jonny Hyde, +20.660s
21 Steve Williams, +20.918s
22 Sarah Franklin, +21.082s
DNF Neil Merry - spin
DNF Miles Masarati
DNF Rob Austin
DNF Joe Osborne
DNF Dan van Rosen
DNF Daniel Laddiman

DICK SIXTH AT ROCKINGHAM
Speedworks Motorsport Team Principal Christian Dick will start both of tomorrow's Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship from sixth on the grid. Dick put in a significant improvement on his final lap to snatch a place on row three for race one, with his second-best qualifying time good enough for the same position in race two.

"There wasn't much more in it to be honest," said Dick. "That was with a pretty much perfect tow, so we have a bit of work to do on the car for tomorrow to make up the gap."

Neil Merry surprised himself with a strong ninth on the grid, despite feeling that his session could have been much better.

"There was a big vibration at the front of the car and I really didn't feel I was that quick," said Neil. "To be told I was ninth was absolutely unvelieveable! It's very close in that part of the grid so the races tomorrow could be very busy."

Dave Jackson will start 13th, three places ahead of Richard Sykes. Both drivers wanted more laps on their first racing visits to the Rockingham track.

"I could just have done with some more laps," said Sykes. "I've got a lot of work to do on my driving for tomorrow because there are still a lot of places I can improve."

Tony Hughes qualified 22nd, but believed he could have done better but for traffic, while Jonny Hyde will have to fight his way up the order from the 13th row of the grid.

"It's just impossible to get the power down out of the corners without the wheels spinning," said Hyde. "By the time I got to full throttle everyone else was already pulling away on the straights."

Qualifying times (race two grid in brackets)
1 Spencer McCarthy, 1m33.038s (1)
2 Matt Nicoll-Jones, +0.145s (2)
3 Ben Elliott, +0.688s (3)
4 Rob Austin, +0.851s (4)
5 Andy Smith, +1.155s (5)
6 Christian Dick, +1.172s (6)
7 Joe Osborne, +1.200s (7)
8 Paul Moden, +1.292s (11)
9 Neil Merry, +1.385s (14)
10 Frank Wrathall, +1.430s (10)
11 Julian Barratt, +1.447s (12)
12 Stuart Pearson, +1.480s (9)
13 Dave Jackson, +1.644s (16)
14 Daniel Laddiman, +1.728s (15)
15 Hampus Rydman, +1.775s (8)
16 Richard Sykes, +1.885s (15)
17 Dan van Rosen, +2.835s (18)
18 Jonathan Hawkins, +2.868s (17)
19 Ross Edwards, +3.548s (19)
20 Duncan Gass, +3.895s (23)
21 Paul Morgan, +3.921s (21)
22 Tony Hughes, +4.145s (20)
23 Neil Houston, +4.353s (22)
24 Steve Williams, +5.109s (24)
25 Miles Masarati, +5.792s (25)
26 Jonny Hyde, +5.862s (26)
27 Sarah Franklin, +6.409s (28)
28 Michael Ralph, +6.444s (27)

DICK SEVENTH IN PRACTICE

Speedworks Motorsport's Christian Dick was seventh fastest in free practice ahead of the eight round of the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship at Rockingham.

Dick, racing at Rockingham for the first time since 2004, used the wet session to work on car setup and is confident of doing better in qualifying.

"Free practice is all about trying to get the car right for qualifying, and hopefully we'll be further up this afternoon," said Dick. "The conditions were tricky - it wasn't full blown wet - but it looks like it will be a dry qualifying session."

Dave Jackson just missed out on the top ten with the 11th fastest time, with Richard Sykes 18th. Both Tony Hughes and Jonny Hyde were outside the top 20 in 21st and 22nd respectively.

Neil Merry's session ended on just his third lap after spinning into the gravel early in the session.

