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Super Snetterton for Curnow |
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Monday, 14 August 2006 |
Outstanding performances at the weekend of 12th/13th August from Salisbury driver, Ross Curnow, saw him consolidate his second place in the Formula BMW UK Championship.
Rounds 15 and 16 were held at Snetterton, the fast Norfolk circuit often providing windy and changeable weather conditions. Free practice on the Friday went well for Ross who was fastest in the morning session and 4th in the afternoon.
Saturday then provided spectators with two of the closest qualifying sessions that the championship has seen with the first 16 cars on both grids covered by less than a second. Ross put in consistent drives to secure two second row slots - 4th for Race 1 and 3rd for Race 2.
The field was cleanly away for Race 1 and Ross outdragged Breen to seize 3rd position by the first corner. Tailing the leaders around Corum to set up for the chicane at the end of the first lap, Ross managed to take a clean line whilst both Turvey and Hankey got onto dirt left by the previous Touring Car race. Ross was quickly through to emerge in the lead at the end of lap. The safety car came out in lap 3 to allow the recovery of three cars that had disappeared into the Norfolk countryside at the first turn. Ross controlled the restart well and despite pressure from Breen, held the lead to the chequered flag.
Another good start in Race 2 enabled Ross to get alongside Breen who started ahead off him but he was pushed onto the grass and had to back off and settle for 3rd into the first corner. He then had to defend against Hankey behind him and this enabled the leading two to pull out a little. Having held off Hankey, Ross set out in pursuit of the leaders and caught them on the last lap, getting a tow from Turvey down the back straight. Gaining further around Coram, he crossed the finish line just 0.3 sec behind Turvey, finishing 3rd and setting a new lap record in the process.
‘Two podiums have turned this into a very good weekend,’ said Ross said
afterwards. ‘The car’s gone well and it was great to set a new lap
record here.’
Ross remains 2nd in the championship, increasing his lead over Hankey from 1 to 17 points.
The next two races will be at Knockhill in Scotland on the weekend of
2nd/3rd September with testing on Friday 1st. Ross said: ‘I’ve had two
wins there so we’re really looking forward to it!’
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 January 2007 )
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