18-05-2005 FVAV Round 2 Race Report - Sandown

Sunny Sandown presented spectacular Formula Vee action from both the 1600 and 1200 classes.

Saturday’s qualifying session welcomed the 2 intestate competitors with pole and 2nd.  Simpson, Johnston, Frith, Sexton and Asker breaking the previous 1200 lap record by almost 2 seconds.  Crobmie’s first race of the year clocked the fasted time in the 1200s.  Qualifying was red flagged after 7 laps when Linehan collided with the wall towards the end of the back straight.  Linehan was able to get him self out his 1200 and reach the nearest flag point.  In such a rare accident, the car sustained heavy damage, Linehan, with a broken collar bone and leg, is keen to return to Formula Vee in a 1600 format.

Race 1 – Nethercote senior, immediately broke away from the 1200 pack, leaving MacLennan, Crombie, Panagiotidis and Nethercote junior to fight out the closest battle in the race.  Position changes at every corner provided a close and exciting race for spectators.

Simpson took the 1600 chequered flag 14 seconds in front of Johnstone with Frith and Asker in pursuit.

Race 2 - Sunday morning’s first six lap race saw Mal Asker lead an early break of six 1600’s who would then battle it out for the rest of the race. Unfortunately for Asker he would not feature in the battle due to an incident with Sexton on the fourth lap which left him with a broken collar bone.

Whilst things may not have been good for Asker, they certainly were for the two interstate competitors Ryan Simpson and Asher Johnston who skipped away from the locals in the morning race.

As the two interstate competitors built a handy buffer early on with Simpson leading the way comfortably from Johnston then Asker. David Frith, Nicolas Jones and Paul Sexton followed suit in a close battle for fourth.

Beacham, after starting from third last, carved through the field into fifth place by the end of the race. Another comfortable win for Simpson in the 1600s.  New comers to the category, Mackay, Hendrick, Gore and Osborne all finished the race, and where to ones to keep an eye on for progress in the last race.

Race 3 – A first corner lose by Simpson created havoc for the rest of the field. Nethercote junior became airborne after slamming to the back of Nethercote senior. Many competitors taking the to the grass to avoid the almost stationary cars in front. Panagiotidis suffering from the excursion, giving up is nose cone to the bumpy out filed.

As drivers re commenced racing and packs of 3 and 4 remerged, the safety car was released after another incident at turn 1 involving, Mackay and Osbourne.  Simpson was able to reclaim the lead after the safety car and Panagiotidis was given the 1200 lead after MacLennan and Crombie took an excursion on the grass.  Smith, Gore and Hendrick driving smartly to progress through the most of the field.

The last corner of the last lap produced a spectator sigh of relief when Beachem removed him self from his upside turned Vee and walked away un harmed after an incident with Johnston.  Meanwhile, Simpon taking the 1600 chequered flag in front of Jones by the closest of margins.  Kerr placing a respectable 3rd after a mechanical DNF in the first race.  Panagiotidis taking the 1200 flag without a nose cone, followed the quiet achievers, Girt and Smith.

Points score now available.

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