Rockingham's Coys Festival race 13

28 May 2001

Race 13 - Coys of Kensington Daytona Cup for 1970s Group 4 Racing Cars
14 Laps

Despite being pursued by no less than eight of the powerful V8-powered Lola T70 sportscars, the Ford 3-Litre of Jonathan Baker stormed ahead of the opposition to dominate the Coys of Kensington Daytona Cup for Group 4 cars.

After holding off the pack into the first corner, Baker was able to take advantage of the clear track to extend a 15 second advantage of all-comers by the chequered flag. The thundering pack of was initially headed by the Lola of Peter Schleifer, but he was caught in turn by the similar cars of Frenchman Andre Bailly, Colin Parry-Williams and Carlos Barbot, who headed for second, third and fourth places. Schleifer's race finally ended when his engine failed on the eleventh of the fourteen laps.Craig Jones in his Lola claimed fifth place on the racetrack, a result which gives him third in the aggregate result for the weekend's two races, behind Baker and Bailly.

The battle for sixth place on the track was fought by the Italian thoroughbreds, with the howling Ferrari flat-12 of William Binnie, holding on ahead of the Abarth Osella of Jeremy Agace. Jonathan Baker was delighted with his domination of the event in his unique Ford. "I've been very lucky. It's a very special car, a bit of variety, not like all those Lolas. "Both Bailly and Parry-Williams were in agreement about their enjoyment of the event.

"It's a fantastic course, great organization and good atmosphere" said Bailly. "It has been a pleasure to race at Rockingham."

-RMS-