After a lengthy break of over 12 years, the HITEK Electronic Materials Alfa Romeo Championship returns to the Silverstone GP circuit for only its second ever visit to contest the closing rounds of this year’s championship on the famous 3.66 mile Grand Prix layout.
Three drivers who competed on that last occasion are featuring on the grid today; race winner Roger Evans in the black GTV, second place in class E, or TS Cup driver James Ford in his familiar red 156 and class E pole sitter Dave Messenger, also in a 156 who unfortunately did not finish the 25 minute marathon! Also featuring on the timing screens but unfortunately not finishing that day was a certain Andrew Robinson in his class C 155!
Leading the championship after 10 rounds is Twin Spark Cup driver James Ford who holds a 7 point lead over 4 times champion Tom Hill in the Revs Italia 3.2 litre GT. The outcome is finely balanced as the two drivers are competing in different classes and with a potential 40+ points available there are many issues that could impact upon the final points tally, including the two dropped scores rule.
In the Modified class, leader Mike Hilton returns in his beautiful looking and rapid 4C holding a 16 point lead going into the final 3 races over Jamie Thwaites in the stunning and equally rapid Giulietta TCR car. 3rd place driver Mark Skeggs is only a further 12 points adrift in his GTV with Bianco Motorsports providing support to all the leading trio of cars. Andy Page in the 116 Giulietta is still hopeful of a podium position but needs to overturn a 15 point deficit in order to stand any chance of doing so. Father and son pairing Keith Waite and Tom Waite are out for the first time this season in their familiar 75 and 33 respectively and Simon Scott looks likely to be adding to the Modified class grid with the very fast Alfa Workshop Mito.
3rd overall after 10 races and having already secured the Power Trophy class win, Stacey Dennis returns in the Giulietta, although the dropped scores rule could potentially rule Stacey out of an overall podium finish. Stacey is joined once again in the class by Chris and Simon McFie in their very quick and nimble Fiat Punto Abarths and their close presence on the circuit usually guarantees some spectacular racing.
In the V6 class, Tom Hill is joined by the Darnell’s Engineering 156 GTA of Dave Messenger, Revs Italia’s own Roger Evans also driving a 156 GTA and Gabriele Iaccarino in the 3.2 GT, whilst regular Twin Spark Cup driver Toby Broome is joining the V6 ranks driving a Revs Italia 147 GTA for the first time and looking to maintain his challenge for a season’s championship podium overall.
In the Twin Spark Cup class, James Ford is joined once again by brother Richard in the black and gold 156, season regular Adrian Norman in the 147 and Edward Robinson looking to continue his improvement in the Bianco Motorsports supported 156.
Thanks go once again to HITEK Electronic Materials Ltd, Yokohama tyres, Axis Shift and the Alfa Romeo Owners Club, and to the 750 Motor Club for their valued support.
Keith Ford