"I just came off the corner a bit too quick and touched the grass," said Merry. "As it was wet it just went round. A few seconds after I got out another two cars collided and went off in the same place, but fortunately they went either side of my car!"

Free practice results
1 Matt Nicoll-Jones, 1m42.209s
2 Spencer McCarhty, +0.582s
3 Joe Osborne, +0.904s
4 Rob Austin, +1.439s
5 Hampus Rydman, +1.622s
6 Ben Elliott, +1.754s
7 Christian Dick, +1.836s
8 Paul Moden, +2.940s
9 Andy Smith, +2.983s
10 Daniel Laddiman, +3.335s
11 Dave Jackson, +3.504s
12 Frank Wrathall, +3.521s
13 Ross Edwards, +4.453s
14 Stuart Pearson, +4.594s
15 Michael Ralph, +4.998s
16 Richard Austin, +5.451s
17 Dan Van Rosen, +5.743s
18 Richard Sykes, +5.745s
19 Julian Barratt, +5.978s
20 Miles Masarati, +8.151s
21 Tony Hughes, +8.190s
22 Jonny Hyde, +8.611s
23 Neil Houston, +9.702s
24 Paul Morgan, +9.967s
25 Steve Williams, +11.423s
26 Neil Merry, +12.152s
27 Jonathan Hawkins, +13.054s
28 Sarah Franklin, +14.151s
29 James Fell, +22.255s

SIMMS AND STRAW MISS ROCKINGHAM

Speedworks Motorsport duo Gary Simms and Edd Straw have been forced to miss this weekend's Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship round at Rockingham because of accident damage sustained last time out at Croft.

Although the mechanical repairs on both cars were completed by Speedworks, both cars had suffered significant bodywork damage in separate accidents at the North Yorkshire circuit. The team uses outside contractors for body repairs, but unfortunately these did not have the capacity to complete the work in time.

"We're really disappointed that we haven't been able to get the cars out," said Speedworks Motorsport Team Principal Christian Dick. "Unfortunately we are at the mercy of outside contractors for the bodywork and there was not enough time to get the cars repaired. The damage was too much to simply patch up and, had we done so, it would have compromised both safety and performance."

Both drivers will return for the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship finale at Thruxton next month.

DICK WANTS FIRST WIN

Speedworks Motorsport Team Principal Christian Dick is targeting a first win of the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship season at Rockingham on Sunday.

Dick (pictured leading) was denied a double win last time out at Croft by a clutch problem and a clash with Frank Wrathall, but after taking pole position and a run of second places he is confident that the win will come.

“We’ve had four consecutive podium finishes so that first win has to be round the corner,” said Dick. It’s a very competitive championship and you have to get everything right to win – we’ve had a few slices of bad luck but that has to turn around soon! The team has been putting in an incredible amount of work this season and that will be rewarded soon."

Dick currently lies fourth in the championship standings, and is targeting a place in the top three by the end of the year.

“There’s no way of overhauling Matt Nicoll-Jones, who pretty much has the title won, but we’re not so far behind the rest,” said Dick. “I’ just going to concentrate on getting the best possible result in every race and with a bit of luck that will put is in the top three.”

For further information on the meeting, which also features the final rounds of the British Formula 3 and GT Championships, click here

G50 TO MAKE RACING DEBUT

The new Ginetta G50 will make a surprise racing debut in this weekend’s FIA GT4 event at French circuit Nogaro.

After kicking off its testing programme with the prototype earlier this month, Ginetta Cars owner Lawrence Tomlinson will race the car at Nogaro to assist with its development.

“We want to get as many miles on the car as we can, and learn as much as we can as soon as we can,” said Richard Dean, boss of Team LNT, which is developing the car. “It’s always been out intention to eventually take this car up to GT4 level, it’s just the opportunity has arisen for it to happen ahead of schedule.

“We’re not going with the expectation we’ll be running at the front, the car didn’t even exist 7 months ago, we are ahead of schedule but perhaps not competitively race ready. We just want to put the car through its paces and learn.”

