Lowe solves difficulties and wins three in a row

DAVE LOWE has overcome serious technical problems to register three class victories on the trot in the 2006 Classic Formula Ford Championship. The Sarnian racing driver is definitely the man to beat as he won 11 championships over the years in his Lotus 69. However, this season has been ripped part by chronic mechanical issues with his vintage car.

Going into the fifth meeting at Oulton Park, Lowe had not won a race yet this campaign.

He corrected that at the north-west circuit and he followed up with victories at Snetterton and then Pembrey.

'It was frustrating but it's going well now,' said Lowe.

'It's usually reliable, otherwise I wouldn't have won all those championships.'

In May before the Brands Hatch meeting, Lowe experienced some engine trouble with his machine. It kept cutting out as he went round right-hand corners.

Convinced that it was fuel related, he replaced the carburettor with one out of his Lotus Six, but it made no difference. Subsequently, he came a lowly 12th in the race and fourth in the B class.

It was at the next meeting at Oulton Park that it was suggested to Lowe that the problem might be with the battery.

After a borrowing one from a fellow competitor, the car ran perfectly on the circuit that has five serious right-hand bends and he won his class.

With a new racing battery installed for Snetterton, he suffered some cut-outs when the car reached 6,300 revs in a straight line but he still managed to take the B-class pole and an overall eighth spot on the grid.

The problem also did not stop him registering his second class win on the bounce and the fastest lap on the day.

He kept the momentum going at Pembrey in Wales over the weekend as he notched up his third top podium place in a row. The next challenge is at Mallory Park, near Leicester, on Sunday 17 September.

He now has his eyes firmly set on a 12th championship title.

'I'm about eight points in front,' he said. 'If it comes along, great. But I don't go not to win.

'You've got to go with the idea of winning.'