Sowerby started both races from pole ahead of the super-fast Japanese driver, Katsu Kubota (Lotus 88B) and reigning champion Steve Harley (Arrows A6) with Joaquin Folch (Brabham BT49) fourth on the grid. Pane, meanwhile, was further down the pack but leading his Class B protagonists comfortably in the six-wheeled Tyrrell.

 

Saturday's sprint race - covering just 7 laps of the Northampton circuit - saw Sowerby, over 2.5 seconds quickest in qualifying, drive away with it whilst behind him the scraps between Kubota, Richard Eyre (Williams FW08) and Hartley & further back between class combatants Peter Dunn & Michael Fitzgerald (both in March 761 cars), kept a busy crowd entertained.

 

On Sunday, Sowerby had Folch closer to him and, as the former slowed with brake problems over the closing laps, the Spanish driver passed him and went on to take the chequered flag. His victory was short-lived though as following a stewards enquiry it was revealed that Folch had unwittingly taken the lead whilst a yellow flag was being shown. The Race Director subsequently reversed the order of the first two drivers and Sowerby was reinstated as the winner.