Although the car is not homologated to race internationally, it has been granted FIA dispensation to appear at Nogaro. Long-term, the G50 is expected to run regularly at this level.

Speedworks Motorsport will run a pair of Ginetta G50s in next year’s British F3/GT-supporting championship and Team Principal Christian Dick will follow progress at Nogaro with interest.

“For a car this early in its development to race is a big ask, but I can certainly see it helping progress with the car,” said Dick. “It’s a very exciting project, and we’re looking forward to getting hold of our cars in the next couple of months.”

SPEEDWORKS FOR WINTER SERIES

Speedworks Motorsport is the first team to confirm its participation in the 2007 Ginetta Winter Series, which will run over two weekends in November.

The Winter Series will kick off with a double-header in support of the prestigious Walter Hayes Trophy meeting on the Silverstone National circuit on November 3/4, with a further two races on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit a week later.

Ginetta has put up a sizeable prize fund for the Winter Series, with the top points scorer receiving a full 2008 upgrade package and a free championship registration for the second-placed driver. Third overall will receive a £200 Ginetta gift voucher.

Although Speedworks has yet to confirm its line-up for the Winter Series, it is expecting to have a strong contingent in the field.

"We should have a decent number of cars out and I think a number of our drivers will fancy a shot at getting something out of the impressive prize package," said Speedworks Team Principal Christian Dick. "To have a support race at an event like the Walter Hayes Trophy is very fitting for the Ford-engined Ginetta G20, so that event in particular should be very exciting."

Speedworks won one of last year's two Winter Series races, with Dick and Paul Sheard winning a two-driver race at Brands Hatch.

Winter Series Schedule
November 3/4 Silverstone National
November 10/11 Brands Hatch Indy

SYKES GUNNING FOR TOP TEN

Speedworks Motorsport's Richard Sykes is confident of a strong finish to the
season to earn a place in the top ten in the Texaco Havoline Ginetta
Championship standings.

Sykes, in his first full season of racing, has hit top form since switching to
Speedworks ahead of the fifth round of the championship at Silverstone, and
has picked up five top ten finishes in the last seven races.

"I'm only 21 points off the top ten, so that has to be the aim," said Sykes.
"I'm really enjoying my racing at the moment and the atmosphere at the team
and that has definitely helped my performances.

"The highlight was probably at Silverstone where I qualified ahead of [Team
Principal] Christian Dick. I enjoyed that a lot!"

There are only two rounds of the championship remaining, to be held at
Rockingham and Thruxton, and Sykes is confident on going well at both
tracks.

"I¹ve not raced at Rockingham before, but had a good run in testing there
recently," said Sykes. "But I've got a bit of unfinished business with
Thruxton after having some bad luck there earlier in the year, so that's a
good place to finish the year!"

G50 DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES

Development of the new-for-2008 Ginetta G50 racecar continued at Croft circuit in North Yorkshire this week.

Speedworks Motorsport will run a pair of G50s in next year's British F3/GT-supporting championship for Richard Sykes and Team Principal Christian Dick alongside its Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship cars. Sykes was among the observers of the test - the first full-blown day of testing for the new machine which was first shaken down at Elvington Airfield last week - and saw the G50 run reliably throughout the day.

Speedworks is expecting to take delivery of its G50s to begin testing following the final round of the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship at Thruxton in mid-October.

"It seems that the development of the prototype is going very well," said Dick. "We've been following progress with interest and can't wait to get our hands on the car for ourselves!"

COACHING BOOSTS MERRY

Speedworks Motorsport driver Neil Merry has attributed his recent transformation into a regular top ten contender in the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship to a day of intensive tuition from Team Principal Christian Dick.

Merry has registered top ten finishes at both Brands Hatch and the recent Croft round, with a season’s best of eighth to his name. A test day at the North Yorkshire circuit with Dick helped Merry, who is in his fourth season of racing, to build the confidence he needed to run at the front.

