Leeroy Sebire’s blue Hyundai opened the day with victory in the standard tyres event. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0755843)
THE largest entry in years turned up for the opening autocross event of the 2009 summer season.
The 67 cars and drivers included the arrival of the Skips R Us sponsored red and yellow cars and 12 new drivers.
Throughout the afternoon the racing was never short of competitors, making life interesting for marshals and lap recorders alike.
The first race of the day was standard tyres which provided plenty of action from the 27 cars which lined up at the start line.
Leeroy Sebire led from start to finish in his blue Hyundai, with Nathan Pinchemain second and Dave Druce third despite a small collision with a back marker over the finish line.
Sebire continued his winning ways by also taking the flag in the second standard tyres race of the day from Shane Le Poidevin’s pink automatic Colt.
The reverse track with chicane race was re-started after an initial incident on lap two, but again Sebire and Le Poidevin finished first and second.
The heat races then provided more action with most of the regular competitors, Ian Robert, Callum Queripel, Sebire and defending summer champion ‘Ozzy’ Ozanne all making the race of the 1sts.
With six entries for the women’s race, Rachel Bihet borrowed her boyfriend’s car for the race and led from start to finish, with Tessa Le Gallez not far behind. Unfortunately the latter’s car stopped on the final lap, allowing Marilyn Robilliard to claim second.
The finals races were hotly contested from 5ths down to 1sts.
The blue Honda shared by Shaun Leigh and Mick Bichard was running well throughout the day and the latter won the race of 5ths and Leigh the race of 3rds.
The big race of the day, race of 1sts, soon had the sand flying.
Ozanne’s quick-starting blue Honda led around the first corner and never looked back, easily taking a race win and maximum points for the start of the season.
Behind him the quartet of high revving Hondas battled for position and Robert ultimately took second with Queripel third.
Queripel’s day improved however with a win in the reverse track race.
Trevor Breton had another good day out, and after kindly offering a passenger seat to a visiting UK surgeon, who wanted to experience the thrills of autocross, went on to win both the small and large cars races yet again.
He also finished second in the grand slam race.
That was the final race of the day and was won by Darren Le Gallez.
Article posted on 18th April, 2009 - 2.29pm
Most Commented: