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21st March 1993, Wimbledon, London Championship
Report by Anne Sayell from Motoring News 7th April 1993
The Grand Prix Midget Formula made a clearly popular return
to Wimbledon on March 21 for the first time since 1985. Conditions
proved wet and therefore slippery, resulting in several spins.
Marcus Retchless won the first two heats whilst the final and
London Championship went to local driver John Weston.
| No |
Driver |
Car |
No |
Driver |
Car |
| 1 |
Harry Sayell |
VW |
19 |
Stuart Haynes |
Arrow-BMC |
| 3 |
Rod Pashley |
Dastle |
30 |
David Hunt |
|
| 4 |
Alf Oldfield |
Dastle copy |
35 |
Peter Hunt |
|
| 6 |
Ron Elliott |
Fireball |
38 |
Dick Loseby |
Arrow-BMC |
| 8 |
Eddy Ricketts |
Dastle |
55 |
John Weston |
Arrow-BMC |
| 10 |
Chris Fearn |
Citroen |
77 |
Neil Clarke |
Arrow-BMC |
| 11 |
Steve Piggins |
BMC |
88 |
Keith Swift |
BMC |
| 14 |
Marcus Retchless |
Arrow-BMC |
|
|
|
The cars started in graded order with Peter and David Hunt
electing to start at the back of the field with newcomers Steve
Piggins and Dick Loseby.
 |
|
4
|
|
8
|
14
|
|
19
|
| 55
|
| 1
|
| 35
| 30
| 11
| 38
|
| 3
|
| 6
| 10
|
|
|
| 77
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The first heat was lead away by Alf Oldfield in the Dastle
with Harry Sayell worked his way through the field and moved
into second on lap 13 behind Retchless who had made the most
of his blue grade advantage to pull away from the rest of the
field. However just three laps later Sayell's challenge ended
abruptly when he was unable to avoid a spun car. This reinstated
Oldfield briefly in second and Stuart Haynes in the VW third.
As the flag dropped Retchless was some 3/4 lap clear, with Weston
stealing second and Haynes third. Alf Oldfield took fourth from
Steve Piggins and Rod Pashley.
|
|
35
|
3
|
|
14
|
|
6
| 8
| 11
| 38
| 14
| 19
|
| 55
|
| 1
|
| 4
| 88
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 30
|
|
|
|
Oldfield, again the early leader, was chased hard by Retchless
in third place, wah Sayell in fifth by lap four. Newcomer Richard
Loseby in the ex-Haynes Arrow moved into third by lap 10 and
despite a spin by Sayell the places remained the same at the
flag. Retchless scored a less comfortable win, Sayell second,
Loseby third with Haynes fourth and Weston fifth. Eddy Ricketts,
back out in the Mk 18 Dastle, was sixth.
|
|
4
|
|
3
|
|
8
|
11
|
| 30
|
| 55
|
| 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 88
|
| 6
|
38
|
| 14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The London Championship once again saw the early running from
Sayell and Retchless with newcomer Steve Piggins, Ricketts and
Haynes all in the fray. An aggressive move by Retchless on lap
five on Piggins saw a locking of wheels and Retchless into fifth.
Lap eight saw the demise of Sayell when he and Haynes collided
whilst Ricketts held off Retchless in second place. Unable to
get by the Topspec Dastle, Retchless finally locked wheels for
the second time in the 20 lap event; this time forced to retire,
leaving John Weston the lead. Ricketts limped on but faded on
the line one lap to go. Trafalgar-sponsored Weston was a clear
winner, Loseby and Piggins picking up runners-up trophies. Alf
Oldfield was fourth ahead of Rod Pashley and Keith Swift.
The Midgets' next outing will be on the newly tarmaced Alwalton
Raceway at Peterborough on April 11.
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Marcus Retchless wins!
 Chris
Fern
Rod Pashley & Alf Oldfield at Wimbledon (race one)
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