Sponsors of the Auto-Italia Championship 2000 - 2003

Round 1 - Snetterton 26th March 2000

New Era For Le Mans / Auto-Italia Championship

The 2000 season opened for the new Le Mans AutoItalia race championship at Snetterton circuit on March 26th when a huge entry of 34 cars turned up to do battle at the Norfolk circuit. Due to the numbers, Class E racers enjoyed their own separate race as not all cars could be accommodated on one grid.

Qualifying

In sunny weather qualifying took place with some new faces and surprises on the track. Enzo Buscaglia had seriously revamped his Alfa Romeo 75 V6 over the winter and proved to be very quick ending up 0.22 seconds quicker than the fastest of two Ferrari 355s, that of John Seale in Class A. Newcomer Danny Wright put in some impressive laps in a JS Motorsport Alfa 156, another new arrival to the series for 2000. Mike Watson went well in his Alfasud to take Class B from Gary Lucas' similar car, whilst yet another new runner, Stuart Barrington-Hall, in his fearsome Maserati Ghibli Cup hurled the car around annexing top place in Class C. Said Ian Connell who was second, 'If I get in front of the Maserati in the race, I'll have to have the widest Alfa ever made!'. Brian Thorp pedalled his Alfa 33 to the Class D pole.

The Class E cars ran later in good weather with Graham Warner convincingly fastest in his Alfa 33 followed by Chris Forrest.

Races

A problem with some cars not keeping to formation led to an aborted first start, but Enzo Buscaglia made no mistakes on the second attempt storming through the field to lead at the end of the first lap and setting a new class lap record but his retirement on lap 4 allowed John Seale's Ferrari to take the overall and Class A lead which he held to the end, ahead of John Avery's similar Prancing Horse. Danny Wright took a strong third place with JS Motorsport's Alfa 156 whilst great battles went on behind him. Gary Lucas' Alfasud just pipped Giovanni di Gennaro's lovely Fiat 128 to fourth place and Class B honours by 0.36 seconds on the line!

As he had hoped, Ian Connell drove well to best Stuart Barrington-Hall in Class C, the latter not helping his cause by testing the off-road capabilities of his Maserati at Russells corner. Brian Thorp brought his Alfa 33 through the hectic race to take Class D, whilst mention must be made of Ron Davidson's new Alfa GTV making it's debut at this race taking third in Class C.

The heavens opened just before the Class E race with torrential rain and hail making the track a nightmare. Some drivers elected not to start and Lee Penn said afterwards that it was very difficult simply keeping the car on the track. Graham Warner went off on the green flag lap with slicks on his car but Chris Forrest drove an increasingly impressive race, clearly out in front in the impossible conditions until he tripped over Graham Warner at Russell's in standing water and little visibility. Through it all came Lee Penn to take a much deserved win on a track that was completely awash.

The five class winners were all presented with their garlands, cups and cheques by Stuart Cumming, Managing Director of Le Mans Motorsport and Enzo Buscaglia received a voucher for Agip products for storming to the front on lap 1.

So, some good racing and lots of new questions raised for the next round at Britain's mini-Nurburgring, Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire on Sunday April 9th.

Classes A - D Race   ( Dry / Sunny )

Class E Race ( Wet / Raining )

Fastest Laps

**   NEW CLASS 'A' LAP RECORD !

Click here for 2000 final points table