Apologies the late posting of this report. There were some issues with obtaining photos of the races which were received at the same time as the Snetterton photos. One potential reporter went on holiday without filing any copy and I have lost my notes so this is going to be all bit brief. At least the photos are all to the usual high standard!

19 cars entered but sadly one of them, the Chris Goddard 308 GTB, barely ran as his resourceful team and extensive spare parts bin were not able to cope this time.

Two wins for Wayne Marrs in his 355/Ch, slightly off the pace on Saturday but two wins and a lap record on Sunday. On win for Tris Simpson (355/Ch) despite a 5 second penalty for exceeding track limits. He retired in the third race after a wrong gear selection. Sent an email reminding me of his great prowess in avoiding overrevving the engine.

Notably quick on Saturday the Fisk 550M briefly held the lead in the first race then after being given a gentle tap early in race two managed to park in the middle of the track for the rest of us to drive round him. Tim Mogridge finally turned up with what we are told is a standard road going engine in his 355/Ch, about time too. The 355/Chs of Darren Mills, Vance Kearney, and Nicky Paul Barron ran well at times but also had retirements.

Three Group 4 wins for Colin Sowter (348/Ch) ahead of the 328s of Nick Cartwright and Myles Paulton. Paulton missed one race delayed by a breakdown on his road car driving away from the circuit, I have not come across that excuse before.

Three Group 3 wins and a lap record for Jim Cartwright’s 328s GTB with Chris Butler and Peter Everingham in second and third places. Andy Riddoch in his first season of racing and first time on the GP circuit went quicker and quicker to just about match Everingham for pace in the third race, impressive.

Three Group 2 wins for Richard Fenny in his 308 GT4, he was a tad fortunate in the second race when Jago Keen (308 GTB) racing on the GP circuit for the first time had a spin at Copse on the final lap to lose the group lead.

Commentator Peter Snowdon reported that the livery on the 308 GT4 of William Moorwood looks particularly good when viewed from on high from the Silverstone Wing. And yes, three Group 1 wins.

Check out the ever improving Tristec race video compilations. Everingham’s overtaking as he enters and exits Luffield is very cool.

The brilliant sunshine on Sunday certainly helped. The track parade, and the array of every type of current tipo on display was all very impressive. FNE must have been very happy and hopefully there were plenty of potential new customers to be found in the paddock.

There’s lots more Silverstone pics in our Flickr section.

Principal guest reporter this time is Pete Fisk or, as he puts, it ‘PFfc Snetterton 2020 from a Class 5 perspective’. Actually he has done a good job in noting an awful lot.

On Friday morning at Snetterton we were met by clear blue skies and the frantic bellow of brightly-coloured 488 Challenge cars kindly drying the track ready for the PFfc lads to get started with free practice. Tim walker had re-emerged with his “spare” or perhaps better termed “for sale” 355, determined not to miss out on the end of season finale possible as a respite from spending every waking hour on the damaged 355/Ch.

FNE’s hospitality was up to its usual high standard with most of the competitors housed under the large and impressive marquee.  The grid was slightly light with several drivers missing in action but given the current circumstances understandable. There was an enthusiastic buzz around the cars as everyone prepared for the last weekend of term.

Slippery probably sums up morning practice, but conditions dried to enable some faster times as the session came to an end; Mills now looking quick in the middle of Group 5 with his times.  Qualifying was under dry and cloudy conditions and saw the Marrs/Simpson duo setting very quick times, Tris’ new tyres were clearly working well.

Mogridge and Fisk were enjoying themselves, but off the front row pace by 2 or 3 seconds.  Walker seemed to be having brake issues and was leaving lengthy black stripes and smoke all over the place.  The results were that the grid for Race 1 was looking familiar with Marrs on pole, then Simpson, Mogridge, Fisk, Mills, Walker and Compton-Goddard.

Walker had a weight issue (well actually it wasn’t just him it was his car as well) and Andy the scrutineer made him find a ballast box and add some weight after qualifying.  Further down the field Cartwright the younger was looking very quick in his standard Class 3 328 which is always off-putting.

RACE 1

Race 1 was actually held under pleasant conditions despite the forecast.  Walker, now with his brakes sorted seemed keen to get going.

Lights out and everyone got away cleanly, even Fisk managed an unusually decent start in the 550 Maranello getting back in touch with the leading 3 cars by the time they entered Riches.  The first lap was exciting with Marrs and Simpson neck and neck followed closely by Mogridge and Fisk.  Fisk tried two unusual passes on Mogridge, one on the outside at Agostini and another much more dramatic “go” on the outside at Brundle.  The latter attempt saw the two cars play the “I’m not braking first” game to the point where Fisk took to the grass only managing to rejoin just before Nelson.

