2002 Ferrari Challenge Round 1, Castle Combe
Above photos 'lifted' from Ferrari Challenge website
|
The Scott Racing & Imágika Sports team was out in force for the Ferrari Challenge season opener, hoping to make an impression. That objective was achieved sooner than expected when the team display stand caused a great deal of interest in the hospitality suite, not least for the fact that we would be showing TV footage from inside the SRIS team car, as soon as qualifying was over. The car in question was a white Ferrari 355 Challenge driven by Graham Scott, a veteran of powerful rear wheel drive Italian cars, but racing for the first time in this series. Qualifying itself went well as Graham built up to some very respectable times in his first race in this car, despite some very obvious handling difficulties, whilst one of his competitors thrilled the crowds with an impressive fireball as he passed the pits before coming to a halt along Avon Rise. Graham's times were good enough for 5th overall, and third in class. As race time approached the SRIS team scattered itself around the circuit, with two film crew locations (one at Camp corner, and one at Quarry) and the rest of the team making sure that our guests got the best views possible. As the lights went green, Graham got a storming start, and charged into 3rd overall (1st in class) by the time the pack came roaring into quarry corner for the first time. A missed gear on the exit could be forgiven, but was not about to be by those in hot pursuit, and he dropped back to fourth by the next corner, and ultimately to 5th again as he bowed to the pressure of Stevens and Reeder. Over the first couple of laps, the field remained fairly static. The two lead Ferrari 360's of Morley & Culver slowly pulling away from the field of 355's, headed by a close battle between Stevens and Reeder, with Graham Scott still in 5th. Late in the race Reeder spun out onto the grass at the exit of Quarry, rejoinging further down, and promoting Graham Scott to 4th overall, and 2nd in class. The marshalls signals to direct all but the first three cars back to the paddock after the race were somehow missed by a jubilant Scott who drew up alongside the lead trio on the startline to have a chat with the commentator. Altogether an imressive debut to this series, with more to come. |
