FOSC at the South Circuit

19 November 2014 / Craig Durrant

The last round of the year for Festival of Sporting Cars (FOSC) was run on Sunday 16 November at Sydney Motorsport Park on the South Circuit. For those unfamiliar with this track, it is a challenging 1.8 km of elevation changes, esses and hairpins. A mind bender but a great circuit.

There were five MX-5s entered in Historics and Invited Sports Cars, the category in which MX-5s are allocated for racing. A further five MX-5s entered in regularity. The racing field was also filled by two Porsches, another Evo, and a Lancia with several other contenders. Machinery at FOSC is varied and interesting with many "aged" machines. Never mind the dictum in the drivers briefing about being on your best behavior, out on track it is always "take no prisoners".

The weather threw everything at us early on. Torrential rain first up forced Camp MX-5 to hastily erect two tents and set up camp. Soon after the rain cleared and strong winds forced us to take the tents down. Fortunately it was sunny from that point on.

Out on track, qualifying was wet for the racers. David Stone qualified first of the MX-5s, on third outright, behind a Caterham 7 and a Lancer Evo. John Anastas followed, with Craig Durrant third of the MX-5s behind a V8 turbo Triumph TR8. 

For race 1, the sun made an appearance and the track was now fully dry. Game on! There was plenty of action early on, David Stone spinning in traffic due to a puncture. The Evo won the race after a spin by the Caterham which managed to work its way back through the field to second. Craig came in third, the first MX-5 across the line.

The only change to the top three finishers in the remaining two races of the day was that the Caterham would manage to keep all of its wheels pointing in the right direction – and very rapid it was too. The Caterham won with the Evo on second and Craig coming home third. 

FOSC events are always relaxed and social off the track, and this event, true to form, was a lot of fun. There are "sheep stations on the line" so of course on track everyone goes hard! All in all a great day.