The Condor Ferries Grand Prix held at St. Peter Port, Guernsey on April 24/25 saw both Alsford Timber and King of Shaves score maximum points in the Honda Formula 4-Stroke championship after winning both opening rounds of their respective classes.
The Condor Ferries Grand Prix held at St. Peter Port, Guernsey on April 24/25 saw both Alsford Timber and King of Shaves score maximum points in the Honda Formula 4-Stroke championship after winning both opening rounds of their respective classes.
James Sheppard and Neil Sinclair driving King of Shaves won the final 225hp race in inimitable style with a flawless performance that saw the 2003 champions lead from start to finish.
Peter Kingsbury and Guy Elliott aboard Alsford Timber in the 150hp class had a very different race repeatedly changing positions with Alan Day Honda, Mad 4 It and Pole Position before crossing the finish line in second behind Paul and Stella Charman in Alan Day Honda. However, officials confirmed that the Charman husband and wife team had not completed the mandatory NGK pit lap, an infringement attracting a one lap penalty, dropping them to twelfth.
“It is really disappointing,” commented Stella. “We signaled to take the pit lap but just as we were turning off course we saw Pete and Guy in Alsford Timber take theirs. We didnÕt want to run in their wash so we maintained our original course. We simply ran out of time and distance. It was a stupid error and one we wonÕt be making again!”
Clive and Tim Coote in Pole Position experienced a complete change of fortune. The brothers failed to complete a lap in the opening race after Clive was thrown out of the boat in the start chute. By contrast the rookie duo finished on the podium after an incredible drive in the second race which saw them jostling with the front-runners throughout the ten-lap contest, eventually finishing third. They were not the only newcomers on the podium as Adam Ford and Ian Rayment in Mad 4 It finished in the top three for the first time in two seasons of racing.
In the 225hp race, Rob Lister and Will Nocker in B.A.R came close to emulating team-mate Jenson ButtonÕs podium success in Imola, running third for the majority of the race before being forced to retire on the tenth with water in the fuel. Rivals Jack Glendinning and Simon Bucknall in Warmup also had a frustrating race, dropping out of a solid second position with an electrical fault.
Their retirement left the way open for Miles Dobson and Simon Roberts in Accucard to fill second slot for the second time. It also allowed all-girl team Shelley Jory and Debra France in Raymarine, competing in their first Honda Formula 4-Stroke race, to gain a place on the podium.
“WeÕre thrilled,” commented Debra. “We were pushed off line yet again on that all-important first turn and slipped back to sixth place. We then just picked boats off one by one and took our pit lap at a more effective time edging our way up to third. IÕm also confident our best has yet to come.”
Rounds three and four of the Honda Formula 4-Stroke 225hp and 150hp championships take place in Largs, Scotland on May 29 and 30.
