Good Points Haul For Gavin in National Hot Rod

The sun was shining and the terraces were full for the final meeting ever to be held at Wimbledon Stadium before it get demolished later in the year.

24 National Hot Rods were in attendance for World Qualifying Round 9 where Gavin started 22nd for both heats one and two. The starting grid is calculated based on your average points scored over the last 8 qualifying rounds. Gavin is the 3rd highest points scorer of the season so far thus meaning he has to fight his way from the back of the grid each race with the final race grid being calculated on points scored on the night from heats one and two.

First up was a quick practice session for the #95 machine where Gavin showed good pace. The team were quietly confident of some good results especially after our last visit to Wimbledon.

With driver and crew happy with the setup on the car all that was needed was a quick fuel up before Gavin lined up for race one. It was a slow start in this race with Gavin getting penned in on the first lap and lost touch slightly with the lead pack. Once the race settled down Gavin got his head down and knew what he had to do. Picking cars off lap after lap we were looking to finish in 8th position however things got a physical with Gavin getting caught up in a touch of argy-bargy on the last bend nearing resulting in Gavin spinning out of the race. Some quick reactions kept Gavin in contention and crossed the line 8th. The result was pending a stewards enquiry and Gavin was promoted to 6th place. The team's hard work paid off as Gavin set the fastest lap of the race.

It was a quick turn around to get the car ready for heat two and after a few checks were made to the suspension which suffered a knock in the closing stages of heat one we were ready to go again.

Heat two saw Gavin get out of the starting blocks much better this time round and by the halfway stage he had made up 9 position, sitting in 13th. Gavin kept pushing as hard as he dared and made up some more ground before crossing the line in 8th.

With the grid set for the final Gavin lined up 5th. As well as begin the last ever race being held at the stadium, the driver were also racing to become London Champion. The final produced some cracking racing and Gavin was running 2nd before a mid-race caution bringing the field to a halt. With the grid closed up ready for the restart Gavin couldnt get going as well as he had prior to the caution period Running wide coming out of turn 4 resulted in Scotsman Robert McDonald taking up 2nd place with Gavin eventually crossing the line in 3rd.

Another successful meeting with a good points haul to add to our world qualifying series points total, 4th fastest car on the night and no damage to repair for the next event which will see the team travel to Lochgelly in Scotland to contest in the European Championship. The team have very little time to prepare the #95 charger with only 3 days before they set off for the long trip North.

View some in-car action from the race weekend HERE.