Excitement was high for the big trip north and those who travelled were rewarded with a cracker. Close racing across all classes on a real top-class track that rewarded many and punished a few. Open class were the first to take to the track so let’s see what went down.
Open Class
Qualifying
This session was an interesting one as everyone looked to see if the big power pros could get their power down, or if the small power cars could benefit from the track changes. The answer wasn’t really a surprise as Mark McCann put his pro firmly on the top spot with a blinding lap time that nobody could touch. Next in was Shaun Jenkinson ahead of the other championship contenders Sean Haran and Paul Severn. The lap times did tell a story as the gap was unusually big as some adjusted quicker than others to the new reversed track. Next in was the battle of the fastest rookies led by Tom Welbourn on the same second as the expert in fourth spot. Jess Barker pushed hard to keep up but fell just short of the top rookie’s spot settling for sixth on the grid. Martin Hales led Nick Barker and split the two NBC Cars on the grid, a welcome break for Jess if only for a few laps. Ninth place went to the first of the McGuffog cars with Louis leading home three cars on the same second, Adrian and Callum Loveridge in tenth and Joe Chilvers in eleventh. Dave Watson held off Richard Burke for twelfth place again split only by tenths showing just how close the class is. Mark Scotney seemed slightly off form, only able to take fourteenth place ahead of Olly McGuffog in fifteenth as the first-year rookie grows in confidence with every session. Jeremy Levick progressed up the grid in a good session for the newcomer holding off David Whitmore, Rianna Harris and Gary Whitby as they closed off the back of the starting grid.
Race One
Mark McCann forgot he had mirrors in this race as he was gone, he never looked back leading from the first corner to the last. Shaun Jenkinson held second as some of the other big names dropped down the pack. Tom Welbourn was the leading rookie matching the fastest lap of the leading experts with second place rookie Nick Barker only just off it. Louis McGuffog pushed up the field to fifth ahead of rival Martin Hales in sixth place with Dave Watson just seconds away in seventh. Paul Severn had 4wd problems back in eighth leaving him work to do after the first session, could he get back to front in the later races? Joe Chilvers looked to have found some consistent pace crossing the line in ninth ahead of Olly McGuffog in tenth. Richard Burke beat Rianna Harris to eleventh both showing speed that could see them further up the field. David Whitmore chipped away and grew into the session managing to take thirteenth place ahead of Gary Whitby and Jeremy Levick. A great race and hopefully the start of a great day for the open racers.
Race Two
This was a race that saw consistency reign supreme. All the top four cars broke clean and held position from start to finish. This is not as easy as it sounds, making no mistakes under pressure for the full race duration. Mark McCann took the win with Shaun Jenkinson second. Tom Welbourn led home the rookies followed in by Nick Barker in second and David Watson third. Olly McGuffog manged to jump up to sixth. Richard Burke also made solid progress into seventh ahead of struggling expert Severn in eighth. Rianna Harris in ninth had a great battle for the whole session with teammate Joe Chilvers both enjoying a good day and giving us a great battle to watch. Gary Whitby enjoyed his second session getting up to eleventh ahead of the strugglers Louis McGuffog, Jess Barker and Martin Hales as they marked the last of the finishers.
Race Three
This session was a battle of attrition but again the consistency of the top five was impressive. First place stayed with Mark McCann once again followed in by fellow expert Shaun Jenkinson. Tom Welbourn again led the rookies in a three-race clean sweep chased home by Nick Barker and Dave Watson. Joe Chilvers had another great session taking fourth in class. David Whitmore pushed up the field with some much-improved lap times bringing a far stronger result. Rianna Harris dropped slightly but remained in eighth place ahead of Olly McGuffog in ninth as Gary Whitby closed off the grid as the last of the finishers. A great race for many of rookies for sure.
This was a solid day for the open class with consistency being the key to success. Well done to the rookies who gave us some great mid pack racing and pushed the experts at the front early on. The championships just got much more interesting.
Overall Results
Experts
1st – Mark McCann #64 (Polaris Pro XP)
2nd – Shaun Jenkinson #70 (Polaris RS1)
3rd – Paul Severn #7 (Polaris Pro XP)
Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Mark McCann #64
Clerks Driver of The Day – Mark McCann #64
Rookies
1st – Tom Welbourn #74T (Polaris Pro XP)
2nd – Nick Barker #40 (Polaris RS1)
3rd – Dave Watson #120 (Polaris Pro XP)
Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Tom Welbourn #74T
Clerks Driver of The day – Tom Welbourn #74T
1000 Rookies
This class has been a pleasure to watch this year with some real talent coming through. This event was set up nicely for battles up and down the pack so would it deliver? It was time to find out.
Qualifying
It was no surprise to see championship leader Jacob Wilson pick up where he left off at the last round. Top spot was his with a time that wouldn’t be out of place in an expert session. Henry Proctor pushed hard in second place but just couldn’t bridge the gap falling short by the smallest of margins. Next home was Corban Ross moving up the pack at a strong rate to take third place. George Hales one of the other Championship challengers dropped off his best form slightly in fourth holding off Scotsman Richard Scott in fifth. Nick Barker joined the session taking sixth place just to see where he would feature should a class move become an option. Rio Longdon was next over the line in seventh ahead of Lee Cowan making his first appearance in 2022. A solid start to hopefully becoming more active in the championship. Sam Lloyd had a good start to his day taking ninth place ahead of Darren Longdon in tenth. Bradley Price wasn’t far off the pace but couldn’t improve on eleventh place with Anthony Green on a similar pace in twelfth. Simon Medleycott didn’t have his best session and left himself work to do down in thirteenth. Declan Whitmore closed off the grid in his first race back, can’t see him staying there for long.
