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Ryan Lewis went into the final two rounds of the 2003 Visma Software Formula Palmer Audi Championship at Castle Combe this weekend with the most consistent record of finishes to give him an eight point lead over Adam Smith.
The on-going Lewis-Smith battle started at the very first weekend at Silverstone back in May, when Ryan's two second places, to Smith and Stephen Young put him just two points behind Smith in the title standings. Snetterton's third and fourth rounds again saw Ryan take double runner-up finishes, one from pole position, after leading both races for much of the time. His results, second to Smith and Hooker gave Ryan the series lead as they headed to Monza in Italy for Rounds 5 and 6.
Monza was to prove the turning point for the youngster, who, at just 14 years old started his circuit-racing career in T-Cars. Starting from the front row, Ryan romped to his first win of the year as Smith could only manage fourth, in the second race though, in which he started 18th on the grid, Ryan fought his way back to fifth to maintain his lead in the series, as Smith struggled in seventh.
Brands Hatch was next up and it was to give the series leader another brace of second places, both times to Smith, who closed the gap to 16 points as they headed to the second overseas trip of the series, at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
Things started well for Ryan, posting the quickest time in qualifying to take his second pole of the year for race one and third quickest for race two. After taking an immediate lead in the first race Ryan looked set for his second win, but four laps in and he was spinning off the track in the atrocious weather conditions. He bounced back though in the second race to take a commanding win ahead of Hooker and his Team Lewis team-mate Niki Faulkner.
And so to Castle Combe, where the king of Formula Palmer Audi was to be crowned at 4pm on Sunday afternoon. Past results showed that Smith has more wins - four to Ryan's two. However Ryan's amazing consistency - eight podiums from 10 rounds, is second to none. Coupled with Ryan's extensive knowledge of the Wiltshire circuit, a track he was racing on five years ago and Ryan went there in confident mood. After the disappointment of this morning's coming-together with Smith, which put them both out on the spot, Ryan headed into the final round for his last chance of clinching this year's title - and he did so in style!
Ref: ml00031
14 September 2003
For media information: Cathy Metcalfe, MPR Associates
Tel: +44 (0) 1327 352199 Fax: +44 (0) 1327 352908
Mob: +44 (0) 7802 332398 E-mail: cathy.metcalfe@btinternet.com
Website: www.ryanlewisracing.co.uk
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