WSCRDA Rockingham 2008

Chris Davison made a sensational return to the championship at Rockingham, for the final round, after a four year absence, not only claiming pole but taking a lights to flag win too.

Simon Pryke was 0.409secs adrift of Davison after qualifying, but both were comfortably clear of second row men Roger Green and Chris Gould.

There were 11 starters for the Sunday morning race, in fairly bright and sunny conditions. As the lights went out Davison charged ahead into Turn One as the rest shuffled into position. Pryke, Green, Darren Sansum, Brian Dean and Martin Gartside settled in the top six, as Gould became the first and only casualty after a clash with Jon Chappell at Yentwood.

As the field started to spread out Will Chappell slipped through on the inside of Brian Small to take seventh, but a lap later Small retaliated and claimed the place back into Deene, as both started to close on Gartside.

Back at the front Davison was soon stretching the lead group, despite Pryke and Green’s best efforts to stay in touch. By the end of the fourth lap Green had become a relatively solitary fourth, but had to keep an eye on his mirrors as Sansum had closed slightly, a rival not only for overall position but the class lead too.

Small’s pursuit of Gartside tempted him to have a dive up the inside at Tarzan on lap five. He ran wide enough to let Will Chappell inside him, but made contact as he attempted to retake his line. Both veered left onto the grass, allowing Jon Chappell to nip ahead of the recovering Will. Paul Taberner was also through before Small recovered, but they exchanged places again through Turn One on the eighth lap.

Davison cruised through the remaining laps to win by 6.7 secs. “It was nice to be back. “ I didn’t really know what to expect, but I knew this car was quick and I have proved it,” he said. “We get rid of Andrew Spencer and now we have got another quick guy. I was more worried about a crack in my diff though really,” said second placed Pryke.

Green held onto third, “well it was better than in qualifying, but still understeering. I had hoped Chris and Simon might have tangled, then it would have given me a chance,” added Green.
“I was quite pleased with my race, but it did seem long, “sixth placed Sansum commented. “I was just trying to keep my concentration,” added Dean, after a solitary fifth place finish.

Jon Chappell managed to nose alongside Gartside a couple of times in his quest for sixth, but Gartside held his place. “He was quicker through the infield left handers, but I fought him off,” Gartside commented. Will Chappell, Small and Taberner completed the finishers.

Published by Peter Scherer, September 29th, 2008.