DAVE LOWE has extended his lead in the Classic Formula Ford Championship. The Guernseyman, driving his Lotus 69, finished third overall and second in class A at the latest race held as part of the Brands Hatch Classic Festival.

It attracted an entry of 28 cars.

‘Unfortunately for me, a young hotshot [Neil Fowler], who has won the last two Historic Formula Ford series and is leading this year’s, decided to do our event and duly put his Lola on pole,’ said Lowe.

‘My Lotus ran perfectly to put me third on the grid but second in the A class.’

The race was uneventful, with the top three drivers holding their position throughout.

‘I had my mirrors full of Pembrey winner Paul Walton in his B-class Crossle but held him off to finish third overall and extend my championship lead,’ Lowe said.

Before the meeting at Brands Hatch, in an effort to cure the engine problems that blighted his first two meetings of the year, Lowe booked his car onto a rolling road at Gatwick.

‘The engineer drove the car up to 180kph but could not find any reason for the cutting-out.

‘He did alter the carb setting a little and replaced the plug leads for the set I was running on the electronic distributor so I went to Brands Hatch not convinced the problem was cured but unable to do anything else than race it.’

It turned out well for the Sarnian with his second place in the class.

The next Classic Formula Ford meeting is on 27 June at Mallory Park, Leicester, which is one of Lowe’s favourite circuits.