[Jesper OH]

Round 2 – Good Friday April 17 1987, Oulton Park

New chikane introduced at Foulstons, so a new set of lap records will be established on the 4.456 km circuit.

This and the following race clashed with round 2 of the WTCC at Jarama held over the same weekend, depriving the Brits of Andy Rouse. Chris Hodgetts managed to squeeze in all three races though. Dennis Leech was at home nursing a hand that somehow got involved with a lawnmover (!), while Toyota drivers Tony Crudgington and Geoff Kimber-Smith hadn't sorted out their engine troubles from the opening round only five days earlier and was on the missing list as well. This would make the three CHMS Corollas the sole class D entries, with Hodgetts joined by Chuck Nicholson and Alex Moss for this race. Colin Pearcy was also missing from action, reason unknown.
The second Alfa 75 Turbo was ready though adding Rob Kirby to the field as would now former Renault Cup racer Roger Saunders. A third new entry was the Alan Docking run Holden Commodore VK for Mike O'Brien. The car had raced in the hands of Allan Grice back in Australia only five weeks earlier. The Mike Newman BMW 635CSi had been on British soil for some considerably longer time and would also see it's first 1987 race here at Oulton Park. This still only managed to end with 14 starters for the race.

Grid:
1.Mike O'Brien, 1:45.53 – class A pole
2.Tim Harvey, 1:45.92
3.Mike Newman, 1:47.97
4.David Carvell, 1:48.18
5.Graham Scarborough, 1:48.88
6.Graham Goode, 1:49.49
7.Peter Hall, 1:50.20
8.Chris Hodgetts, 1:50.40 – class D pole
9.Chuck Nicholson, 1:53.88
10.Jon Dooley, 1:55.76 – class B pole
11.Roger Saunders, 2:02.67 – class C pole
? Mark Hales, no time – 10 second delay at start
? Alex Moss, no time – 10 second delay at start
? Rob Kirby, no time – 10 second delay at start

Mike O’Brien took advantage of his pole and horse power to lead away from the grid, but was harassed by fellow front row man Tim Harvey. The Rover, with its front spoiler askew, was all over the back of the Holden Commodore and made a decisive move at the right hand Knickerbrook on lap 2. Harvey would soon be alone in front as the Australian V8 machine became a V7 and O’Brien an early retiree.
This left Mike Newman and his BMW 635 CSi in second, with David Carvell, Graham Goode and Graham Scarborough contesting third in the early laps. Goode brought the Listerine Sierra into contention by leaving this group and hunting down Newman, who he deposed of at mid-distance and even started to make in rows into Tim Harvey’s race lead. A couple of quick circuits by Harvey settled the matter. Mike Newman held on to third at the finish, but had Graham Scarborough and a slow starting Peter Hall on his tail by then. David Carvell fought deteriorating tyres and dropped out of this battle and finished a lonely sixth.
As at Silverstone Mark Hales finished best of the rest, but only when Chris Hodgetts decided to play a little with his teammates Chuck Nicholson and Alex Moss near the end of the race. The Alfa Romeo Dealer Team was up to two cars with Rob Kirby joining in a second 75 Turbo, but retired after but two laps with a melted piston, leaving Jon Dooley to challenge Mark Hales for class B honours. He did fine until a couple of wheel bolts left early in the race and had to settle for 12th and last beaten by lonely class C competitor Roger Saunders.

Results:
1./ #8 / Tim Harvey / Maguire / A / Rover Vitesse / 14 laps / 25m36.81s / class winner - FL
2./ #6 / Graham Goode / Goode / A / Ford Sierra RS Cosworth / 14 laps / 25m39.55s
3./ #10 / Mike Newman / Newman / A / BMW 635CSi / 14 laps / 25m50.13s
4./ #3 / Graham Scarborough / Letchworth Roofing / A / Rover Vitesse / 14 laps / 25m51.43s
5./ #2 / Peter Hall / Rouse / A / Ford Sierra RS Cosworth / 14 laps / 25m53.49s
6./ #? / David Carvell / Appleyard / Rover Vitesse / 14 laps / 26m14.76s
7./ #? / Mark Hales / Drury / B / Ford Escort RS Turbo / 14 laps / 26m48.72s / class winner – FL
8./ #66 / Chris Hodgetts / Hodgetts / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 14 laps / 27m12.91s / class winner - FL
9./ #? / Chuck Nicholson / Hodgetts / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 14 laps / 27m13.17s
10./ #? / Alex Moss / Hodgetts / D / Toyota Corolla GT / 14 laps / 27m13.62s
11./ #45? / Roger Saunders / C / Renault 5 GT Turbo / 13 laps / class winner – FL
12./ #31 / Jon Dooley / Dooley / B / Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo / 13 laps
DNFs
#7 / Mike O'Brien / Docking / A / Holden Commodore VK / 4 laps / overheating
#30 / Rob Kirby / Dooley / B / Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo / 2 laps / piston

Championship standing – my notes
1.Chris Hodgetts, 17 points (10+7)
2.Mark Hales, 14 points (7+7)
3.Andy Rouse, 10 points (10+0)
3.Tim Harvey, 10 points (0+10)
5.Graham Goode, 8 points (2+6)
6.5. Jon Dooley, 8 points (4+4)
7.Dennis Leech, 6 points (6+0)
7.Alan Minshaw, 6 points (6+0)
9.David Carvell, 5 points (4+1)
9.Peter Hall, 5 points (3+2)
9.Colin Pearcy, 5 points (5+0)
9.Roger Saunders, 5 points? (0+5?)
13.Mike Newman, 4 points (0+4)
13.Graham Scarborough, 4 points (1+3)
13.Paul Longfield, 4 points (4+0)
13.Chuck Nicholson, 4 points (0+4)
17.Alex Moss, 3 points (0+3)

Jesper