Woodhouse beats snow, ice and fire

Mark Woodhouse claimed opening glory in the Formula Junior Championship as Mallory Park dodged snow and ice to open the season. Woodhouse’s Lotus 20 just had the legs on Steve Smith’s Cooper T59.

Many eyes were on the progress of Simon Diffey. A drama over crash helmets meant that he missed the scant seven-minute qualifying session and his Lotus 20 started from the back of the grid, but once into his stride he scythed up the field to hunt down Smith only to pit from third place. “The rear brake linings were on fire.” said Diffey. A change to drum brakes for the Monaco race in May was the root of the problem.

Barry Westmoreland moved back into third in his Lotus 22, but he could never relax as Paul Smeeth gave chase in his Lotus 20. Best of the front-engined pack was John Truslove ‘s Lola Mk2 from Crispian Besley’s Elva 100.