Montoya wins a demolition derby

It took three starts to get the race underway. The first start resulted in a rash of accidents at the first corner - Risto Virtanen (Qualified 13th) pushed Angel Burgueno (Q14), who spun. He was then collected by Kazuto Yanagawa (Q24), other drivers spinning in avoidance. Out came the red flags while the mess was cleared up.

The second start had the potential to be fatal. Poleman Ralph Firman nearly stalled, and cars darted either side in avoidance. Brian Smith (Q21) was completely unsighted, and slammed straight into the back of Firman, turning him broadside in from of the traffic, causing the oncoming cars to brake harshly and swerve. These rapidly braking cars left the only female driver in the race, Paula Cook, with nowhere to go. She hit the rear wheel of one of the cars in front, her car being launched upwards into a horrific barrel roll, going over the top of Martin Byford. Apart from the chassis being destroyed, Paula was perfectly OK, if a little shaken.

On the third start, the field finally made it away, having had plenty of practice by this time. Jamie Davies still made a hash of it though, stalling. But everyone was used to accident avoidance by now, and the race continued.

Montoya led into the first corner, followed closely by Kane, who tried hard to regain his place through the Craner Curves, everyone else following in a bunch. Montoya wanted to make amends for Thruxton, and was soon charging away from the field, dragging Kane with him. This wasn't to last for long though, lap 2 and Kane's gearbox gave out, promoting Manning to second. Life then became much easier for Montoya, and he stroked to the flag, still managing to set fastest lap along the way.

There was still some action to be seen in the rest of the field though. At the end of lap 2, Martin Byford made an unsuccessful dive underneath Brian Cunningham into the final corner. Half way around they touched, and out they both went. Also on lap 2, Simon Wills went gravel crossing, and was extremely lucky to get out. Lap 8, and Philipp Hopkins lost it at McLeans (he was miraculously unhurt bar some internal bruising from his Thruxton shunt). For the leaders, the rest of the race was largely processional. There is only one solution: ban the air restrictors, and lessen the downforce. Then we might get some more overtaking.

Results

1	Juan Pablo Montoya	18:25.22, 97.72 KPH	2	Darren Manning	18:28.88
3	Kurt Mollekens	18:30.17	4	Guy Smith	18:30.84
5	Nicolas Minassian	18:32.93	6	Gonzalo Rodriguez	18:36.48
7	Risto Virtanen	18:40.05	8	Takashi Yokohama	18:44.48
9	James Matthews	18:46.68	10	Shingo Tachi (B)	18:50.13

(B) denotes Class B


Championship

POS	DRIVER	PTS	POS	DRIVER	PTS
1	Davies	53	4	Firman	38
2	Smith	48	5	Matthews	33
3	Montoya	47	6	Mollekens	28