REPORT : OULTON PARK GOLD CUP
Watts takes the gold
Warren Briggs flames out in HTC
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Once again , the Club ’ s Oulton Park Gold Cup weekend at the end of August delivered some outstanding racing on the beautiful parkland circuit in Cheshire . Paul Lawrence reports .
With bumper grids for most races , fine weather , a large and enthusiastic crowd and lots of off-track attractions , it all added to a great weekend of historic racing with 21 races across Sunday and Monday . The aggregate winner from the two races for the HSCC Historic Formula 2 Championship was awarded the hugely
Tom McArthur heads Callum Grant
prestigious Gold Cup . Ultimately , it was Matthew Watts who took the big prize after victory in the second race backed up a third overall in the opener . On Sunday , Andrew Smith just had the legs of Miles Griffiths ( Ralt RT1 ) to take a resounding win in his March 742 as Watts chased them home from a little distance back .
Local star Callum Grant was a magnificent fourth in his less powerful Formula Atlantic March 79B but denied a result , after starting at the back of the grid , was Matt Wrigley who made tremendous progress on the opening lap only to be later forced to retire with a lack of oil pressure . Mark Dwyer ( March 742 ) could also have featured but a bump of the start left him with a damaged wheel rim and resultant puncture at the first corner .
Monday ’ s race turned into one of attrition as Griffiths led the early laps from Smith . But the leading Ralt RT1 suddenly cut out without warning at the Knickerbrook chicane and Smith was so closely tucked in behind that he could not avoid contact . While Griffiths retired , Smith pressed on but with a damaged nose cone but eventually retired with engine issues .
Meanwhile , Watts had been running them very close and took over the lead but with Dwyer chasing him down . Dwyer got closer and closer but was then forced out with a major engine issue , leaving Watts a clear victor and winner of the Gold Cup .
Grant moved up to a superb second overall from James Murray , who had a