Race 1
Jacob Wilson was off and wasn’t hanging around for anyone, a great race leading every lap and giving him the first win of the day. Henry Proctor pushed on, but he couldn’t improve on second place a solid result but not what he would have wanted. Rio Longdon had a great session and moved up to third spot pushing Corban Ross to fourth. Anthony Green had a great race one coming from way down the pack to finish in fifth place a well-deserved success for the Yorkshireman. Darren Longdon was next over the line in sixth chased home by Bradley Price in seventh. Simon Medleycott began his charge and manged to push up to eighth, a solid start that he will be looking to build on for sure. Declan Whitmore progressed to ninth ahead of struggling George Hales with Jason Medleycott marking the last of the finishers.
Race 2
Race two saw another clean get away from the pole sitter Jacob Wilson and again he didn’t look back. Henry Proctor again pushed on, setting a lap time close to the leader but just couldn’t find enough to take the race win, second for Henry. Rio Longdon challenged early but dropped off in third place as the session progressed always aware of Simon Medleycott pushing on in fourth. George Hales had a far better session pushing through to fifth whilst holding off Declan Whitmore in sixth place. Sam Llyod had a decent session after a challenging race one, holding onto seventh place ahead of the last of the finishers Darren Longdon in eighth. Another good race setting up a great finish to the day.
Race 3
This session was the end of a long day for some. The field had been up and down all day and race three offered the chance to bag some points in the absence of some rivals. Jacob Wilson didn’t need to be told twice and broke away to take his third win in a clean sweep. Henry Proctor remained solid and took the second step for the third time taking a great haul of points from the round overall. Rio Longdon again had a consistent session and held the third spot doing enough to make the place his in the overall also. George Hales made the best of a bad day taking fourth, a mature performance after a challenging day. Lee Cowan returned from the beech in race two to a solid fifth ahead of Simon Medleycott in sixth. Sam Lloyd and Declan Whitmore marked the last of the finishers in a solid day for the rookie class.
Well Done everyone.
Overall Results
1st – Jacob Wilson #7 (Polaris RS1)
2nd – Henry Proctor #222 (Polaris RS1)
3Rd – Rio Longdon #4 (Polaris RZR 1000)
Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Jacob Wilson #7
Clerks Driver of The Day – Jacob Wilson #7
1000 Experts
This class never ceases to amaze and is always the one to watch. Would it deliver at this event? It was time to find out. New track, same faces let’s check out the outcome.
Qualifying
I’m not sure anyone could write the script to any of the sessions in this class and this one wasn’t much different. Mark McCann is the qualifying king and again sat on his throne taking pole on one of his early laps. William Buller bagged a solid second proving the pace is there once again could he turn the pace to a result. Tom Fletcher notorious for his average qualifying and this week was no different, third place for the championship leader. Mack Priestwood continues to grow in this class and this week, a solid fourth was his best beaten by some of the best drivers in the sport. Robert Lloyd and Kevin Haran were split by only two tenths in fifth and sixth with Lewis Scotney closing off the grid.
Race One
The flag raised, they all left and seven corners later Tom Fletcher was your race leader. Starts don’t get much better than this one. Mark McCann tried hard but couldn’t improve on second place chased hard by Mack Priestwood in third. William Buller dropped from second to fourth as his lap time seemed to just drop off the pace slightly. A tough race for the Northern Irishman. Kevin Haran had a decent session but couldn’t break into the top four, but his fastest lap time meant he wouldn’t be far off soon. Lewis Scotney marked the last of the finishers in this fiercely competitive class.
Race Two
These sessions saw another shuffle of the cards in another great to watch race. Tom Fletcher was off and wasn’t getting involved taking his second win of the day in convincing manner. William Buller improved massively back to second spot pushes Mark McCann to third as Marks machine seemed less enthusiastic as its driver. Mack Priestwood had another consistent session proving he is on the pace taking fourth spot again. Kevin Haran was next home holding fifth place still looking to build with just one session to go. Robert Lloyd returned to a sixth spot leaving Lewis Scotney closing off the grid in seventh. Another great race setting up a classic finale.
Race Three
We were long overdue a cracker and this was it. Tom Fletcher broke away clean and seemed to be home free until it came to light his fuel cap was open. Leaving the track to secure the cap saw him tumble to last place in what seemed to be a disaster. The fight was on, and the popcorn was out. This is where things got really confusing and crazy exciting. Everyone was so focused on Tom Fletcher leaving the track and dropping to last that nobody spectating could be sure who had already Jokered. The pack was shuffled, and nobody could be sure of the result. The race was on. Kevin Haran took full advantage and a well-timed joker lane saw him take the race lead late on and convert to his first win of the day. Mark McCann held on to second spot pushed hard by young Mack Priestwood. Tom Fletcher entertained and pushed hard but fourth was the best he could do in a great recovery from a disastrous start. William Buller was the fifth car home after an unlucky Joker saw him drop from second to fifth. Robert Llyod pushed on but was unable to catch Buller in fifth. What an amazing race to finish a great weekend. Did Tom do enough to keep the overall?
Overall Results
1st – Tom Fletcher #59 (Polaris RS1)
2nd – Mark McCann #64 (Polaris RZR 1000)
3rd – Kevin Haran #53 (Polaris RS1)
Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Tom Fletcher #59
Clerks Driver of the day – Tom Fletcher #59
Massive thank you to everyone who made the event a success. Get well soon Jeremy Levick (You won’t do that again) and unlucky Gary Tarrant (I’d chop my hands off)
Next stop the Lakes,
Let’s Do This