Weekly Round-Up: Haslam Claims Superbike Title
HASLAM CLAIMS SUPERBIKE TITLE
The champagne corks were popping for FUCHS Silkolene-backed Leon Haslam after the 35-year-old clinched his first ever Bennetts British Superbike Championship crown at Brands Hatch.
Haslam’s crowning moment came in race one when a sixth place finish was enough to end the title hopes of the chasing pack.
With the pressure off, Haslam turned on the style to win race two before finishing sixth in the finale.
Haslam said: “It’s such a crazy feeling knowing I’m British Superbike champion. I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet. This year has been incredible and my whole team have given me everything and the best bike to do the job on.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for their continued support and belief in me to make this happen – it’s so special.”
Of the other FUCHS Silkolene ambassadors, a race victory at Brands Hatch for Glenn Irwin helped him secure third in the championship while Peter Hickman finished fifth overall.
Joe Collier enjoyed a first season in British Superstock, taking third overall after a strong campaign.
Kershaw racing won their opening race of the weekend by 11 seconds and cruised round to 4th in race two to cap their Championship season, claiming the British Sidecar Championship.
FUCHS Silkolene also crowned a new British Junior Supersport Champion at the weekend with Eunan McGlinchey taking top spot and rounding off a brilliant season for our sponsored teams.
3 Champions and 9 Top 5 Finishes (BSB & Support series) for FUCHS Silkolene - The Oil Choice Of Champions... Again!
BROWN SHINES IN BLYTON RAIN
Steve Brown made his mark on his return to the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship.
Driving a Bellerby RX BMW Mini Cooper S, Brown finished third in the ‘B’ final at Blyton Park in his first appearance in the championship for more than a year, despite torrential rain making for extremely difficult conditions.
Brown found himself in fourth place after the opening heat, and had his back against the wall by starting the second heat in last place on the grid.
But Brown proved his class by edging his way through the field to finish second, at the same time securing a place in the ‘B’ final.
Starting on the third row and having to negotiate constant spray from those ahead, Brown held his nerve in the difficult conditions to finish an excellent third.
Brown, who is competing in the Flanders International Rally Challenge in Belgium this weekend, said: “It was such hard work trying to balance the car and keep an eye on everyone around you whilst deciding when it was best to try and make a move.
“I really enjoyed myself and the Mini was a great car to drive – many thanks to Kevin and Drew Bellerby for looking after me on the day, and to my sponsors Fuchs Lubricants and Questmead.”
SEASON FINALE VICTORY FOR MARK BOWD & THE JDM RACING GT40
The final round of the 2018 SR> challenge took place last weekend at Snetterton 300. The GT40 qualified in third place in dry conditions, however, the weather soon changed to rain which continued for the rest of the day. Fortunately the GT40’s handling on wet tyres is superb, and a great start put us in second place before the first corner. JDM's chances were nearly over before the first lap was complete when the lead car spun and crashed into the GT40 causing extensive front end damage, despite the damage, Mark pushed on to take the lead and reached the chequered flag in first place. A fantastic finish to what has been a troublesome season for the team.
FUCHS RACRMC HISTORIC ASPHALT DATES REVEALED
The calendar for the 2019 FUCHS Lubricants RACRMC Historic Asphalt Rally Championship has been announced and will cover six events, including three closed-road rallies.
For the first time, the schedule includes Rally Tendring and Clacton, which was the first closed-road rally to be run under the new regulations permitting UK mainland motor sport on closed roads. In addition, the Ulster Rally has been added to the calendar and joins the Jersey Rally as closed road sail-away events. The popular Bovington Stages, Mini Epynt Stages and Harry Flatters Rally complete a fine programme.
The championship is for historic cars from up to the end of 1990, and is organised by the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club alongside the MSA British Historic Rally Championship.
The addition of Rally Tendring and Clacton on Sunday 28 April takes the historic crews to this pioneering event, which ran for the first time earlier this year to widespread acclaim. The Essex-based event will offer crews the chance to compete on the rally which takes the sport to a new area of the country.
Both the Ulster Rally and the Jersey Rally will attract one and a half points as both will cover at least 100 miles of competitive rallying. Meanwhile, two visits to the famous Epynt Ranges and the customary season opener at Bovington offer lower cost events.
Championship manager Colin Heppenstall said: “We are delighted to reveal the 2019 calendar for the Fuchs Lubricants RACRMC Historic Asphalt Rally Championship. The addition of Rally Tendring and Clacton is very exciting and we think we have a calendar that will appeal to a lot of crews.”
The provisional schedule is:
March 2/3: Bovington Stages (Dorset)
April 28: Rally Tendring and Clacton (Essex)
June 2: Mini Epynt Stages
July 28: Harry Flatters Rally (Epynt)
August 17: Ulster Rally
October 11/12: Jersey Rally
Two of the events, the Harry Flatters Rally and the Ulster Rally, are also rounds of the MSA British Historic Rally Championship. Crews will be able to score points towards both championships on those two events.
The championship regulations and registration forms will be available in early January.
