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Lucas Romanek dominates United Formula Ford finale at Brands Hatch as Simon Pruce retires

Dan Wright
dwright@thekmgroup.co.uk
05:00, 31 October 2023  | Updated: 07:52, 31 October 2023

Lucas Romanek scored two dominant victories at a damp Brands Hatch on Saturday as the United Formula Ford season came to a close.

The Swindon-based Van Diemen racer was the class of the 11-car field, beating South African Andrew Rackstraw by almost 30 seconds in the first encounter.

Lucas Romanek won both United Formula Ford featuring Champion of Brands races, claiming the Martin Down Trophy in the second event. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Lucas Romanek won both United Formula Ford featuring Champion of Brands races, claiming the Martin Down Trophy in the second event. Picture: Simon Hildrew

The former karter, who had already bagged the title before the meeting, was forced to sit out the Formula Ford Festival a week earlier after receiving a 30-day ban for an "off-track incident" at Silverstone in September.

But he was 2.4s clear of the rest in qualifying and went on to dominate the opening race, as Rackstraw and Jacob Tofts rounded out the podium.

Romanek produced another commanding performance in the second race, which was restarted after Neil Tofts, Jacob's father, hit a spinning Shaun Macklin at McLaren.

Rackstraw and Tofts junior rounded out the podium again, with debutant Ben Powney claiming his second fourth-place finish of the day in the oldest car in the field.

The Hythe-based PA Motorsport driver had been set to drive his 1971-built Jamun T3 at Brands Hatch in September but missed out due to a pre-race gearbox issue.

Ben Powney, from Hythe, made his Formula Ford debut, winning the Classic class in both races. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Ben Powney, from Hythe, made his Formula Ford debut, winning the Classic class in both races. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Chattenden’s Simon Pruce took part in his final two Formula Ford races before retiring. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Chattenden’s Simon Pruce took part in his final two Formula Ford races before retiring. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Romanek, who also claimed the Champion of Brands title this season, leads Andrew Rackstraw and Jacob Tofts through Graham Hill Bend. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Romanek, who also claimed the Champion of Brands title this season, leads Andrew Rackstraw and Jacob Tofts through Graham Hill Bend. Picture: Simon Hildrew

Behind Powney, Chattenden's Simon Pruce took two seventh-place finishes as he enjoyed his final races in Formula Ford.

The Reynard 89FF driver, who had been in the discipline for 32 years, missed out on September's round through illness but finished second and third in the Heritage class.

On Sunday, PRO-AM RACING won the EnduroKA – Indy KA 500 event, finishing just 4.3s ahead of MilnAir Racing after more than eight hours of racing.

Pruce turns into Druids aboard his 1989 Reynard 89FF. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Pruce turns into Druids aboard his 1989 Reynard 89FF. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Chris Reade, from Dartford, finished second in class and third overall in the MSVT Trackday Championship race in his Mini Cooper. He races for Brands Hatch-based Wolf Motorsport. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Chris Reade, from Dartford, finished second in class and third overall in the MSVT Trackday Championship race in his Mini Cooper. He races for Brands Hatch-based Wolf Motorsport. Picture: Simon Hildrew
The PRO-AM Racing team, with drivers, Louis Harvey, Scott Thompson, Justin Roberts and Nicole Drought, won the 500-minute race EnduroKA – Indy KA 500 event. Picture: Simon Hildrew
The PRO-AM Racing team, with drivers, Louis Harvey, Scott Thompson, Justin Roberts and Nicole Drought, won the 500-minute race EnduroKA – Indy KA 500 event. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Aimee Watts, from Tonbridge, was one of four drivers who drove the Windgat Racing team car to 13th overall. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Aimee Watts, from Tonbridge, was one of four drivers who drove the Windgat Racing team car to 13th overall. Picture: Simon Hildrew
The NAPA Racing car of former Le Mans winner Nick Tandy led much of the 500-minute race until the final 15 minutes, when it lost a rear wheel due to a broken wheel hub. Picture: Simon Hildrew
The NAPA Racing car of former Le Mans winner Nick Tandy led much of the 500-minute race until the final 15 minutes, when it lost a rear wheel due to a broken wheel hub. Picture: Simon Hildrew
The Brands Hatch-based Wolf Motorsport team finished 18th after running as high as seventh in the early stages of the EnduroKA – Indy KA 500 event. Picture: Simon Hildrew
The Brands Hatch-based Wolf Motorsport team finished 18th after running as high as seventh in the early stages of the EnduroKA – Indy KA 500 event. Picture: Simon Hildrew

Brands Hatch will host its final event of the season this weekend when the British Truck Racing Championship returns. Visit www.brandshatch.co.uk for details.

Dartford Sport Gravesham Sport Maidstone Sport Medway Sport Motorsport Dan Wright

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