Dawkins Takes First Win at Donington

[Ian Sowman]

Justin Dawkins scored his first car racing victory as the Daly Systems Star of the Midlands FF1600 Championship had its second round at Donington Park on Sunday (March 28). The 20-year-old from Worcester overcame a late charge from round one winner Gavin Wills, who narrowed the gap to less than two-tenths of a second at the end of the race.

Dawkins had been disappointed after qualifying – which was a session run concurrently with the Clubmans 1800 cars – for he struggled to find a clear track. He was only fifth fastest in the FF1600 section in his Van Diemen RF90, while the RF00 of Gavin Wills was once again on pole position. Stuart Kestenbaum lined up alongside Wills on the first row in his Reynard 89FF while Neil Hunt, shod on new tyres, set the third fastest time in his Mondiale M94S.

Fresh from the thrill of his ASCAR rookie training at Rockingham, Peter Daly (Reynard 89FF) set the fourth fastest time – pipping Dawkins right at the end of the session. On his Donington Park debut Coleraine’s Richard Tannahill was sixth in his Swift SC94F, ahead of Jamie Smyth and Daniel Fox.

When the red lights went out Wills got bags of wheel spin while Kestenbaum got away comfortably and led into Redgate. As he took the line, Wills was forced to take to the grass on the inside of the corner and once he had found his way back onto the Tarmac he was behind Hunt in third. Wills got back ahead at the Old Hairpin and Daly was also through by the end of the lap.

Having got into the lead Kestenbaum threw it away with a spin at the Old Hairpin, taking Wills and Daly with him. Kestenbaum was out on the spot but Daly resumed in time to take the lead, ahead of Dawkins. Down to fourth again Wills soon picked up, taking Justin’s second place away at McLeans on lap three. Dawkins reversed the positions a lap later and at the start of lap five the top three ran down Wheatcroft straight side by side. Wills was bundled down to third leaving Dawkins to drive all the way around the outside of Daly at Redgate to take the lead.

For as long as Daly was ahead of Wills for second Dawkins could stretch his advantage – it peaked at almost two seconds. But after Wills swooped for second at Schwantz Curve he progressively reeled Justin in, even getting alongside on Starkeys Straight on the final lap. However, he wasn’t able to nose ahead and Justin punched the air as he crossed the line for his maiden win.

Behind Wills, Daly eased off with oil pressure problems but still retained third. Fourth went to the highly promising 17-year-old Tannahill, who recovered superbly from a poor start to the race to work his way back up the order. He begins his Northern Ireland FF1600 campaign next weekend. Smyth was fifth while an understeering Neil Hunt took sixth.

Dan Fox (RF92) and Benn Simms (Mygale SJ2002) both made up places during the race and then had a battle of their own to claim seventh and eighth, while ninth went to the second Team West-Tec car of Trevor Cooper. Having missed the call to the grid and started from the pit lane, Steve St Clair was tenth.

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” beamed an ecstatic Dawkins. “I could see Wills catching me towards the end of the race but when I was out on my own I was taking it one corner at a time. The win makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

Round three of the Championship takes place at Mallory Park on Easter Monday, April 12.

[blue nose]

Whoops!

[Ian Sowman]

Indeed. Full results on www.mst-group.co.uk.

[steve27]

great and accurate report Ian....well done Justin keep it up.

[blue nose]

Well done JD keep it up.How does it feel?

[steve27]

give the lad a chance to get home pikey.....as i left him the grin was about a yard wide....he said he had to win as he'd shelled out eighty or so quid to have in car video and wasn't about to waste it ????

[Comtec Renault]

Your first win is the best I remember mine at Cadwell park 1978 mini 7, the only trouble now is that second or anything but a win will feel ****!!! well done Justin..

[diz]

Well done JD. You must be over the moon, nearly as far as Mars.

[JustinDawkins]

I was waiting for that Diz!

Thanks everyone, it feels fantastic - makes it all worth while. Come close before, but its never the same!

I shall have a few tonight!

[flatbroke]

Well done pal

Dawkins for championship?!

[PaulSands]

to the victor the spoils

[Redracer77]

Well done big man. Hopefully many more before the end of the year.

[Ian Sowman]

Was about to do the same thing Paul! Am I the only one still at Donington then?

[PaulSands]

the pass that did it

[flatbroke]

Justin how was your camera?

[flatbroke]

And one last thing the FF1800 BOYS AND GIRLS are just getting on the grid.

[Ian Sowman]

No they're not - there's a Radical race to come before they get on.

[darcym]

Congratulations to Justin, a well deserved win from what I hear.

Well done

[Francesca]

Wow, Justin, well done. I hope you treat yourself to the correct celebratory food!

[PaulSands]

It was a corking race...just what ff1600 is supposed to be (the Mighty Minis were f..lippin' good too)

[Nina]

Great news

Justin - Congratulations matey

Reading that story it sounds like a well deserved first win Celebrate

[DALY]

Well done Justin, great to race wheel to wheel with people like justin and gavin.

It would have been nice to have had a few more NW's with us.

[dhart]

Brilliant race,just the kind you dream of for your first win, very well done Justin.

[Sato san]

Justin ....brilliant stuff mate .

Excellent ..go get your self a burger !

[Ian Sowman]

Update: the Clubmans FF1800 race was canned after four laps at 7pm. After qualifying at 9am, understandably they weren't happy - but there HAD been a four-car incident at the Old Hairpin to bring out the reds. Ryan Cannon was leading at the time.