AMOC Oulton Park 8th October 2005 Final round Formula Junior UK Championship

This event marked not only the final round of the UK Historic Formula Junior 2005 Championship, it was also the last FJHRA race to be hosted by the AMOC.
The competitors were greeted by a misty and damp Oulton Park circuit, the forecast promised it would get better in the afternoon.

Qualifying in these damp conditions was a bit of a lottery.  Twenty three cars recorded times in the session. The first flying lap for everyone was destined to sort out the grid positions for the race, the rain got worse after the second lap causing a lot of problems for the drivers.
Simon Armer in his Cooper T59 was easily the quickest qualifier in these conditions with a lap of 2.20.501, as usual he seemed to be comfortable in the treacherous track conditions. Second and third fastest were Derek Walker in his Terrier Mk1V and Stuart Roach in the Alexis Mk2 both some three seconds behind the leader. Nigel Bancroft Lotus 20 was fourth. Mike Hibberd Lotus 27 fifth. Barry Westmoreland made up the top six.  Derek Walker pitted after five laps, wise in the conditions. Newcomer to FJ Rudolf Ernst Lotus 22 was having a torrid time in a strange car in foul conditions, but he persevered to the end of the session.

The promised afternoon weather improvement failed to happen so the grid formed up on a very wet circuit. The start was well over an hour later than the scheduled time.

Race Seven got under way in the streaming wet with all the drivers very conscious of the treacherous conditions.  At the end of the first lap Derek Walker had his Terrier well clear in the lead from Stuart Roach in the Alexis this was to be the story at the front for the six laps race duration managed in these conditions. Mike Hibberd Lotus 27 made slight contact with the Lotus 20 driven by Nigel Bancroft which delayed them both but no real harm done.

Derek Walker took the chequered flag 4.2 secs ahead of Stuart Roach's Alexis a fine drive for both front engined cars which seemed better able to cope with these conditions. Steve Smith Cooper T59 was a hard trying third after making up a lot of places after mid race distance. Nigel Bancroft Lotus 20 was fourth, Simon Armer  was fifth, Mike Hibberd Lotus 27 sixth.

Simon Hamilton Lotus 18 retired after two laps. Nineteen cars finished, all in one piece, which itself is a tribute to all the drivers.

Stan Hibberd - 12th October 2005