Weekly Motorsport Round Up
Event cancellation hits FUCHS Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship.
The Championship suffered the twin blows lows of losing two of the remaining points scoring events in this hard fought championship when it was announced at the weekend that the Manx International Rally in Isle of Man was cancelled, blaming legal delays.
The event was due to take place next weekend, but the organisers were unable to resolve some problems in the time available. More details here https://www.rally.im/article/statement-from-the-rally-isle-of-man/
At this late stage, the Historic Rally Championship organisers are not able to arrange for replacement events to be inserted into the championship, so the next event, the Trackrod - organised Yorkshire Rally in North Yorkshire at the end of September, will be the final rally in the Championship calendar.
Competitors will now count their best four scores from the six events for final championship positions and the changes mean that Paul Barrett is confirmed as British Historic Rally champion driver for 2018. However, the co-drivers’ title will only be settled on the final round, the Trackrod Rally at the end of September.
In addition, major category awards and the destiny of the new BHRC2 category, for Category 1 and 1600cc cars, will be decided in the Yorkshire forests on what is always one of the most popular rallies of the season.
BHRC manager Colin Heppenstall said that the cancellation of Rally Isle of Man was a significant blow to both the BHRC and the FUCHS RACRMC Historic Asphalt Rally Championship.
“It is disappointing that Rally Isle of Man has been cancelled with the difficulties that the organisers have been encountering with the local government,” said Heppenstall.
“We had nearly 30 crews going over to the island to support the event. I wish the organisers well for the future and hope they can resolve the situation in future years.”
Win for Naylor, but upset for Joel in BTRDA rally championship.
Pat Naylor and co-driver Ian Lawrence in their Mitsubishi Evo IX were in fine form on the Woodpecker rally last weekend as they had a trouble free run to a fine sixth overall and a comfortable win by more than a minute in class N4.
Afterwards, Pat described their day as: “A perfect outing really – the stages around Ludlow are in great condition, and we had no problems at all with the car.”
Less fortunate on the same event were Ian Joel and Graeme Wood, whose fine start to the rally ended abruptly as Ian cut a corner near the Flying Finish line and pulled out a rock from the undergrowth which subsequently smashed the rear suspension arm on the Ford Escort Cosworth, ending in instant retirement after posting the overall sixth fastest time on the stage.
This non-finish mean that Joel and Wood lose their lead in the Maxxis English Rally Championship, which is a class –based championship run over six events throughout the season.
Both drivers receive product support from FUCHS Lubricants
Brown success in Belgium
“Provisional 43rd OA , second Mini and first in our Mini sport cup Class! Very happy with that results. Big thanks to Arwel and all the team for yesterday and today for their efforts. Thanks for everyone’s help and support over the past week!”
This was Steve Brown’s response to his excellent result on the Conxion-sponsored Omloop van Vlaanderen last weekend after a competitive outing on this Belgian event. The first day saw them lose the exhaust on an early stage, but the problem was quickly fixed in service and they were able to continue.
Brown described the stages as ‘quick, but tricky; you really needed your wits about you to anticipate the road changes and keep pointing in the right direction.’
RideStaffs season closer
It’s the Lymestone Cowboy this weekend – Ridestaffs' last sportive of 2018!
The end of season special starts at Lymestone Brewery in Stone and is always popular – not least because of the bacon and beer either side of the bike ride.
Riders can choose their own route or follow the suggested 35mile course.
Visit https://goo.gl/U9R3jK for more information.
BSB heads to Silverstone
The Bennetts British Superbikes returns this weekend in Silverstone on the National Cricuit.
It’s the first triple-header of the season – and the last race before the Showdown!
Series leader Leon Haslam, backed by FUCHS Silkolene, and rival Jake Dixon have already secured their spots in the Showdown - but the remaining four places are up for grabs.
PBM Be Wiser Ducati ace Glenn Irwin looks well placed in third, while Peter Hickman of Smiths Racing BMW, also supported by FUCHS Silkolene, currently holds the final Showdown spot in sixth.
It really is all to play for.
Boom Boom again for Beaumont
Newly-crowned national champion Scott ‘Boom Boom’ Beaumont secured the HSBC UK National 4X Series with victory in the final round at Redhill.
The USN Racing, FUCHS Silkolene-backed rider knew before the round that victory in every race would see him overtake Kustom Bikes’ Declan Willicombe.
Beaumont was in top form straight from the off, winning all three of his motos.
And the 40-year-old led into the first berm in the final, eventually crossing the line comfortably ahead of Connor Hudson in second.
Beaumont said he “couldn’t be happier”.
Success for Carl
Carl Vickers enjoyed an “epic weekend of racing” in the Pre-Inj 600 at Cadwell Park.
Carl took the win in class for the first race after a great battle with Alan Armstrong, and he followed that up with a P2 in race two.
The final race of the day saw CV Racing take another second place. Carl is looking forward to returning to Cadwell Park in three weeks with Thundersport GB.
P4 for Murray in Aldershot
FUCHS Lubricants-backed Gavin Murray was back in National Hot Rod action in Aldershot.
Gavin lined up last on the grid for the first race of the day, getting up to sixth before getting railroaded back down the order, crossing the line in 10th.
Gavin put in a fine performance in his second heat, starting 12th and crossing the line in P3, getting promoted to second post-race.
He started seventh in the final race, coming home in fourth to finish a good day’s racing.