“That one day just made so much difference to me,” said Merry. “To have someone there telling me what I was doing wrong and iron out a lot of those problems was a massive help. Now I feel really confident in the car.

“Then at Croft I found myself ahead of people like [reigning champion] Stewart Linn, which was a fantastic experience!”

Merry is targeting a finish in the top 15 of the championship this season. He currently lies 17th just 12 points away from his goal.

“At the start of the season I was aiming for the top ten, but that was before I realised just how high the standard is,” said Merry. “This is a very serious championship and I’m really enjoying the challenge. One more top ten before the end of the year would really make my season against this standard of driver.”

UPGRADES FOR GINETTA G20

The Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship will switch to new-specification 1.8-litre Ford Zetec engines next season.

Ginetta Cars is offering a comprehensive upgrade package, which will include throttle bodies, a new radiator, catalytic converter, exhaust system and ECU, to be fitted to the existing Ginetta G20 race cars. The specification of the cars will then be locked for three seasons from 2008.

“The old engines had to be replaced and Ginetta has come up with a cost-effective solution,” said Speedworks Motorsport Team Principal Christian Dick. “In this kind of championship stability is essential, so knowing that the car spec will remain unchanged until 2010 is fantastic news for all the competitors.”

In addition to the mandatory upgrades, it is also offering an FIA-specification ATL-built bag fuel tank, although this remains optional. However, Dick expects the majority of competitors to opt for a switch.

"The FIA-spec tanks are a lot safer and a very good move," said Dick. "I'd be surprised if pretty much everyone doesn't go for it next year."

GINETTAS ON TV

Highlights of the Thruxton round of the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship will be broadcast on Sky Sports on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Among the highlights of what was one of the most spectacular race meetings of the year are Speedworks Motorsport Team Principal Christian Dick’s race-leading star turn and the triumph and disaster of Neil Merry losing a top ten finish with a suspension problem on the last lap of race one after scything through the field from the back of the grid.

TV TIMES
Tuesday 18 September 1900 (Sky Sports Extra)
Wednesday 19 September 0130 (Sky Sports Extra)
Wednesday 19 September 0930 (Sky Sports 2)
Wednesday 19 September 1430 (Sky Sports 3)

GINETTA G50 SHAKEDOWN AT ELVINGTON

The new Ginetta G50 prototype was shaken down at Elvington this week.

Both reigning Texaco Havoline Ginetta Champion Stewart Linn and Ginetta owner Lawrence Tomlinson got behind the wheel of the new car, which Speedworks Motorsport will run two examples of in next year’s Ginetta G50 Championship.

“The progress that Ginetta has made with this car is stunning,” said Dick of the 300bhp Ford V6-powered machine. “We can’t wait to get our hands on the cars to see what they are capable of. The shakedown test sounds extremely promising.”

The Ginetta G50 Championship will join the British Formula 3 bill next season, with a run of 26 cards set to begin production imminently.

“What a great car!” said Linn after his run in the G50. “The throttle response is awesome. The power just pushes you back in your seat and we haven’t even been pushing it today!

“It handled really well too and with no problems which is remarkable straight from assembly. Can’t wait to try it out on a race track!”

The G50 is set to be officially launched later this month.

DICK SECOND AGAIN

Christian Dick claimed his second runner-up finish of the day in the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship at Croft.

Dick had led for much of the race, but was pushed into a spin at the hairpin while leading by Frank Wrathall.

"He came from a long way back so I gave him some room and was aiming to cut back to get ahead of him again on the straight," said Dick. "He touched me in the hairpin, which I had no problem with, but he kept on the throttle and just pushed me around. It's a shame because there was a win there for the taking."

Richard Sykes and Neil Merry claimed seventh and eighth for Speedworks Motorsport in a race which was curtailed by a red flag caused by a right-rear upright failure for Edd Straw.

