Meeting number two of the 2010 BriSCA F1 season was staged at the Norfolk Arena, Kings Lynn on a dry sunny and mild evening. Racefans entering the arena were able to view first hand yet more improvements to spectator facilities, with another bank of new raised terracing being constructed around turns three and four which will enhance further the viewing experience at the Saddlebow Road venue. 27 cars contested the meeting with the traditional Whites and Yellows, Stars of Tomorrow race, preceeding an all in format of two heats, final and Grand National Championship Qualifier.

Photo Colin Casserley.

Pre meeting pit walk revealed a very welcome Dutch visitor in Arjan Ligthart (H112), a new car for Danny Wainman (212), Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) in the borrowed Tony Smith (91) machine, Mathew Newson (16) driving a Steve Lewin (129) car and track debuts for Paul Redfern (252) and Joshua Smith (191), in an F1, the latter of course being an experienced hand from ministox.

The opening event for Whites and Yellows saw 12 cars enter, and produced a very popular win for KL regular Tim Warwick (307), who put aside pre-meeting fears over the cars handling running the new Goodyear outside rear tyre, to record a comfortable victory, with only John Lawn (441) threatening to close in at the end of the ten lap dash. Joshua Smith (191) produced a mature drive to come home in third spot.

Photo Colin Casserley

Heat 1 proper saw 25 make the grid, with Dutch racer Ligthart (H112) racing from the white grade into a very early lead before James Neachell (322) went past on lap 3. Ryan Harrison (197) continued to impress on the shale in second with Dan Johnson (4) also looking strong in third. Neachell went on to record a comfortable victory, with Johnson overhauling Harrison for second, the 197 machine placing fourth, behind the flying Mat Newson (16). FWJ was out of luck in the borrowed 91 machine, pulling off midway through the race with what appeared to be mechanical problems.

Photo Colin Casserley

Neil Scriven (11) and Geoff Nickolls (215) both took turns at leading the early laps of the 22 car second heat, before a fast moving and aggressive Craig Finnikin (55), eager to protect his lead at the top of the points chart, went bustling through to head the pack. Steven Cayzer (380) was also getting to grips well with the slick surface and went through into second spot, Wainman Jnr (515) looking stronger, placing third when the chequered flag fell.

The meeting final saw another 22 car grid and also saw another victory for Craig Finnikin (55) but that doesn’t begin to tell the story of how Tony Smith (91) seemed to have the race well and truly in the bag, until a bout of waved yellows were thrown after a pile up on turns one and two, into which, Wainman Jnr (515) had been dispatched by Johnson (4). With only a couple of laps remaining, Smith saw his healthy lead evaporate, with Finnikin and the rest of the challengers now on his back bumper, and with a smoking engine, Smith simply couldn’t hold back the tide, and the 55 machine went sweeping through on the restart to take his second win of the night from the impressive Johnson, Paul Harrison (2) and Smith (91) coming home in fourth spot.

Photo Colin Casserley

The final F1 race of the night, the Grand National Championship Qualifier, saw 15 drivers take the track, with final winner Finnikin taking the handicap. Dutchman Ligthart and Tony Smith both occupied lead position until Dan Johnson (4) went into the lead at half distance, one which he was in no mood to relinquish. Paul Hines (259) followed him over the line for second, Newson (16) third. Final winner Finnikin finished out of the top ten places, down in thirteenth spot.

Photo Paul Tully

So Craig Finnikin still holding sway at the top of the points chart after two meetings, will the traditionally hectic Easter weekend see anyone mount a challenge? All roads lead to Skegness, Coventry and Belle Vue to find out.

Andre Zang