Graham Alsop wins CML Winter Series Rd.5

 

Sunday 12th Feb 2012 saw Stoke Nitro hold the penultimate round of the CML Winter Series.

79 drivers braved the freezing temperatures and the remains of left over snow to take part in what most consider the Midlands premier Winter Series. It seems that even the cold, fog, ice and snow can not put off some of the top drivers from attending this ever popular series. Once again Andy Tobutt reports...

The format for the day would be 5 minutes of practice bolted on,3 rounds of qualifying and 15 min finals for F & E final, 18 min for the D, C & 19mins for the B and the A Final would be 22 minutes. As with every round of the CML Winter Series the controlled tyre was in use, with only Proline Crime Fighters or HoBao angled spikes allowed. Track conditions were tough and very slippery so angle spikes the choice of the day to try and find what little grip was available.

Round 1 got underway and it was Graham Alsop who took it over Jon Howells and his new Team Associated RC8.2. Ashlee Owen completing the top three with only 6 seconds between them and the only drivers to manage 8 laps in the round.

Round 2 and track conditions were tricky to say the least but Jon Howells found the grip he needed to take the round hitting 8 laps again. Graham Alsop was 2nd and once again Ashlee Owen was 3rd with just under two second separating the three.

Round 3 saw Richard Greenough set his fastest time of the day to take the round in very slippery conditions. Second place was taking by Jon Howells who was the only other driver to manage 8 laps in every qualifying round despite having recent foot surgery. Graham Alsop completed the top three but only managing 7 laps.

The overall qualifying results after the third round and the positions on the grid were as follows:



The A final got underway and pole man Graham Alsop was caught up in the usual first corner mayhem allowing Jon Howells with his Associated to get away clean. Richard Taylor had moved in to 2nd and John Holmes had jumped from 6th up to 3rd. Ashlee Owen held position and at the end of the first lap was running 4th.

Fuel stops complete and by the end of Lap 15 Graham Alsop had worked his way back up to 1st despite the worsening conditions. Jon Howells was still running well in 2nd and Richard Taylor had dropped to 3rd with John Holmes and Ashlee Owen completing the top 5.

By the end of the 22 minutes with light fading and the nitro smoke creating a fog over the track Graham Alsop took the chequered flag, managing to cross the line 1 lap ahead of the field. Second place went to Jon Howells with his Associated RC8.2, 16 seconds ahead of 3rd place man John Holmes who qualified 6th. Losi driver Richard Taylor and Ashlee Owen completed the top 5.





Thanks to all at Stoke Nitro for holding the event and CML for supporting the series. Hope to see you all at the final round on the 11th March 2012.

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