Brands Hatch race summary

Sunday 18th May 2003, Brands Hatch, UK: Round Two of the 2003 EuroBOSS Championship with weekend spectator numbers exceeding 40,000, EuroBOSS once again demonstrated its public appeal in taking centre stage at the csma Classic Festival. As the evocative sound of ex-Formula One cars reverberated around the Kent circuit the grandstands filled and people packed the perimeter fences to watch the noisy and nostalgic racing action.

The race was eventually won by Spaniard Nick Dalli, driving an Ascari Judd V10, who took his first EuroBOSS win in only his second outing in the fast formula for ex-Formula One, F3000 and Indy Cars. He took the chequered flag ahead of Max Wakefield, piloting a Zig Zag sponsored Benetton Judd V10 in an eventful race which saw the leading cars come to blows and the retirement of former lap record holder, Matthew Mortlock.

It was Dalli's team mate, Klaas Zwart, who started the afternoon in pole position alongside Championship leader Earl Goddard, driving a Benetton Ford. Both made their intentions clear from the off with Zwart getting the better start, turning into Paddock Hill ahead of the 23 year old South African. Zwart managed to pull away from Goddard with a couple of sub 39 second laps but by lap 6 Goddard had reeled him in and was poised to make his move. He took the lead in a daring high-speed manoeuvre into Paddock and as the cars raced towards Druids the battle for the lead would take a further twist as Zwart attempted to recover the lead, a collision resulted and both cars ended in the gravel.

With Zwart, Goddard and Mortlock out of the race the chances of witnessing a new lap record diminished. Dalli moved into the lead closely pursued by Max Wakefield and for several laps it looked as if another closely fought leadership battle was looming but Dalli had other ideas, pulling away from Wakefield in the closing stages.

One of the most interesting contests was in the EuroBOSS 3000 class where Roger Kilty, piloting a Reynard Cosworth, took the top spot ahead of his rival Frank Lyons. The pair were closely matched throughout the race, with Lyons setting the fastest lap and pushing Kilty all the way, but Kilty held on to take 3rd position overall and successfully notch another class victory. Lyons' consolation was a new lap record for the F3000 cars on the newly configured circuit.

Colin Stone, driving a 1.5 Turbo Ram Hart, made a welcome return to the EuroBOSS Masters class after a clutch problem kept him out of the season opener at Silverstone. Stone, who finished 1st in the Masters, 5th overall, now leads the Masters class ahead of Bernie Harris, driving a Lola Beatrice Hart.

Nick Dalli, Driver, Team Ascari:
"I'm very pleased for myself and the team. There is such a team spirit and commitment to succeed that this is a perfect reward for all their hard work. I'm fortunate to have won the race and am realistic that leading the Championship may only be temporary, but my handling of the car is improving and I will get quicker. My only previous experience of Brands was a bad one - a day of testing and a big crash. It's only three years since I was playing around with go-karts on a Sunday afternoon and now I'm climbing into a Formula One car with my name on the side. Sometimes I have to pinch myself."

Max Wakefield, Driver, Zig Zag Mansell Motorsport:
"This result is great for the team and our sponsor Zig Zag who have many guests at today's race. I was grateful for the points and a podium place although it would have been better if I'd been able to maintain my challenge for the lead. I lost time on passing back markers and never seemed able to maintain a genuine challenge."

Earl Goddard, Driver, Kockney Koi RHR:
"It was a very optimistic move by Klaas [Zwart]. Thankfully no one was hurt, although we have sustained considerable damage to the right rear of the car. I had taken Klaas on the inside of Paddock with a great manoeuvre and I was on the right line up to Druids. What happened next was, in my opinion, unnecessary."

Roger Kilty, Driver, Hanline Associates:
"I'm pleased to have won, Frank pushed me all the way. He was always in my mirrors and it meant that I could not relax. Today I was hoping to have taken the F3000 lap record but found that I lacked grip and my lap times were not as fast as I was hoping for."

2003 EuroBOSS Championship -- Race Result, Round Two Brands Hatch Indy Circuit

Position -- No. -- Driver -- Car
1 - 3 -- Dalli -- Ascari Judd V10 -- 16:42.509
2 - 7 -- Wakefield -- Benetton Judd V10
3 - 31 -- Kilty -- Reynard Cosworth V8 (EuroBOSS 3000)
4 - 34 -- Lyons -- Lola Cosworth V8 (EuroBOSS 3000)
5 - 21 -- Stone -- RAM Hart 1.5T (EuroBOSS Masters)
6 - 15 -- McLurg -- Arrows Hart V8
7 - 28 -- Harris -- Lola Beatrice Hart 1.5T (EuroBOSS Masters)
8 - 11 -- Smith -- Simtek Ford HB V8

DNF
2 -- Zwart -- Ascari Judd V10
1 -- Goddard -- Benetton Ford HB V8
6 -- Greyling -- Footwork Judd V10
9 -- McIntyre -- Reynard Cosworth V8
17 -- Kendrick -- Reynard Judd V8
5 - Mortlock -- Footwork Judd V10

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