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MOTORSPORT NEWS
News updates on Boston
area motorcycling and car racing competitors in 2006
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2006 motorsport news |
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July 30
Engine woes leave Leggate sidelined Major mechanical problems forced Boston area race ace
Fiona Leggate to miss her latest scheduled action in the British Touring Car
Championship. Her EEMS-supported E85 bio-fuelled Thurlby Motors Boston Bowl
Tech-Speed Astra was sidelined when its recently rebuilt engine failed. Twenty-five-year-old
Fiona, though, was still kept busy signing autographs, being the subject of television
interviews and presenting trophies in one of the support races. She will
hopefully be back in action over the weekend of August 12 and 13 when the
next round of the championship is staged at Snetterton near Thetford in
Norfolk. June 18
Fiona embarks on Britcar challenge Boston
area race ace Fiona Leggate was involved in her first race in this season’s British
Touring Car Championship when Brand’s Hatch was the venue for the latest
round in the competition. Fiona tackled the first practice session in the
Janspeed-sponsored Britcar but managed only seven laps. Larger AP brakes had
been fitted to the MG ZR 190, but her team had problems adjusting them. And
after having a slight miss-fire, Fiona settled for fourth qualifying
position.
The
second day’s race was a two-hour endurance contest. Once again Rob
started off and was putting in faster lap times. After 52 minutes the
car came in for a re-fuel, change of tyres and driver swap. Fiona drove
the car hard with her lap times within a second of her qualifying
times. But there were still problems with the brakes and
miss-fires. With 10 minutes to go there was a more major problem.
Sitting in third position with a podium spot in sight, Fiona saw the clutch
fail to end her hopes of a high finish.
June 9
Fiona determined to keep busy A six-week break in the British Touring Car
Championship schedule doesn’t mean Fiona Leggate will be missing out on motorsport
action. The female racer will, instead, concentrate on the European Endurance
Racing Championship. The next EERC (Britcar) round will be held around the
Brands Hatch GP circuit. Fiona will contest the Brands Hatch Britcar in her
Janspeed and Boston Bowl Racing sponsored MG ZR 190. Renowned MG racer
Rob Oldaker will be her racing partner. The Janspeed and Boston Bowl Racing
MG ZR 190 has been fully prepared by and will be managed by Tony Dickinson
Garages. Tony Dickinson has a wealth of experience in motor racing. He
competed in special saloons before making the grade to compete in the BTCC in
a Ford Escort RS 2000. May 15
Progress for Leggate at Oulton Park Fiona Leggate, who is sponsored by Thurlby Motors, EEMS,
Boston Bowl and Staffsmart, made good progress at the third meeting of the
season in the British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park. She completed
all three rounds of the day coming in 15th, 14th and 11th respectively. Fiona
clipped a stack of tyres on the Knickerbrook Chicane during the first race —
and nudged them again in the third after a battle with Adam Jones in which
she was forced to brake hard. She
spun off but rejoined the race to claim her best finishing position so far
this season. Fortunately, her Vauxhall Astra Coupe only suffered cosmetic
damage. Fiona said: “The car was the best it’s ever been. I’ve not raced at Oulton for two years and have never raced on the island layout. So I was trying to get used to the track. I’m pleased with the way I’ve driven and I’m really happy with the car.” April 24
Luck deserts
Fiona in Ireland
Rounds four, five and six of the British Touring Car
Championships proved disappointing for Boston racing driver Fiona Leggate at
Mondello Park in Ireland. The only female on the grid, the Boston-area racer
came 14th in the first contest and had to leave the second race when her
clutch failed. Her team didn’t have
enough time to fix the problem meaning she had to sit the third race out. Fiona, who is sponsored by Thurlby Motors, EEMS, Boston
Bowl and Staffsmart, said: “Obviously I’m really disappointed. There’s not really much I have to say
about this weekend.” Matt Neal won the first two races with Mike Jordan
winning the third. The clutch on Fiona’s Vauxhall Astra Coupe will now be
repaired ready for the next meeting at Oulton Park on May 14 in which she’s
hoping for better luck. April 9
Championship under way for Leggate The first race meeting in the 2006 British Touring Car
Championship (BTCC) was held at Brands Hatch on Sunday April 9. Fiona Leggate
of Boston was again driving her Vauxhall Astra Coupe for the Thurlby Motors
Boston Bowl with Tech-Speed team. As well as being the only female competitor
in the BTCC her car is powered by the E85 blend of Bio-Ethanol, which is15 percent
petrol and 85 percent bio-ethanol. This is now commercially available in the
UK for road vehicles. In qualifying, Fiona Leggate set 14th quickest time, but
said she was disappointed with the effort. In race one Leggate was pushed off
the grid due to transmission problems, but in race two she managed to finish
in 12th place despite a minor “off” at Clearways. And in the final race Fiona
managed to have a better race and finished in 10th place. The next BTCC races
held will be held at Mondello Park, Dublin, on April 23. January 23
Race ace confirms full tour commitment Female racer Fiona Leggate has confirmed she will
contest the full Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2006 with
backing from new sponsor, Vauxhall dealership, Thurlby Motors. The farmer’s daughter from the Boston area is poised to
be the only racer on the grid using environmentally sustainable Bio-ethanol
fuel in the high-profile championship — starting at Brands Hatch (Kent) in
April. She is also likely to be the only female racer in the series. She
said: “It’s all looking positive for the season, particularly with Thurlby
Motors on board as my new sponsors.” Fiona contested six rounds of the competition in 2005.
But the plan for this year is involvement in all 10 rounds, and 30 races in
total. January 9
Fiona ready for Touring Cars challenge Motor
racing driver Fiona Leggate, from the Boston area, is preparing to undertake
a season of action in the British Touring Cars Championship. And her quest for
success in the competition is being backed from two sources — the Thurlby
Motors Group and Energy Efficient Motorsport with her Vauxhall Astra Coupe to
be run once again on the eco-friendly fuel, bio-ethanol. Testing is due to
start on January 15. Fiona said: “I am looking forward to 10 weekends and 30
races. This will be the first time I will compete in a full season in the
BTCC.” |