The race played out in decent fashion with the leaders breaking away from the main pack by a margin.  Ten laps later the finish saw Marrs take the chequered flag with Simpson less than a second behind and Mogridge 3 seconds adrift in third.  Fisk held onto 4th, along the way setting a PFfc lap record (amazing! Ed) .  Walker had clearly got his car sorted and brought it home a respectable 5th followed by C-G.  Jim Cartwright achieved a new lap record and comfortably took Class 3, finishing ahead  of Nick who did the same in Class 4.  Mills, followed by the 328s of Everingham, Riddoch and Wharton made up the finishing order as far as Jago Keen in the 308 who earned his first and a well-deserved win in Class 2 against Fenny’s GT4.  The predicted rain finally arrived just after the race finished.

RACE 2

Saturday was a different scenario for weather.  Damp, properly cold and with no 488s to prepare the track our drivers were faced with some tricky conditions for Race 2.  Marrs was again on pole followed by Simpson, Fisk, Mogridge, Mills and Walker with Compton-Goddard on row 4.  Setting the marker for the conditions on the green flag lap was the sight of the 550, so sideways out of Montreal that Mills had to take avoiding action.  This was going to get interesting!

As the lights went out Simpson took off faster than a sailor with a four-hour pass, but Mogridge had also made a good start rapidly followed by Marrs.  Fisk sat with the wheels of the 550 spinning as Cartwright junior sped past like a rocket.  Lap one saw the front three cars glued together pursued by Jim Cartwright in his 328 driving like a man possessed.  Running 5th was Fisk with Mills crawling all over the rear of the big 550, Walker and Compton-Goddard not that far behind.  It was close and by lap 4 Marrs was within half a second of Simpson with Mogridge just a fraction behind.

However, it all changed on lap 5 when Marrs pulled his gear change clean out, coasting into the pits waving the offending article like some medieval knight in battle – his race over.  The two leading cars of Simpson and Mogridge continued with nothing between them, Cartwright in 3rd was having a storming Class 3 drive while further back Mills and C-G had both passed Fisk.  At the flag it was Simpson, carrying ballast, less than a second ahead of Mogridge and a brilliant 3rd overall for Jim Cartwright.  Just outside the podium was Mills who, with every weekend, looks like he is beginning to pose a threat to the old order.  Further back, C-G and Fisk headed Evers and Riddoch followed by Cartwright senior who took a win in Class 4.  Keen won Class 2 finishing ahead of Wharton and Fenny.

RACE 3

After what seemed an eternity of sitting around in the cold and wet it was time for Race 3.  Having watched the 488 Challenge cars blast up Senna Straight with rooster tails of spray 20ft high our drivers quite rightly approached the line with some apprehension.  The grid had been determined by the previous race result so it was Simpson on pole, Mogridge, Cartwright junior, Mills, Compton-Goddard, Fisk with Evers and Riddoch making up row 4.  Marrs after his DNF started from the back of the grid.

Walker, eyeing the conditions decided that discretion was the better part of valour and put his car on a trailer; similarly Wharton had developed front end issue in race 2 and retired his 328. The track was very wet and this time it was Jim Cartwright’s turn to spin exiting Montreal on the green flag lap, Mills once again taking avoiding action!

Two green flag laps were in order due to the poor conditions.  For the second time this season Fisk opted to start from the back of the grid, waving others by as they approached the start line.

No doubt the adrenalin was pumping when the red lights came on. Mogridge made a good start with Simpson not far behind.  Cartwright too made another great start and was close on the tails of the leading two cars.  Within a lap Simpson had closed on Mogridge and that was the way it stayed for several laps.  Meanwhile, Marrs was making great headway from the back row.  By lap 7 Marrs was up to 3rd and leader Mogridge was gapping Simpson in 2nd by some 14 seconds, a spin somewhere along the line delaying the Northerner.

Down the field others were clearly enjoying racing in the wet, the experienced and wily Evers posting fastest lap in Class 3 which must have concerned Cartwright junior bearing in mind the age gap!  Riddoch too came alive in the rain, passing a number of cars before suffering a clutch issue that put him off track briefly at Montreal losing him a couple of places.

As the chequered flag was waved it was a win for Mogridge by a 13 second margin to 2nd place man Simpson with Marrs completing the podium.

Jim Cartwright held on for 4th overall and a Class 3 win keeping just ahead of Evers.  6th and 7th went to C-G and Fisk respectively with Riddoch’s 328 finishing an unfortunate 8th.  Keen took another Class 2 win ahead of Fenny.  Daddy Cartwright suffered a DNF after a spin on lap 8 from which he couldn’t get going, and notably Mills had suffered a similar fate on lap one by leaving the track at considerable speed at Hamilton.

