The 1996 Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance
Formula 2000 Championship
Rounds 9 & 10 - Mallory Park, 22nd September 1996
FENNYMORE TAKES CROWN
FENNYMORE TAKES CROWNGraham Fennymore provided the ultimate confirmation of his season long domination on Sunday, by winning both races in the Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Formula 2000 Championship - 9 wins from 10 races!
But the pressure was on at Mallory Park, as James Beales impressed again, this time by putting his M.E. Motorsport machine on pole for both events. The tight, short circuit could easily have made for a change in Beales' fortunes and a turning point against Fennymores hold on the points table.
In race one, at the start, Beales was quick off the line, as Fennymore seemed to miss the lights, dropping back to 6th by the exit of the daunting Gerrards. The anticipattion of a win for Beales was shortlived however, as backmarker Vince Tweedy spun at the quick Gerrards, leaving his car stranded on the circuit - out came the red flags and a restart was ordered.
On the restart Fennymore was in control, this time the front row pair dived into Gerrards side by side, Beales on the inside interlocking wheels with the Champion elect. Fennymore managed to be the first man at the Gerrards halfway point and thats the way he kept it. Beales looked like a threat all race long but never got close enough for a serious challenge once the pack had two laps behind them.
Other battles raged all the way down the field, Mike Doble and Elliot Lewis were nose to tail all the way, Elliot fending off his attacker to the end by a tiny margin for 3rd. Meanwhile, Steve Griffiths had the race of his life, working his way up the order from 8th to 4th at the flag - his best result of the season. Elliots first race result was subsequently dropped from 3rd to 6th after the official observers adjusted the results for a jump start and a 10 second penalty.
Race two saw a repeat for Fennymore and Beales and this time Doble was battling for 3rd with Robin Liddell. Robin misjudged the approach to the hairpin a few laps before the finish which gave Mike the chance to overtake and get his second 3rd of the day. Elliot Lewis had broken a CV-joint in the second qualifying session and lined up duly 10th, although never in sight of Doble, he managed a storming 5th behind Robin Liddell at the finish.
Champion Graham Fennymore can now look forward to the Brands Hatch grand finale without Championship pressures. He will be testing a Formula 3 race car with the Speedsport F3 Team at Silverstone within the next week or so as part of the Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Championship prize awards.
| Position | Car Number | Driver | Entrant | Race Points | £ Prize Money £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Graham Fennymore | Tecton Racing | 16 * | 300 |
| 2 | 9 | James Beales | M.E. Motorsport | 12 | 200 |
| 3 | 22 | Mike Doble | Privateer | 10 | 150 |
| 4 | 88 | Steve Griffiths | Delta Racing | 8 | 220 ** |
| 5 | 15 | Steffan Baker | Privateer | 6 | 110 |
| 6 | 1 | Elliot Lewis | M.E. Team 2000 | 5 | 100 |
| 7 | 2 | Mark Piercy | Aztek Racing | 4 | 90 |
| 8 | 5 | Mike Turner | Move Plus M/Sport | 3 | 80 |
| 9 | 6 | Mike Bate | Privateer | 2 | 70 |
| 10 | 28 | Martin Wallbank | Privateer | 1 | 60 |
| - | 7 | Robin Liddell | M.E. Motorsport | D.N.F. | - |
| - | 21 | Vincent Tweedy | Delta Racing | D.N.S. | - |
| - | 16 | William Lansbury | Move Plus M/Sport | D.N.S. | - |
| Position | Car Number | Driver | Entrant | Race Points | £ Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Graham Fennymore | Tecton Racing | 16 * | 300 |
| 2 | 9 | James Beales | M.E. Motorsport | 12 | 200 |
| 3 | 22 | Mike Doble | Privateer | 10 | 150 |
| 4 | 7 | Robin Liddell | M.E. Motorsport | 8 | 120 |
| 5 | 1 | Elliot Lewis | M.E. Team 2000 | 6 | 210 ** |
| 6 | 15 | Steffan Baker | Privateer | 5 | 100 |
| 7 | 88 | Steve Griffiths | Delta Racing | 4 | 90 |
| 8 | 2 | Mark Piercy | Aztek Racing | 3 | 80 |
| 9 | 5 | Mike Turner | Move Plus M/Sport | 2 | 70 |
| 10 | 6 | Mike Bate | Privateer | 1 | 60 |
| 11 | 16 | Vincent | Tweedy Delta Racing | - | - |
| 12 | 21 | William Lansbury | Move Plus M/Sport | - | - |
| - | 16 | Martin Wallbank | Privateer | D.N.S. | - |
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