Newsletter – September

Rissington – Round 6 Aug 31st / Sept 1st (Midland Championships)

A superb grid of 210 Challengers put on a show of very close exciting although nail biting at times racing at the weekend all competing for not only Championship points but for the Midland Champs trophy once won by Nigel Mansell. Saturday saw a morning of practice with heat 1 in the afternoon. Sunday hosted the remaining 2 x 9 lap heats with a 12 lap final.

Heat 1

Stone led the charging pack around the first corner it was a very tight squeeze around the next and unfortunately he was side-lined. Callaghan took up the lead until lap 4 when D. Bury in 2^nd had a quick glimpse. Lap 5 saw L. Sifleet in the lead with Callaghan once again ahead of D. Bury who was now in 3^rd and being hassled by Woodward, Whyte and Green. By the last lap Whyte had passed both Woodward and D. Bury to claim 3^rd.

1^st L. Sifleet, 2^nd Callaghan, 3^rd Whyte, 4^th D. Bury, 5^th Woodward, 6^th Green

Heat 2

Fowler first time out since his forced sabbatical took the lead followed by Callaghan and Whyte, these chasing pair had a coming together at the end of the Back Straight as Whyte attempted to claim 2^nd place. This left easy access for Luke Plain to take up 2^nd spot and eventually take over at the front on lap 6. Woodward, L. Sifleet and D. Bury fought amongst themselves with Sifleet passing Woodward on lap 4. Woodward kept Bury behind him but it was a close call over the finish line with 0.05 separating them.

1^st Luke Plain, 2^nd Fowler, 3rd L. Sifleet, 4^th Woodward, 5^th D. Bury 6^th Hancock

Heat 3

One could say a race full of trials and tribulations. L. Sifleet led for the first 4 laps until mechanical gremlins set it on lap 5 he made a quick pit stop but retired the following lap. This handed the lead to D. Bury whose life wasn’t made easy by Callaghan and Whyte. Green lying in 4^th shot into the scenery like a bullet leaving a gun after a coming together with Luke Plain, both managing to restart, eventually finishing towards the rear of the field. Lee Plain and Fowler worked their way through the field from 18^th and 19^th to add to the excitement on the last lap. Sloane had unfortunately overcooked it at the end of the back straight and came to a halt just before Parc Ferme. D. Bury was now leading a charging pack of Whyte, Callaghan, Lee Plain and Fowler, and headed straight for Sloane. With Lee Plain on the grass and some miraculous manoeuvring especially from Callaghan the ‘oh S*** moment’ was avoided!

1^st D. Bury, 2^nd Whyte, 3^rd Callaghan, 4^th Lee Plain, 5^th Fowler, 6th Perkins

Final

20 drivers sat on the grid for the final numbers not seen since 2010. This must have been one of the closest races in a very long time and not only at the front but throughout the field. Woodward led briefly until Whyte took up the lead from Woodward, Fowler D. Bury, L. Sifleet and Perkins. By midrace distance the front of the field consisted of 7 drivers Whyte, Woodward, Luke Plain, D. Bury L. Sifleet, Lee Plain and Callaghan with the latter three travelling 3 abreast along the Start Straight all vying for that coveted trophy! By lap 10 Luke Plain was out and Woodward made a valiant attempt to take the lead at the start of the back straight for about a second until Whyte grabbed it back. A special mention must go to Jarvis, Hopes, Masson, T. Bury and Stone who constantly diced further down the field, super to watch. On the last lap Lee Plain who had picked each driver off from his 18^th place on the grid took up 2^nd place to sit behind Whyte, with Woodward still on his heels. As the flag fell needing a photo finish Lee Plain by 0.01 clinched the title (the old cliché by a split second) leaving everyone’s hearts going out to Whyte who had raced superbly.

1^st Lee Plain, 2^nd Whyte, 3^rd Woodward 4^th L. Sifleet, 5^th D. Bury who was also 0.01 ahead of Callaghan in 6^th, 7^th Perkins, 8^th Hancock (Mr Steady) 9^th Green, 10^th A. Sifleet. Very fast, very close, very exciting 19/20 finish race….. Wonderful