Yet another brilliant weekend of close competition and paddock laughs set against the fantastic backdrop of Ferrari North Europe’s 488 Challenge series brings the 2020 season to a close.  With all the trials that this year has brought it is with considerable thanks to the wonderful team at the FOC that we managed to squeeze a full season into a few months.  Sadly no party this year, but we shall all be making up for it in 2021……..with any luck!

A selection of pictures by Chris Leach is posted on our Flick page.

Another good weekend with 21 cars on grid. Including Tim Mogridge who was running as a guest seven of these cars compete in group 5, and judging from the first two meetings of the year group 5 is the most competitive.

Tris Simpson, acting as a guest reporter, provides his own distinctive take on the meeting. It is also well worth checking out his in-car video contributions which this year include a 360-degree camera. Key protagonists from the weekend are Tris Simpson, Tim Mogridge, Wayne Marrs, Vance Kearney, Nicky Paul-Barron and Darren Mills in 355s and Pete Fisk in his 550 Maranello.

 Sadly this year there was no gridwalk at the Festival Italia but MSV managed to generate a sizeable crowd of spectators and plenty of Italian car clubs taking part which included a good turnout of FOC members and their cars. Race entries were down on the excellent grid which took part in the first race meeting of the season. One potential entrant, ‘the last of the late enterers’ finally outdid himself and was not allowed to race having fallen foul of the Covid 19 protocols. Hopefully a lesson learnt!

Qualifying

There was a single qualifying session in which the two fastest times set the grid for the two races. Judging by the times the track conditions were not good as almost everyone recorded slightly slower times that those achieved three weeks ago.  On pole was guest driver Tim Mogridge in his 355/Ch with Tris Simpson (355/Ch) alongside him despite having a lap time disallowed for exceeding track limits. Vance Kearney, one of the few going quicker, was third also in a 355/Ch. Jago Keen qualified significantly quicker showing he is getting a better understanding of his newly acquired 308 GTB.

Race 1

The weather was not looking good in the afternoon and by the time the cars gathered together in the assembly area it began to rain to the extent that two green flag laps were mandated for the drivers to adjust to the changing track conditions. When the lights went out the race got safely under way despite some faltering starts on the right side of the grid which allowed Tim Walker (355) and Jim Cartwright (328 GTB) to make up places on the first lap.

As the race progressed the conditions deteriorated with Clearways, the long corner before the pit straight being particularly challenging. Everyone completed their quickest laps in the first third of the race and the most noticeable of these was Peter Fisk achieving fastest lap of all in his 550 Maranello fresh from a gearbox change following the last race meeting.

As the race progressed there was some very close racing without any significant movers and then it all happed on the last three laps. Kearney overtook Simpson, Jim Cartwright had been running strongly also overtook Simpson but also incurred a 5 second penalty for exceeding track limits and was classified behind him in the results. Nick Cartwright in his 328 GTB had been pressing Colin Sowter (348/Ch) finally passing him on the final lap to be best in Group 4.

Whilst Mogridge took an easy outright win it was Vance Kearney who was first of the PFfc runners.

Race 2

Kearney was unable to start race 2 due to a mechanical issue but Darren Mills  (355/Ch) who had to retire after 14 laps completed in Race 1 was able to make the grid. Conditions were similar to the first race, possibly a little wetter, making it a tricky surface on which to race with confidence.

As with the first race everyone got safely away albeit with one or two hesitant starts and by the end of the first lap Jim Cartwright was up to third place behind Mogridge and Simpson.  Running in 4th place was Walker whose car set up was decidedly unsuited to the conditions and would steadily drop back.  Peter Fisk was one to make a slow start but picked up his pace and by lap three he was running behind Peter Everingham (328 GTB) for what would become a very close race all the way to the finish.

All was to change on lap 10 when Jim Cartwright came to lap Mills and Chris Goddard (308 GTB) who were in a close race. Contact was made between Cartwright and Goddard resulting in Cartwright becoming stuck in the gravel trap at the top of the Druids hairpin and as a consequence of this the safety car was deployed.

After three laps of the safety car Mogridge and Simpson were able to continue their close race at the front lapping with near identical times, something Simpson attributed to a change in tyres which were giving him better grip. Regrettably Goddard retired on lap 14 after sustaining damage in the incident at Druids. Curiously the safety car seemed to help track conditions and lap speeds all increased over the last 7 laps.

Everingham and Fisk maintained their close race to the end with Fisk overtaking Everingham on the last lap of the race. On the final lap a driveshaft failed Keen’s 308 causing him to retire. Sowter took second place this time ahead of Nick Cartwright.

Race winner was guest driver Mogridge but Tris Simpson crossed the line less than ½ second behind. .

Brands Hatch Saturday 25 July 2020 the first PFfc race of the season and it was good to see so many cars back in action. No doubt the attraction of a rare opportunity to race on the GP circuit helped the raise the numbers and 23 cars were entered. This included welcome newcomers to the series Jago Keen and his newly acquired 308 GTB and Andy Riddoch for his first ever race in 328 GTB driven last year by Darren Mills. Robin Biesbroek appeared as a guest driver in a very original 348 Challenge which he had driven on the road from Holland to attend the meeting.

