78 auto italia
Merry, whose Giulia coupes ended within 0.38sec of
the Alfetta, Chris’s best being 1min 12.49sec. Fourth
fastest was Mike Neumann, ahead of James Wright,
Bernard Hartogs, Richard Ibrahim, Alex Jupe and
Jonathan Horsfield. Completing the top 10 was Ben
Cater in his Giulia Ti Super, but the team was worried
about some unusual ‘growly’ noises from the engine.
John Symes was also unhappy about the feel of the
new brake pads on his GTAm replica.
It was entertaining to see close groups negotiating
the Luffield Complex and Woodcote, including the Sud
Ti of Richard Drake. But where was he on the timing
screen? Afterwards, he admitted that he’d forgotten
to switch on his transponder but the clerk of the
course was kind and allowed him to start in his
correct position – fourth.
Away from the race start, Chris Snowdon and David
Alexander were evenly matched on the run to Copse
but David had the inside line and just edged in front
of Chris through the corner, as Richard Drake burst
into third ahead of Mike Neumann (with whom he
would battle for much of the race). Chris and David
took different lines through Maggotts and into
Becketts where David locked up, but maintained a
marginal lead that he quickly lost to Chris down
the Wellington Straight.
Less than two seconds covered the top four at the
end of the first lap, with Neil Merry, James Wright and a
fast-starting John Symes next in line. Making great
progress, however, was Richard Merrell who rapidly
worked his way through the slower cars and on to the
tail of Jonathan Horsfield’s Alfetta.
The battles between Chris Snowdon and David
Alexander, and Richard Drake and Mike Neumann,
carried on throughout lap two, and it wasn’t until lap
three that Chris managed to edge away from the
Alfetta, while Neil Merry had put on a spurt and
passed both Drake and Neumann. Cater’s Giulia Ti
Super expired in a cloud of smoke at Copse,
confirming his team’s worries. Merrell’s progress
continued to be spectacular, passing the timing line
in seventh place after four laps, with James Wright’s
75 now in his sights.
With tyres up to temperature, Chris Snowdon started
to pull away from David Alexander. Merry pulled off,
while Merrell closed in on Drake and Neumann, passing
them on lap eight, temporarily allowing the Sud to get
away from his pursuer. Snowdon was going quicker
than ever at this stage, setting his fastest lap (1min