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The
2007 Visma Formula Palmer Audi Championship has been won by Tim Bridgman,
after finishing third in round 19 at Croft.
Bridgman only needed three points to beat Sheffield’s Stefan Wilson in the overall standings,
and his third-place finish sealed the title.
“I’m over the moon, absolutely ecstatic,” said a delighted
Bridgman.
Asked if there would be celebrations tonight, he said; “I don’t
think so. I’ve got an appointment with my personal trainer at 6:30am
tomorrow.”
Bridgman also paid tribute to FPA’s founder and director Jonathan
Palmer: “I’d like to thank Jonathan for the opportunity to race, and show
what I can do in a one-make championship. He and I spoke at a very late
stage and just made it happen. The aim right from the start was to win the
championship, and I have.”
Victory in round 19 went to Effingham’s Jack Clarke, who started on
the front row of the grid alongside pole sitter, Luciano
Bacheta.
Bacheta looked strong in the early stages of the race, building a
lead over the chasing duo of Clarke and Bridgman, but with Bridgman’s
thoughts on the title race, it was Clarke who was chasing harder. Having
closed the gap, Clarke made a sensational pass on Bacheta on the
penultimate lap at the hairpin and kept his lead to the flag.
“I
made an average start, and spent most of the race trying to keep with
Luciano. He wasn’t much quicker in the middle of the race though, so I
knew I would be able to put a move on him at some point.”
“In
many ways, yesterday’s DNF after only two laps helped me out today, as it
meant that my tyres were much better towards the end of the race,” said
Clarke.
Luciano Bacheta has been the in-form driver at Croft, but couldn’t
fend off Clarke at the end of the race. “Jack had the measure of me
everywhere. I could see him in my mirrors having better turn-in thanks to
his fresh tyres, and I could only keep him off on the exit of corners. I
went defensive at the hairpin to keep him off, but he was just too fast,”
said Bacheta.
Fourth place went to Stefan Wilson, who battled from ninth on the
grid with an impressive display of overtaking. “The championship was an
outside shot really, but I’m really happy with some of my overtaking
moves. It all bodes well for the future,” said Wilson.
The
grid for round 20 will be formed from the driver’s best lap times from
rounds 18 and 19.
Visma Formula Palmer Audi Championship
Round 19 classification
1.
Jack Clarke 24m18.138s
2.
Luciano Bacheta +0.354s
3.
Tim Bridgman + 1.031s
4.
Stefan Wilson +5.635s
5.
Tom Bradshaw +6.103s
6.
Alex Brundle +7.329s
7.
Matt Hamilton +7.804s
8.
Richard Plant +19.821s
9.
Richard Kent +20.921s
10.
Chris Chubb +21.815s
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