Nicky Paul-Barron is back racing again in his newly acquired 355/Ch, Paul Ugo now has a 328 GTB to race alongside the 308 GT4 of his son Charlie and Vance Kearney now has his white 355/Ch looking good and fully prepared for this late starting season. Steve Burns was in Imola so Gary Culver stood in as Series Co-ordinator for the weekend. The attention to detail of the running of the event by MSV following the well-worked guidelines of MSUK was all very good. It was certainly something of a bonus not have to go through signing on and scrutineering at the start of the meeting. That said Andy Bush was on hand to keep an eye on things with a very able assistant in the form of David Preston

Saturday Indy Circuit

Qualifying took place on a dry track in good conditions. Wayne Marrs (355/Ch) took a comfortable pole position with Tim Mogridge running as a guest in a similar car alongside him. Pete Fisk’s 550 was third just heading a very close bunch of the remaining Group Five Cars. Colin Sowter headed group 4 in his 348/Ch with Jim Cartwright very close behind him in his Group Three 328 GTB.

Race 1

The conditions would change radically for the race in the afternoon as there was steady rain as the cars lined up in the assembly area for two green flag laps before the start. For good reason the start for many was somewhat cautious but at the end of the first lap Mogridge was in the lead ahead of Marrs with Sowter up to overall 4^th place as everyone sought to get to grips with the very tricky and changing  conditions. Graham Hill bend seemed to be causing most of the problems with both Marrs and Riddock taking to the grass on exit but both were able to safely get back on track.

As the race progressed Mogridge remained in front.  The standout performance was by Jim Cartwright in his Group Three 328 GTB who was in 6^th place at the end of the first lap and by lap 5 was running behind Mogridge and kept his place despite the best attempts of Marrs behind him.

Elsewhere the notable performers in the conditions were Myles Paulton (328 GTS), Nick Cartwright (328 GTB) and Jago Keen all of whom made up places in the race. Thankfully there was no damage and no contact between the cars throughout the race which was given a very positive report from the clerk of the course.

It was great to be back racing again and the results, which of course never lie, record that Jim Cartwright won the first race of the 2020 PFfc season, although ‘guest’ Mogridge was first on the road.

Sunday Grand Prix Circuit

The Ferrari 488 Challenge track time requirement was a little shortened over the weekend and this afforded the our series not one but two races on the full Grand Prix circuit. A very rare privilege for a club racing series. Unlike Saturday afternoon the track conditions were excellent all day.

Race 2

Pole sitter Marrs made his customary poor start to allow guest driver Mogridge to take the lead. Sowter and Butler (328 GTBs) both made good starts gaining several places but lap times dropped consistently as for almost all competitors racing on the GP was a new experience and what a truly enjoyable experience it was.

Sowter lost his place to Paul-Barron on lap 3 and Butler found his mirrors full with Jim Cartwright’s 328 for a number of laps and eventually had to swop places on Lap 8. Paul Ugo in his only race of the weekend had been shadowing this pair and got past Butler a lap later.

Vance Kearney having started at the back of the grid was able to show some form and got up to 10^th place with Peter Everingham (328 GTB) very close behind him. There was some close racing at the back of the grid and William Moorwood (308 GT4) was under pressure from the quicker cars of guest Robin Biesbroek and the Group Two 308 GT4 of Richard Fenny who both got past him.

All credit then to race winner Wayne Marrs with second and third places taken Tris Simpson and Tim Walker in their 355’s. All this was followed by a distanced prize giving attended by Francesco Balli of FNE who is an enthusiastic supporter of our race series.

Race 3

The ‘Guest’ AKA Tim Mogridge took the lead at the start and held it for the whole race. Similarly, the top four cars behind him would all be in the same positions at the end of the first lap and keep them for the whole race. There was though plenty of close racing behind them helped by good starts from Sowter and Everingham.

Sowter and Paul-Barron had a very close race and it was not until the penultimate lap that the 355 got ahead of the 348. Likewise Everingham was able to keep Butler behind him for 8 laps and finished very close behind him. Burgo Wharton had a strong race in his Group Three 328 but would ultimately be overtaken by some quicker cars as they took advantage of the very fast sections on the GP loop.

Richard Fenny was going well but late in the race suffered a second drive shaft failure in exactly the same place as the first failure which forced him to retire.

So well done the front three of the PFfc, Marrs, Simpson, and Walker who repeated their performance in the earlier race on the GP circuit. Thanks should go to all who organised the meeting so well in an event which has given us all confidence to attend future meetings.

For lots more pictures of the weekend go to our Club’s Flickr pages.