Might Morgan scores podium in BTCC opener
Mighty Morgan scores podium
FUCHS Lubricants sponsored race ace Adam Morgan started his Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign with three stunning drives in damp and slippery conditions at Brands Hatch, Kent, at the weekend.
Morgan’s Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes-Benz A-Class secured a weekend-best finish of third place in race two - and Morgan ended the weekend fifth in the championship standings.
After a qualifying session held in near arctic conditions on Saturday, in which cold track conditions were compounded by steady drizzle, Morgan was a frustrated 22ndfastest, perturbed that the set-up of the Mercedes wasn’t as he wanted it after impressive winter testing times.
But Morgan turned things on race day, scorching through the pack on slicks while others struggled on wet tyres, finishing fifth, third and 11th.
Click here to listen to our brand new podcast ‘Slick’, featuring Morgan talking about the new season.
BTRDA fireworks assured
The Rallynuts Stages, Round 3 of the Jordan Road Surfacing BTRDA Rally Series, has attracted a superb entry of more than 130 cars that will all be converging on the Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground in Builth Wells for the event which takes place on 13th April.
The FUCHS Lubricants BTRDA 1400 Championship has the makings of a gigantic tussle this year - numbers are on the up and the top six cars, led by the Talbot Sunbeam of Chris Powell/Jim Lewis, have already banked two scores.
Then Callum Black/Michael Gilbey (MG ZR) missed the Cambrian and came out on top in Cumbria, while Dave & Toby Brick (Corsa) were Powell’s closest rivals in North Wales but then opted out of the trip to the north west.
They’re all present in Builth Wells - so, stand back and watch the fireworks...Mat & Dan Evans’ Peugeot 205 has proved victorious in Class 1400C on both outings to date, but, at the same time, has been unable to shake off the attentions of the Nissan Micra of Richard Garnett/Rob Gilham.
Joseph Keen’s MG ZR took top honours in the BTRDA Rally First Championship on the Cambrian Rally but then sat out the trip to the north-west. Starting their campaign on Round 2, Sam & Liam Johnson were unable to capitalise on the leader’s absence when their Seat Arosa stopped after three of the eight stages on offer in the Lake District. So, for the first time this season, we now have the chance of a head-to-head...
The first car leaves the start of the Rallynuts Stages at 8.30am on Saturday for the first of six special stages, totalling 44 miles, and is due to return to the Showground for the finish at 4.00pm that afternoon.
Elliott takes maximum BHRC points on Rally North Wales
Nick Elliott and Dave Price got their season off to a flying start by taking maximum points in the opening round of the FUCHS Lubricants Motorsport UK British Historic Rally Championship, Rally North Wales (Saturday March 30).
The forests of north Wales were in prime condition as a bumper historic entry gathered in Dolgellau. Elliott and Price always headed the BHRC contenders, although Joe Price/Chris Brooks were never far adrift as a fine performance from Stanley Orr/Grahame Henderson netted third overall and Category 2 victory. Category 1 went to Bob Bean and Malcolm Smithson (Lotus Cortina).
As well as being the first of seven BHRC rounds, Rally North Wales was also the first round of BHRC2 supported by FUCHS Lubricants-customer Sherwood Engines, which puts the emphasis on the Category 1 (pre-1968) and up to 1600cc cars in the championship, and also the first round of the BHRC Forest Challenge, supported by Rally and Competition Equipment (also Fuchs Lubricants customers). Elliott and Price also bagged the early lead in the BHRC Forest Challenge.
The unexpected dust, in Wales in March, detracted nothing from the success of the Wolverhampton and South Staffs Car Club event. The stages in Dyfi and Gartheiniog were in perfect order and the reverse seeded 2WD pack ran first. The dry stages held up well and a low retirement rate completed a great day’s rallying.
Stoke Speedway UK Modifieds Championship
FUCHS-backed Shaun Tarlton kicked off his UK Modifields season on the Stoke Speedway Stadium track. It was the start of 2019’s shale meetings with the championship running on a mixture of tarmac and dirt.
Shaun will be focusing on the shale outings this season and this was his first time out in his new car on speedway and the loose surface.
With plenty to learn, he focussed on staying out of the walls and increasing pace with two P7s in heat one and two, and up to fifth place in the final.
That puts Shaun fifth in the championship table.
“What an amazing car and championship,” he said. “These really are beasts that need taming. With our engine running FUCHS we had confidence the engine was in good hands. Can’t wait for round two.”
Steve Brown
Steve Brown took his Mintex Mini to the Bromyard Speed Festival on the weekend.
Saturday saw the Navigational Rally followed by the parade on Sunday down the streets of Bromyard.
Freddie Housley
FUCHS Silkolene ambassador Freddie Housley didn’t get the result he was hoping for in the first round of the IAME Euro Series in Mariembourg, Belgium.
Freddie suffered engine problems in the heats and was knocked off track, qualifying in P28.
His problems continued in the final unfortunately – but plucky Freddie has vowed to return stronger for the next round of action.
“It’s a strong competition against the best in Europe and the world,” said Freddie.
CV Racing
CV Racing started their Thundersport GB season at Brands Hatch.
Carl Vickers managed to qualify in P6 despite several yellow flags, breaking his PB in the process with a 51.98 second lap.
Carl was sitting nicely in fifth for most of race one but made a mistake and Liam Vella made the most of it. Carl chased Liam back but new-to-the-class Daniel Jones made a good clean pass at the hairpin, pipping Carl to the line by 400ths of a second, pushing our ambassador down to P7.
Carl punched a good fifth place in race two, taking his PB down further to 51:156, before going one better and scooping P4 in race three.
Carl found himself flying high in third in the final race of the day but was pipped to the final podium of the weekend by a slim 0.232 seconds.
“All in all it was a very positive and steady start to the season,” he said. “Three top five finishes meant some very valuable points.”
Myerscough College Motorsport
There was huge success for Myerscough College Motorsport in the Thundersport Golden Era Supersport & Steelsport category.
The team managed pole position in qualification in class – and four wins from four starts.
What’s more they racked up a new class lap record of 51.619. Brilliant!
BXCC
Ryan Cooke battled through a testing weekend to secure very credible results at the opening meeting of the season at Walters Arena in Wales.
The problems started en route to the meeting with mechanical issues meaning Ryan’s 100 mile journey took more than 10 hours.
Saturday’s performance was hindered by continual problems with the radiator which required major overnight repairs.
However, not to be deterred, Ryan battled back on Sunday with three strong runs, finishing in 10thplace overall and fourth in class.
