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Thruxton

Thruxton, Great-Britain

Date: 10/9/1978
Track length: 3.862 m
Attendance:
Entries accepted:
Starters:
Finishers:

Pole position: Spice in 1.29,65
Fastest lap: Spice in 1.30,31 = 151,15 kmh

Distance: 20 laps
Average speed: 149,15 kmh
Weather:
Ruleset: Group 1B
Car info: 1978 Cars

 

In practice the mean red Capri of Gordon Spice - complete with fresh engine - was the only car to break the 1.30 barrier, and it was Spice who sped into an immediate lead from outside front row man, Andy Rouse, Stuart Graham, and the second fastest qualifier, Chris Craft.
Indeed for the first 10 laps - halfway - it looked as though no-one was going to touch the flying leader, nobody, that was, except for team-mate Craft who had quickly disposed of both Rouse and Graham and who was now beginning to inch closer and closer to his friend and great rival. But was he closing quick enough? By three-quarters distance the gap was down to a matter of yards but still it seemed as though Spice was too far in front. Somehow, however, Craft wound himself up for an almighty last lap effort and approaching the chicane for the last time dived for the inside line.
The two red cars may well have touched but it was the bearded Craft who grabbed the lead -for all of 12 feet. For he had overdone it and slid wide on the entrance to the armco-lined corner, Spice reacting cooly to go back in front.
But still it wasn't over. For while Craft gathered himself together Spice all but overdid himself coming onto the start/finish straight and only just took the flag by less than a length from Craft.
With all the drama up front going on Stuart Graham had a very lonely race to third place ahead of Andy Rouse, the latter outlasting Woodman, Brands victor Muir in an ill-handling car, Allam, Marshall and the BMW of Walkinshaw, the last two not lasting the pace at all and retiring.
For the second consecutive race, a sideways Barrie Williams (Magnum) took the 2300 cc class, Dron having to pit with a puncture and bent front bodywork, leaving the Dolomite of John Fitzpatrick to come second in class ahead of the works car complete with dented flapping door. With only three cars starting in the class, however, only half points are awarded leaving a disconsolate Dron some 5.5 points adrift in the championship chase.
For both Richard Lloyd (VW Golf) and Richard Longman (Mini 1275 GT) took their respective classes and fastest laps. But here again the writing is surely on the wall that one of the duelling pair will be beaten fairly and squarely in their respective classes in the last round both Martin Brundle's Toyota, and the ever-improving Alfasud of Rex Greenslade leading their rivals at some stage during a memorable race.

Touring Cars class A-D
Pos Pos in class # Team / Entrant
Car- Engine		 Drivers, Nationality Engine
vol. (cc)		 Engine
Type		 Group Distance,
time		 Qualifying position Qualifying time Fastest lap Reason out
1 1   Gordon Spice Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Gordon Spice, GB
 2993 V6 D 20 laps, 30.30,31 1 1.29,65 1.30,31  
2 2   Gordon Spice Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Chris Craft, GB
 2993 V6 D 20 2 1.30,02    
3 3   FabergĂ© Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Stuart Graham, GB
 2993 V6 D 20 4 1.30,89    
4 4   FabergĂ© Racing
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Andy Rouse, GB
 2993 V6 D 20 3 1.30,26    
5 5   Esso Uniflo
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Vince Woodman, GB
 2993 V6 D 20 5 1.31,03    
6 6   Browne & Day
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Brian Muir, AUS
 2993 V6 D 20 7 1.31,61    
7 7   BP/Nu Luxe Foam
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Jeff Allam, GB
 2993 V6 D 20 8 1.31,74    
  1    
Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300		 Barrie Williams, GB
 2279 L4 C 20 laps, 31.03,76 16 1.35,36    
  2   Hermetite Products
Triumph Dolomite Sprint		 John Fitzpatrick, GB
 1998 L4 C 20 11 1.32,64 1.32,92  
  3   Leyland
Triumph Dolomite Sprint		 Tony Dron, GB
 1998 L4 C 20 10 1.32,61   Puncture
  1   Richard Lloyd Racing Ltd.
VW Golf GTI		 Richard Lloyd, GB
 1588 L4 B 19 laps 15 1.35,15 1.35,74  
  2    
Toyota Celica GT		 Martin Brundle, GB
 1588 L4 B 19 19 1.37,87    
  3   Hughes of Beaconsfield
Toyota Celica GT		 Mike Wilds, GB
 1588 L4 B 19        
  1   Patrick Motorsport
Mini 1275 GT		 Richard Longman, GB
 1275 L4 A 19 laps 18 1.37,36 1.37,80  
  2   Napolina Alfa Romeo Dealer Team
Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti		 Rex Greenslade, GB
 1286 B4 A 19        
  3    
Mini 1275 GT		 S. Harris, GB
 1275 L4 A 19        
  4    
Mini 1275 GT		 Tom Pitcher, GB
 1275 L4 A          
      Esso Uniflo
Ford Capri III 3.0S		 Jonathan Buncombe, GB
 2993 V6 D   6 1.31,19    
      The Toleman Group
BMW 530i		 Rad Dougall, ZA
 2985 L6 D   14 1.33,26    
      Way Valley Racing / Bradshaw Plant Hire
Toyota Celica GT		 Win Percy, GB
 1588 L4 B   17 1.36,36    
DNF?     BMW (GB)
BMW 530i		 Tom Walkinshaw, GB
 2985 L6 D   9 1.31,88   Handling
DNF   14 Triplex
Ford Capri II 3.0S		 Gerry Marshall, GB
 2993 V6 D   12 1.32,76   Handling
DNS      
Ford Capri II 3.0S		 Dave Brodie, GB
 2993 V6 D   13 1.32,90