REPORT : FORMULA JUNIOR
Hibberd and Drake battle
Juniors at Donington
The UK Formula Junior Championship continued at Donington Park at the beginning of May during the Historic Festival with three races for an entry of more than 50 cars . Paul Lawrence reports .
The opening race catered for the earlier cars , though not solely front-engined , but it was three front-engined cars that enacted a wonderful contest for the lead . Ray Mallock ( U2 Mk2 ), Chris Drake in the Terrier and Andrew Hibberd in his dad ’ s Lola Mk2 went wheel-to-wheel for much of the race . It was a wonderful contest , and each of them had a turn at the head of the pack , albeit briefly in Hibberd ’ s case . Into the later stages it was backmarker traffic that played a significant part in the final outcome . Mallock looked to have got the gap he needed after Drake locked a wheel as he dived into the Old Hairpin , scything past a backmarker in the process . Immediately , Mallock took a critical few yards ’ advantage . But within a lap , the tables were turned and Mallock found himself caught behind a slower
car as Drake came storming back into contention , and then went ahead to give the Terrier a famous victory . Hibberd was never far back in third . Nic Carlton-Smith was a good fourth in his Kieft although Alex Morton lost his chance of chasing the leading pack with a long trip through the gravel at McLean ’ s on the opening lap after avoiding another car . The second race was for the later cars , and this time it was an all rear-engined field . Unfortunately , what had all the hallmarks of being another cracker was rather diffused when Sam Wilson and James Murray went out the first corner in a tangle and Mark Woodhouse was sent to the pits with a damaged nose cone . After a safety car period to clear up the incident Richard Bradley just had the advantage over Andrew Hibberd , who was now in his own Lotus 22 . They quickly went clear and , though Hibberd gave valiant chase , Bradley ’ s Brabham BT2 was just too strong . Simon Diffey was a delighted third in his freshlyrestored Lotus ahead of Lee Mowle . On Sunday , a full grid with cars from both races came together for the weekend ’ s third Formula Junior race . Sunday ’ s race was a very straightforward affair for Bradley as Hibberd in the Lotus was only second reserve and didn ’ t get a place on the grid . Meanwhile , Drake was never entered for the race so Mallock had a clear run in the front-engined division . Bradley shot clear in the opening lap and simply built his lead lap-after-lap to run home a commanding winner from Richard Wilson ( Brabham BT6 ) and Adrian Russell ( Lotus 22 ). Behind Mallock in the front-engined ranks came Morton and Nick Taylor .
The Kieft of Nic Carlton-Smith
Richard Wilson ’ s Brabham
Richard Bradley took a Donington double
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