Smith streaks to heat three victory ahead of Mann at FFord Festival

Photo: Ida Wood

B-M Racing’s Rory Smith converted pole into victory in the third Formula Ford Festival heat.

Torrential rain had hit the preceding heat, and in the 40-minute break between them the track had dried out. This was helped further by three formation laps, although the race was declared wet.

Wayne Poole Racing’s Alex Walker joined Smith on the front row, suffered a lot of wheelspin and succefully moved across to the inside line without losing second place.

Charlie Mann and Darwin Smith followed, but the latter went off at Paddock Hill Bend and only just avoided the gravel. He dropped behind TM Racing’s Felix Fisher, while keeping several other hungry drivers at bay.

In that bunch was Ammonite Motorsport’s Brindley Kinch, who put two wheels off and went spinning on the way down to Graham Hill Bend.

Smith streaked away, with Walker holding a smilar gap to the pack led by Mann Motorsport driver Mann.

The other Smith almost lost fifth to Oldfield Motorsport’s Connor Willis through Clearways on lap two, with the latter getting sideways and the pair making contact as they entered the pit straight.

Willis tried again into Druids next time by and got past, but now had a big gap to make up on the cars ahead.

As Rory Smith raced alone up front, Walker began to come under pressure from Mann and that also brought Fisher into podium contention.

Mann went down Walker’s inside at the end of lap five, completing his move halfway down the pit straight. Fisher tried the same on the outside the next lap but had no luck, and the resultant squabble was pounced upon by Willis.

On lap eight of 10 he overtook Fisher into Paddock Hill Bend but then went off, and only lost one place as he kept control of his car. He was more successful on the last lap, then boldly attempted a pass on Walker too into Graham Hill Bend but locked up.

However that later entry into the corner then meant Walker had to venture further right going through it to ensure no contact and he lost speed by going over the kerbs. That meant Willis could pull off a pass, on the inside line into Surtees, and it set up Fisher to capitalise before the chequered flag brought an end to the battle.

By the finish the trio were four seconds behind Mann, who felt the track was too dry for his set-up. Willis meanwhile told Formula Scout that he had started slowly due to his fourth-placed grid spot being off the racing line and still wet.

Darwin Smith finished seventh, losing out to Noel Robinson mid-race and then being sandwiched between him and Liroy Stuart for the remaining laps.

Heat 3 results (10 laps)