Oakes and Hankey win season openers and Quinn and Sato triumph in Rookie Cup.

It was a day of mixed emotion for Euan Hankey, going from disappointment to elation in two races. In race one, the 2005 Rookie Champion made a fantastic start to burst from third on the grid to first, overtaking Oliver Oakes, who started on pole. By lap ten, however, Oakes had Hankey firmly in his sights and took full advantage of a mistake by the race leader at Paddock Hill, to reclaim first space, with Michael Meadows (Master Motorsport) following him through into second. Oakes never looked like relinquishing his lead again and sailed home comfortably, over a second ahead of Meadows, followed by Hankey.

Oakes, the 2005 FIA former FIA World Karting Champion, said: “This is a great way to start the season, especially after a poor start. I knew if I just kept focused on driving well and not pushing myself too hard, I would eventually catch Euan.” A new Indy course lap record (46.762) was little consolation to Hankey who said: “The car was fantastic, and got me off to a flyer, but I'm a bit disappointed not to have held onto the lead.”

If any of the top four had time to look in their wing mirrors they would have seen a thrilling battle between Niall Quinn and Ross Curnow (Nexa Racing). Curnow, competing for a third term in the Formula BMW UK Championship, was hot on the heels of the young Irishman from start to finish but was unable to pass. Niall Quinn, the first Rookie over the line said: “I'm over the moon! That was a great race and I'm delighted to get my first piece of silverwear so soon in the season.” The double win for Oliver Oakes and Niall Quinn meant Carlin Motorsport also celebrated its 100th competitive race victory.

If Euan Hankey was still disappointed from race one, he certainly showed no signs of a hangover going into race two. Starting from pole position, he shot out of the traps again to produce a fine display of controlled and measured racing. His car made the most of the empty track in front and by lap nine was three seconds clear of the chasing pack.

A spin by Charlie Noble-Mundin (Motaworld Racing) exiting Paddock Hill then saw the safety car come out and Hankey's lead was gone. When the race resumed, Niall Breen (Fortec Motorsport) sensed his chance to take the lead, but Hankey fought off the charge to secure his first win of the season.

On winning, Hankey said: “I was totally focused on winning this race after the disappointment earlier. I'm delighted the weekend has ended on such a high.” After finishing race one as the second fastest Rookie, Kimiya Sato went one better in the second to notch up his first Rookie Cup win of the season.

The Japanese driver said: “This is a great boost for me and the team. I am so happy with this win and it gives me something to build on for the season.” Henry Arundel (Fortec Motorsport) and Greg Mansell (Team SWR) were the pick of the other Rookie Cup crop and both made promising starts to life in singleseater racing. There was little to choose between the Rookie duo who enjoyed their own personal battles throughout both races. Arundel finished the better in race one taking seventh place and Mansell eighth. Roles were reversed in race two, with Mansell claiming eighth and Arundel ninth.

Results – Round 1 – 27 Laps = 33.10 miles.

Pos Driver Nat Team Time
1. Oliver Oakes GB (Carlin Motorsport) 23:47.687
2. Michael Meadows GB (Master Motorsport 23:49.323
3. Euan Hankey GB (Fortec Motorsport) 23:49.798
4. Michael Patrizi AUS (Motaworld Racing) 23.51.355
5. Niall Quinn IRL (Carlin Motorsport) R 23:53.706
6. Ross Curnow GB (Nexa Racing) 23:53.780
7. Henry Arundel GB (Fortec Motorsport) R 23:56.103
8. Greg Mansell GB (Team SWR) R 23:57.113
9. Joe Osborne GB (Coles Racing) 23:58.247
10. Kimiya Sato J (Rowan Motor Racing) R 23:59.108
11. Daniel McKenzie GB (Promatecme – RPM) 23:59.831
12. Jack Clarke GB (Nexa Racing) R 24:03.199
13. Marcus Weller GB (Promatecme – RPM) R 24:06.290
14. Matthew Hamilton GB (Coles Racing) R 24:06.994
15. Tom Dunstan GB (Nexa Racing) R 24:11.094
16. Daniel Murray GB (Filsell Motorsport) R 24:11.593
17. Roger Orgee GB (Filsell Motorsport) R 24:13.578
18. Chris Holmes GB (Mackie Motorsport) 24:22.299
19. Leo Mansell GB (Team SWR) 24:23.260
Not classified:
Charlie Noble-Mundin AUS (Motaworld Racing) R 16 laps
Paul Rees GB (Coles Racing) 11 laps
Niall Breen IRL (Fortec Motorsport) 0 laps

Fastest Lap:
Euan Hankey (Fortec Motorsport) 0m 46.762s, 94.40mph, 151.92kph
Pole Position – Oliver Oakes (Carlin Motorsport) 0m 49.623s
Results – Round 2 – 27 laps = 33.10 miles.
Pos Driver Nat Team Time
1. Euan Hankey GB (Fortec Motorsport) 22:52.124
2. Niall Breen IRL (Fortec Motorsport) 22:54.760
3. Michael Meadows GB (Master Motorsport 22:55.308
4. Oliver Oakes GB (Carlin Motorsport) 22:55.813
5. Kimiya Sato J (Rowan Motor Racing) R 22:56.780
6. Ross Curnow GB (Nexa Racing) 22:58.736
7. Michael Patrizi AUS (Motaworld Racing) 22:59.353
8. Greg Mansell GB (Team SWR) R 23:03.098
9. Henry Arundel GB (Fortec Motorsport) R 23:03.625
10. Joe Osborne GB (Coles Racing) 23:05.474
11. Niall Quinn IRL (Carlin Motorsport) R 23:05.527
12. Daniel McKenzie GB (Promatecme – RPM) 23:08.376
13. Paul Rees GB (Coles Racing) 23:10.145
14. Matthew Hamilton GB (Coles Racing) R 23:10.615
15. Jack Clarke GB (Nexa Racing) R 23:10.918
16. Daniel Murray GB (Filsell Motorsport) R 23:11.735
17. Leo Mansell GB (Team SWR) 23:17.109
18. Roger Orgee GB (Filsell Motorsport) R 23:18.057
19. Marcus Weller GB (Promatecme – RPM) R 23:18.382
20. Tom Dunstan GB (Nexa Racing) R 23:16.993

Not classified
Charlie Noble-Mundin AUS Motaworld Racing 9 laps
Chris Holmes GB (Mackie Motorsport) 3 laps

Fastest Lap
Euan Hankey (Fortec Motorsport) 46.810s, 94.30mph, 151.76kph
Pole Position – Euan Hankey (Fortec Motrosport) 46.904s

R indicates driver eligible for Rookie Cup

Championship Points Tables
Drivers
1. Hankey (1 win) 32, 2. Oakes 30, 3. Meadows 27, 4. Breen 15, 5. Patrizi 14, 6.
Curnow 12, 7. Sato 9, 8. Quinn 8, 9. = Arundel and G Mansell 9.
Rookies

1. Sato 30, 2. Quinn 28, 3. = Arundel and G Mansell 27, 5. Clarke 14, 6. Hamilton
12, 7. Weller 8, 9. Murray 6, 10 = Dunstan and Orgee 4.
Teams
1. Fortec Motorsport 47, 2. Carlin Motorsport 38, 3. Master Motorsport 27, 4.
Motaworld Racing 14, 5. Nexa Racing 12, 6. Rowan Motorsport Ltd 9, 7. Team
SWR 6, 8. Coles Racing 3.
Rounds 3 and 4 of the Championship will be at Mondello Park on 22/23 April.