Rd's 13 & 14 Snetterton
Race Report & Photographs: Paula Hamilton 

There is no doubt that the British climate as well as the rest of the World's is changing. All temperature records were finally beaten on Sunday 10th August and the majority of competitors present at the ultra quick Snetterton circuit were expecting tyre problems and engines to overheat in the intense heat. 

To everyone's surprise however Friday proved to be quite overcast and the 
temperature was down on the previous two days. It was still very warm but there was hardly any wind and the conditions for qualifying and racing were ideal. 

Team Jato Motorsport were back in full strength for this meeting and we were glad to have James Harris back in the car after missing the two rounds at Croft. 

Our team boss Jeff Harris was also looking much better after his ladder antics at Rockingham. 

Qualifying - Round 13 - Friday 8th August 

The session started at 1.00 pm and very quickly all the teams were stunned at the times being witnessed. The track had amazing grip and the first 24 runners were all below 1:09.896. Valle Makela took pole with a time of 1:08.814 which is reckoned to be the quickest ever lap around Snetterton in a Formula Ford car. 

James can be pleased with himself because he was the quickest driver overall at the Finish Line Speed Trap. He clocked 122.4 mph. However he lost time in the twisty bits due to a chassis that was not stiff enough. Tony Rodgers also had a handling problem but still managed to qualify 13th Overall and in Championship Class with a time of 1:09.295. However James eventually qualified in 23rd Place overall and 8th in Scholarship Class with a respectable time of 1:09.803. 

Re Run Round 8 - Friday 8th August 

Just after 6.00 pm, the cars lined up on the grid for the postponed race from Silverstone when Ben Clucas had his big accident. James started 19th on the grid and Tony was 26th. Tony drove an excellent race and he was pleased to finish in 12th place overall and 9th in Championship Class. James fared quite well and ended his race in 17th place overall and 5th in Scholarship Class. Tony was the quickest driver of all the teams by crossing the Finish Line Speed Trap at 123.1mph. James was fourth fastest at 121.5mph. Congratulations to Tom Kimber-Smith for his fifth win of the season. 

Round 13 - Saturday 9th August 

The paddock awoke to a cloudless sky and we all knew that we were going to be in for a scorcher. The day before the team had drilled large holes in the top of the rear side pods of both cars in order to improve the cooling of the brakes, rear tyres and engine/gearbox. The race started at 11.16am and it proved to be a classic Snetterton slip streaming battle. Tony finished in 12th place overall and 8th in his class from 13th on the grid but James fared less well by coming 20th overall and 10th in his class from 23rd on the grid. However 
some consolation for James because he was fastest across the Finish Line Speed 
Trap at 122.9mph and Tony second quickest at 122.2mph. Up front Valle Makela headed home Joey Foster and Tom Kimber-Smith in Championship Class with Jay Howard winning the Scholarship Class. Times were not as quick as in Round 8 or 
indeed in the remarkable qualifying session the day before. The track was simply too hot and also more slippery. The fastest lap was by Joey Foster in 1:10.150 with Tony on 1:10.795 and James on 1:11.149. 

Round 14 - Saturday 9th August 

The final round of the day was held in the early evening at 6.12pm but the  temperature was still very hot. Tony started his race from 12th on the grid but poor James was in a lowly 20th place. Roles were reversed as far as the team was concerned and James drove an inspired race to get another podium finish in 
Scholarship Class by coming 3rd and 12th overall, a gain of eight places from the start of his race. Tony had a very difficult race and only finished in 20th place but at least 12th in his class.Race winner Valle Makela was penalised by the stewards afterwards due to weaving and the overall win went to Joey Foster who also drove the fastest lap at 1:09.955. James's quickest lap was 
1:10.942 and Tony's was 1:10.977. 

Speaking to Jeff Harris afterwards, he was delighted with his son James's race comeback and not too disappointed with Tony's weekend. " Both of my drivers 
finished all three races and car damage  was minimal. We also gained some 
valuable championship points. We are really looking forward to the final three meetings at Brands Hatch, Donington Park and Oulton Park. Tony loves Donington and Oulton especially where he has performed very well in previous years. Brands Hatch is also special to the team after our excellent performance there back in May. Team Jato Motorsport is looking forward to a great finish to the season and I want to take this opportunity to thanking all our sponsors and
supporters this season. I also want to thank our new Chief Mechanic Ted Hawkins for 
his work so far and Mark Gunton too. The whole team work very hard and well together." 

I would like to say a big thank you to Lesley Harris for keeping the team fed every Race Weekend and all the other work that she does. Also a special thank you to David Munn for his superb Driver Postcards and Team Brochure which will be available at Brands Hatch. 

Finally Anthony Davidson popped in to see us on Saturday and had a long chat with Tony Rodgers. They used to race against each other in Karts and it was good to see him again. 

See you all at Brands Hatch in two week's time. Hope that the weather is still sunny.

James & Tony in Pit Lane after qualifying


James & Mark Gunton


Ted Hawkins & Rodgers Clan


James


Tony


Tony in Russell Bend


James in Russell Bend


Tony


James


James


Tony


James & his latest fan!


James, Tony & Anthony Davidson


James in Russell Bend


James on the podium