FRASER FENDS ‘EM OFF

Come the conclusion of the 2021 season, the top three drivers from the final standings in the Mazda MX-5 Championship all elected to move on either to the MX-5 SuperCup or to other opportunities, meaning that 2022 would provide the prime opportunity for a new champion to step up and succeed. With the remaining pool of top drivers still looking healthy, competition was set to be fierce, according to Scott Woodwiss...

This proved true in the Silverstone International season opener in March, when Fraser Fenwick leapt into the lead from the outset and remained unchallenged to win the first race of 2023, leaving Seb Fisher to escape a frantic multi-car scrap for third which Mike Comber eventually headed.

Jason Greatrex only needed a couple of laps to take the lead in race two, but he was part of a frantic lead group around 10 cars deep that eventually had younger kin Callum Greatrex somehow work his way to his first MX-5 win from Michael Knibbs and Fenwick. Knibbs then led a safety car interrupted third race before another multi-car lead brawl ensued, eventually giving Jason Greatrex the win from Knibbs and Callum Greatrex.

Fenwick started the Snetterton visit in April just as he had the opening weekend, winning race one albeit only just from Tom Smith after a last lap pass to reclaim the lead with Fisher stealing P3 on the line too. Both drivers gapped the rest of the pack in Sunday’s first race, but eventually it was Fenwick again claiming P1 with the Greatrexs following suit on the podium, before he completed the hat-trick later that day with Comber taking P2 from Luke Pullen on the final lap.

A double-header return to Silverstone on the GP circuit beckoned next as support to the C1 24 Hours, where Fenwick extended his win streak to four in the first race with Tom Smith on his tail all race and Knibbs rounding off the podium. Comber then climbed to the top step after a fast start to the second encounter, overcoming challenges from Steve Foden in second and Fenwick in third; the former started the day 43rd and last on the grid before climbing to P5 in the first race, then P2 the second.

Halfway in the season was reached at Brands Hatch in June, when Fenwick and Foden diced back and forth for victory most of the weekend. Fenwick drew first blood in race one, and then again twice on Sunday to complete his second hat-trick of the year. Then at Oulton Park, both Fenwick and Foden picked up a win each, and it was at this point that Foden’s season really kicked into gear. Wins for Foden, Fenwick and Seb Fisher were characterised by some great close racing around Cadwell Park’s twisty confines next time out, along with podiums for Oliver Graham and Luke Pullen, leaving just two weekends left for the championship battle to resume.

Foden put out a severe warning shot at Donington Park as there was hardly anyone that could touch his pace. After storming to pole in qualifying by over half a second, Foden took all three race wins and two fastest laps, narrowly missing out on the perfect grand slam while Fenwick consolidated his points lead with three top five finishes. Podiums also went the way of Fisher, Graham, Smith and Jason Greatrex, setting up a thrilling Snetterton finale.

In Norfolk, Ben Short made a guest appearance for the finale and proceeded to win all three races, but was invisible for points scoring meaning three second places for Foden gave him maximum scores instead. However, the equivalent for a P2 and two P4s would be enough to confirm Fenwick as champion of the MX-5 Championship for 2022, rounding off a rock-solid consistent year with the ultimate prize. Foden’s second half charge helped cement second in the points, while Michael Knibbs rounded off the top three with a superb points haul despite not picking up a race win.

Jason Greatrex was also a runaway Masters winner with no fewer than 20 wins within the category, followed by Richard Bartlett in second and Tim Dore in third.

After its successful first full season of racing in 2021, the Mazda MX-5 Clubman Championship enjoyed a higher level of competition in its sophomore year in 2022, with a host of new drivers looking to wrestle the #1 status from inaugural champion Harry Storer. From the outset at the Silverstone opener, it didn’t look as if anyone could, says Scott Woodwiss.