"On the run up to the complex I just felt it go when I was flat out and it was a question of trying to keep the car in a straight line and get it stopped as it was impossible to steer," said Straw. "Unfortunately Chris Petch was behind me as the car slewed left and he was launched off the left side of my car. It's very unfortunate for him, but once the upright snapped I was a passenger."

Dave Jackson suffered a double disappointment, again running as high as third before being forced to retire with a broken throttle cable.

"It's so frustrating," said Jackson. "I was absolutely flying at Croft and could have had some great results. But the speed is there and I can't wait to get out again at Rockingham."

Croft race two results
1 Ben Elliott, 10 laps in 16m11.485s
2 Christian Dick, +4.406s
3 Daniel Laddiman, +5.701s
4 Frank Wrathall, +5.848s
5 Matt Nicoll-Jones, +8.477s
6 Stewart Linn, +9.146s
7 Richard Sykes, +9.648s
8 Neil Merry, +10.644s
9 Paul Moden, +11.488s
10 Richard Austin, +14.456s
11 Max Henderson, +17.953s
12 Julian Barratt, +20.696s
13 Tony Hughes, +31.219s
14 Martin Jones, +31.986s
15 Neil Houston, +33.003s
16 Edd Straw, +41.295s
17 Michael Ralph, +69.147s
18 Steve Williams, +82.269s
19 Laura Addison, +96.442s
20 John Jerstice, +100.554s
R Dave Jackson - throttle cable
R Andy Smith
R Chris Petch
DNS Gary Simms

CLUTCH PROBLEM COSTS DICK

Speedworks Motorsport Team Principal Christian Dick was denied a first Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship victory of the season after a clutch problem restricted him to second place at Croft.

Dick, who started from his first pole position of the season, had to give best to race winner Ben Elliott off the line as he struggled with the slipping clutch, and ended the race 1.313s down.

"I kept struggling on the gearchanges because of the clutch," said Dick. "It's a shame because the pace was there but second will have to do!"

Richard Sykes recovered from braking problems in qualiying which left him 14th on the grid to charge to another top ten finish in seventh to make it two Speedworks cars in the top ten. However, it could have been much better.

Dave Jackson, who ran as high as third, retired with a rear upright failure, while Neil Merry was putting in his most competitive showing of the year before clashing with Joe Osborne.

"He just drove into me," said Merry, who had started 12th on the grid. "It's a shame because we were on for a very good result. To be up and battling at the front is a fantastic experience."

Merry went on to finish 15th, two places behind Tony Hughes.

Edd Straw battled a power-sapping electrical problem to finish 17th, while racing newcomer Laura Addison had a solid race to pick up a point on debut in 20th.

Speedworks Ginetta Scholarship winner Gary Simms was on course for points, only to crash out of the race after clashing with Andy Coombs. He suffered significant front-left damage in the accident, which would keep him out of race two.

Croft race one results
1 Ben Elliott, 16 laps in 25m45.931s
2 Christian Dick, +1.313s
3 Frank Wrathall, +2.475s
4 Matt Nicoll-Jones, +2.719s
5 Daniel Laddiman, +21.647s
6 Stewart Linn, +32.312s
7 Richard Sykes, +34.286s
8 Max Henderson, +35.809s
9 Julian Barratt, +36.425s
10 Richard Austin, +54.072s
11 Chris Petch, +54.601s
12 Paul Moden, +55.154s
13 Tony Hughes, +56.779s
14 Martin Jones, +60.333s
15 Neil Merry, +74.851s
16 Neil Houston, +77.572s
17 Edd Straw, +77.652s
18 Steve Williams, +86.929s
19 John Jerstice, +1 lap
20 Laura Addison, +1 lap
R Andy Coombs
R Joe Osborne
R Andy Smith
R Michael Ralph
R Dave Jackson
R Gary Simms

DICK TAKES STUNNING POLE

Speedworks Motorsport Team Principal Christian Dick claimed a dramatic last-gasp pole position for the seventh round of the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship at Croft.

