Castle Combe Entry and Qualification- April
There were a few new drivers and the usual familiar names & cars for the first races in the 2025 WSSCC Season, the 35th season! This time we were sharing the grid with the Castle Combe GTs. The track was wet early on, and although there was some morning Drizzle, later it was to dry up.
Prime drivers without a car were Chris Everill and Wayne Spiller, for various reasons . Among the New drivers were Doug Forbes (Ginetta G20) and Paul Endicott (Ford Ka. The one Alan Smith used) The Familiar faces included Russell Haggerty (Also Ford Ka) and Verity Banks (Renault Clio). Damian Longotano (Westfield SE) was on the WSSCC Pole. Craig Attard was giving Norwegian driver Hlynur Sigurhansson a One-off race in his Mazda RX8. Andrew Williams was running Veritys car and hopes to start racing again soon.
Among the Castle Combe GTs were a few Familiar names –Keith Butcher and Dave Scaramanga, Hopefully they may join us sometime soon.
Practice was to the Special Combe GT format. Ie the fastest lap time set the grid for Race One – your 2nd fastest time set the grid for Race Two. (Which was a change from WSSCC format.)
Race one – 20 mins – rolling start- track Wet
Although it wasn’t really raining, an annoying drizzle meant everyone who could, stayed on wet tyres. Craig Dolby running a Lambo GT3r-EX5200 took the lead and held it all the way doing 17 laps at the end. 2nd and over a minute plus behind was Dylan Popovic (Ginetta G50) with Keith Butcher (Lambo Huracan) for close company. 8th on 15 laps was Damian Longotano ,the first WSSCC contender over a minute plus ahead of our guest Hlynur Sigurhansson in 11th place -, in 13 laps was Doug Forbes (Ginetta G20 - first of the dual WSSCC & Castle Combe GTs contenders) 12Th was Russell Haggerty (Ford Ka) and he was chased by Verity Banks (the other WSSCC & Castle Combe GTs contender). In the later laps Verity seemed to be closing on Russell, but Russell put a spurt on, and then some lapped traffic, came up and got in the way of Verity, so Russell had a handy margin at the end. Final runner was Paul Endicott (Ford Ka) and in view that it was his first WSSCC race, under fire from the quicker Castle Combe GTs he was given ‘The WSSCC Driver of the race’ Award!
Race Two – 20 mins – rolling start- track Dry - Race Two – 20 mins – rolling start- track Dry --the grid for race 2
https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=CCRC/2025/251768gr2cgt.pdf
Craig Dolby running a Lambo GT3r-EX5200 took the lead and in a power display of driving, held the lead all the way, doing 19 laps at the end and lapping the entire grid in the process! 2nd and one lap down was Dylan Popovick (Ginetta G50)
Josh Smith was 3rd (Caterham7) with Dave Scaramanga(Audi R8) was 4th.
In 10th was Hlynur SIGURHANSSON in Craigs Mazda RX8
11thand the first WSSCC points scorer scorer was Damian with the Westfield hobbled by Gearbox problems. 12th was Doug FORBES and his Ginetta , the last Classified 20 minute finisherâ€!
As Craig Dolby was so quick. Russell, Verity and Paul were all classed as non finishers; that is until Andrew Barron (as our Clerk of the Course) got involved and pointed out to the timekeepers that Damian, Doug,Russell, Verity and Paul were all WSSCC /WRDA runners and should be classified separately! All now sorted!