Pembrey 02-03 July 2011

We chose not to attend this round, the Tipo is just too heavy to compete with Gordon Mason's Peugeot, let alone Nick Boon's Honda Civic.

Rounds five and six of the 2011 BRSCC Euro Saloon and Sports Car Championship took place at Pembrey after an absence from the circuit of four years. And not only was the circuit and their personnel very welcoming – so was the weather.

Qualifying (Saturday):
Richard Hawken (Nissan Primera) continued his good form by claiming pole position by just 4/10ths from Keith Butcher (Nissan Primera) with the third SuperTouring Car of Derek Hale (Honda Accord) another 1/10th behind. David Krayem (Ginetta G50) headed Class A in 4th overall from Barry Squibb (Mitsubishi Evo 9).

Mark Todd won the battle of the Class C Seat Leons from Nick Hayes, while Andy Jordan (Renault Clio) headed Class D and Nick Boon (Honda Civic Type R) took Class E pole.

Race (Saturday):
Barry Squibb got away from 5th on the grid to lead at the end of the first lap by 3/10ths from Keith Butcher with Richard Hawken in close attendance. Already there was a 2 second gap back to Derek Hale in 4th. Squibb slowed dramatically on lap 2 and fell quickly down the grid until his retirement half way through the race. Butcher extended his lead over Hawken and pulled away to a comfortable 24 second win. John Wilson (TVR Cerbera) got past Hawken on lap 7 but fell down the order on lap 12 before recovering back to 5th place. David Krayem had been shadowing Hawken and moved up into 2nd place on lap 19, Hawken losing another place and the Class B win to Hale late in the race.

In Class C, Mark Todd had a poor first lap allowing Nick Hayes to get a break on him. Todd moved slowly back up the field but Hayes was well clear when Todd was forced to retire, Hayes taking the class win. Andy Jordan in Class D was too fast for brother Ian (Renault Clio) and took a comfortable class win.

Qualifying (Sunday):
With more track time, so the qualifying times improved. But still Hawken on pole (by ¼ second) from Butcher. This time Krayem took Class A pole ahead of Class B Hale. Squibb had resolved the race one problems and was 5th on the grid.

Hayes took Class C pole in 8th from Todd back in 10th, while Andy Jordan and Nick Boon took Class D and E pole.

Race (Sunday):
A shortened race, Butcher was leading from Krayem and Hawken when he retired. Shortly after Krayem went on the grass and spun back across the track, the resulting collision taking him and Hawken out of the race, and bringing out the red flag after just 5 laps.

Squibb won the race and Class A, while Ilsa Cox (Seat Leon Cupra) took Class B win and second place with Derek Hale third and John Wilson 4th, some 20 seconds clear of 5th place, Class D winner Andy Jordan. Hayes beat Todd by 1.5 seconds to take the Class C win while Boon took his second Class E win of the weekend.

Hawken’s non-finish in race two means he drops to second in the championship (118) behind Andy Jordan (134) while Nick Hayes (114) moves up to third.

Check out the current points standing.

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