Brands Hatch race report

Ascari 1-2-3 as Andrews makes it two in a row.

Brands Hatch, UK, Sunday 19th May 2002: Phil Andrews, driving an Ascari Judd V10, secured his second win of the season in the NDS EuroBOSS Series with a masterful display of racing. Starting behind the Ascari Judd of Klaas Zwart, Andrews made his intentions clear from the start and with a daring manoeuvre at Graham Hill Bend took the lead on the first lap much to the enjoyment of the 24,000 spectators basking in glorious sunshine.

Whilst Phil consolidated his lead interesting contests developed behind. These included a tussle for third place between Karl-Heinz Becker, in a Minardi, and Harri Toivonen, driving an Ascari Judd, with Toivonen eventually winning the duel. In only his second race in NDS EuroBOSS Phil Armour drove his Benetton Ford HB V8 to a creditable fifth place whilst there was disappointment for birthday boy Matthew Mortlock, one of the pre-race favourites in a Footwork Judd, who went out on the second lap with a broken drive shaft.

Tony Hansford, driving a V8 Eurobrun Judd and leader in the NDS EuroBOSS Masters class, made a fantastic start and moved ahead of several of his more powerful competitors as well as his main class rival, Colin Stone, in a RAM Hart. However Stone drove a superb race regaining the lead and now is joint top of the Master Championship with Hansford.

Phil Andrews, Driver, Team Ascari:
"After yesterdays race I was really pumped up to push for the lead. I knew after the second lap that Klaas' tyres would be giving him far greater grip and it would be even harder to pass, so I decided to have a go at the earliest possible opportunity. The car was fantastic, although I did lose a gear when on my seventh lap, which meant that I was taking corners in fourth and not third. I'd like to celebrate tonight but am racing tomorrow as well."

Klaas Zwart, Driver, Team Ascari:
"I am pleased to have finished on the podium having suffered soft brakes during the race. I was forced to brake much earlier than normal and knew that the priority was to defend my position. I hope the crowd enjoyed the spectacle of EuroBOSS, it was great to see so many families at Brands throughout the weekend."

Harri Toivonen, Driver, Team Ascari:
"I had an appalling start, I believe I should have been in third place by the first corner but because I stalled the car on the warm up lap I was paranoid, the engine was running very lean and when I put my foot on the throttle the wheels just spun. I lost seventh gear part way through the race which cost me some time but overall I am pleased to be on the podium."

Colin Stone, Driver, CA Autoelectronics:
"I was very lucky to finish as the engine was misfiring. Another lap and I wouldn't have made it across the line."

Position - Number - Driver - Car - Time
1 - 4 - Andrews - Ascari Judd - 12:15.172
2 - 2 - Zwart - Ascari Judd - 12:18.955
3 - 3 - Toivonen - Ascari Judd - 12:39.038
4 - 10 - Becker - Minardi - 12:50.492
5 - 12 - Armour - Benetton - 12:22.117 (+1 lap)
6 - 16 - McIntyre - Reynard - 12:45.600 (+1 lap)
7 - 17 - Kendrick - Reynard - 12:20.795 (+2 laps)
8 - 27 - Stone - RAM - 12:45.947 (+2 laps)*
9 - 22 - Hansford - Eurobrun - 12:49.768 (+ 2 laps)*

Not Classified
6 - Richardson - Tyrrell - 15 laps
21 - Harris - Lola - 8 laps*
7 - Wakefield - Benetton - 5 laps
9 - Mortlock - Footwork - 1 lap

* NDS EuroBOSS Masters

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