Dick lost his bonnet early in the session, setting a lap good enough pole position before having his times disallowed because of the significant aerodynamic advantage of running without it. However, the Speedworks Motorsport crew managed to recover the bonnet and repair it in time for Dick to rejoin in the closing stages of the session. With only seconds remaining, Dick posted a lap of 1m35.646s to claim pole by almost two-tenths of a second.

"For the three laps before that last one I was driving really badly," said Dick. "Several of them could have been good enough for pole, but I was trying a bit too hard and made mistakes. Then I managed to get that last one in! It's fantastic finally to get a pole."

"Obviously when I had pole early in the session without the bonnet everyone in the pit-lane was questioning it, so it was great to steal pole back at the end!"

Dave Jackson claimed an excellent seventh on the grid, one second behind Dick, but admitted that he could have done even better.

"I was slower than I was in free practice," he said. "But seventh is good and I'm right up there for race day. After a couple of disappointing races at Thruxton and Silverstone this is exactly what I needed."

Neil Merry qualified a solid 12th off the back of his strong run at Thruxton two weeks ago, while Richard Sykes was only 14th after suffering braking problems.

"It was frustrating," said Sykes. "I wound the brake bias right forward but I was still having problems with the rear brakes."

Edd Straw will start 16th, but despite crashing out at the first corner in the middle of the session declared himself happy with his progress.

"Other than crashing stupidly it was a promising session," said Straw. "I was trying to build up the pace lap on lap but was already leaving my braking very late for the first corner. It's a little frustrating because if I had stayed out I would have kept getting quicker and quicker."

Tony Hughes rounded out the top 20 on his first visit to Croft, with Speedworks Ginetta Scholarship winner Gary Simms 22nd.

"I'm really struggling for grip mid-corner," said Simms. "It's going to be hard work in the races, but I'll just have to go for it!"

Laura Addison, who is making her Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship debut, will start 25th.

Qualifying times
1 Christian Dick, 1m35.646s
2 Ben Elliott, +0.175s
3 Joe Osborne, +0.345s
4 Frank Wrathall, +0.568s
5 Daniel Laddiman, +0.629s
6 Matt Nicoll-Jones, +1.074s
7 Dave Jackson, +1.094s
8 Stewart Linn, +1.254s
9 Julian Barratt, +1.525s
10 Andy Smith, +1.595s
11 Max Henderson, +1.612s
12 Neil Merry, +1.633s
13 Richard Austin, +1.788s
14 Richard Sykes, +1.905s
15 Paul Moden, +2.113s
16 Edd Straw, +2.808s
17 Steve Williams, +3.227s
18 Martin Jones, +3.288s
19 Neil Houston, +3.422s
20 Tony Hughes, +3.492s
21 Michael Ralph, +3.963s
22 Gary Simms, +4.599s
23 Chris Petch, +5.208s
24 John Jerstice, +6.106s
25 Laura Addison, +9.256s

ADDISON TO MAKE GINETTA DEBUT

Racing newcomer Laura Addison will make her Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship debut at Croft for Speedworks Motorsport this weekend.

Addison made her competition debut behind the wheel of a Speedworks-run Ginetta G20 in last month’s Powernights events at Silverstone and Donington Park. In four starts, Addison took a best finish of ninth place, and Team Principal Christian Dick is confident she is ready for the challenge of the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship.

“Laura acquitted herself very well at Donington and Silverstone,” said Dick. “There were a lot of different speeds of cars on track in those events so you had to have your wits about you, and Laura picked up some good results.

“A full-on Ginetta round will be a very different experience for her, and I’m sure she’ll continue to learn and improve with every lap.”

Speedworks will field a total of eight cars at Croft, with Autosport journalist Edd Straw returning to action after missing the previous round of the championship at Thruxton.