NEWS
Molly Dodd at Snetterton
Dodd ’ s impressive debut
Molly Dodd made an impressive Historic Formula Ford 2000 debut at Snetterton in an ex-Andy Storer Royale RP27 . The 18-year-old student from Spalding is the daughter of former TVR Road Sports racer Julian . She has done several years of karting and three years in Junior Saloons , so has a reasonable amount of experience . However , FF2000 and wings and slicks was a new adventure . Apparently she has always wanted to race a single-seater and they ’ d only had the Royale a week when they ventured to Snetterton .
Remarkable Molly was 16th fastest from 32 cars in qualifying , although the races were hampered by teething issues including an oil leak .
Woodhouse plans
Former category champion Mark Woodhouse is hoping to do a full season in Formula Junior in his Lotus 20 and continued his campaign at the Donington Historic Festival . He ’ s not raced the Lotus regularly for four seasons , as it has been used successfully by his son Jack . Woodhouse senior will switch back to his frontengined Elva 100 for the next Formula Junior races at Cadwell Park in early June . Meanwhile , Mark ’ s son Jack hopes to join the Historic Formula Ford 2000 grid in due course in a rare Wimhurst , which is an ex-Damien Magee car . He ’ s had the car for about eight years but has always been short on time to complete the rebuild . Jack , who is a race engineer for the Arden single-seater team , hopes to have the car out testing later this year .
n Experienced hillclimber Nikki Cottrill hopes to make her race debut this season in a Lotus 61 in Historic Formula Ford . The car has been in the Cottrill family for 18 years and Nikki recently used it at Prescott after running it only once last year . With husband John aiming to race his Formula 2 Brabham BT30 and son Jack competing at the highest level of hillclimbing , it will be a busy season for the Worcestershire family .
Nikki Cottrill at Prescott
Briefs
n Andrew Hibberd did two Formula Junior races at the Donington Historic Festival to kick start his season . However , plans for his father Michael to also race were scuppered after dad ’ s Lotus 22 developed an engine issue in testing at Brands Hatch on Friday . Andrew raced his own Lotus 22 and also jumped into dad ’ s Lola Mk2 . He claimed two podiums but did not get out on Sunday as he was second reserve in the Lotus .
n Veteran racer Stuart Dix rejoined the Historic Formula Ford pack Snetterton in April for his first race in nearly two years . A nasty accident at Spa in July 2019 badly damaged his Reynard and last year Stuart started on-going cancer treatment , which put a temporary hold on his racing . However , now 72 , Stuart is back racing his Cooper Chinook and was warmly welcomed back by the HFF fraternity where Stuart and his wife Barbara are very popular .
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