BBC 3CR motorsport round-up

By Bob Bull
BBC Three Counties Radio

Northamptonshire welcomed the major race meeting of the weekend as the second round of the Dunlop British Touring Car Championship took place at Rockingham.

In the first race, Hemel Hempstead's Matt Hamilton, driving for Watford TH Motorsport, came in 15th in his Honda while Harpenden's Dave Pinkney finished 18th in a Vectra and Andy Neate from Aylesbury retired his BMW on lap one.

Race two saw Neate home in 11th, Hamilton in 14th and Pinkney 16th, but the third round saw the Aylesbury driver home in ninth spot, picking up two championship points. Hamilton finished in 12th spot while the unfortunate Pinkney was forced out on the first lap.

Chris Philips impressed in his 1958 Lola

Teenager Tom Ingram, from Marlow, gave local fans something to cheer about with two solid performances in the Ginetta Junior Championship rounds.

Ingram took a good fourth place in the first of two races, and despite finishing on the podium in race two, the stewards judged his final corner pass on Louise Richardson unfair and relegated him to fourth spot.

Ingram had battled all race with Richardson and their pace brought them right on to the tail of the second-placed car with just two laps to go.

He finally managed to get his nose alongside going into the last corner, but Richardson turned in and contact pushed her into a spin.

The two are now tied in second place in the title chase, seven points behind the leader, Jake Hill, but Ingram desperately needs financial help before the next round at Brands Hatch.

Milton Keynes driver, Glynn McMenamin was competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup series and had mixed fortunes in his two races.

He finished 22nd in race one but posted the fastest lap in his class, and went on to take 11th spot overall and a class win, once again with fastest lap, in the ProAm2 category of round two. Liam Griffin came home in 16th and 18th places respectively in the two rounds.

Meanwhile Silverstone echoed to the sound of racing from days gone by when the Vintage Sports Car Club held their 'Spring Start Meeting' at the circuit on Saturday, with cars ranging in age from a 1905 Darracq to a 1964 Cooper Grand Prix car.

Rachel Singer in her 1923 Bentley

Despite the age and value of the machinery, the racing was close and exciting. Amongst the competitors on the famous track was Chris Philips from Whittlebury who drove a 1958 Lola sports car of 1220cc, leaving behind a 3.0 litre Maserati driven by Nick Mason, drummer of the Pink Floyd pop group.

Rachel Singer from Watford drove her 3.0 litre supercharged, 1923 Bentley in the Fox and Nicholls Trophy, but this is not a car to run with the leaders. A number of other Three Counties drivers were entered but failed to start their races.