BRSCC HEADS BACK TO MALLORY PARK FOR MORE RACE DAY ANTICS

While Mallory Park usually sees us take a visit around Christmas time for the annual Plum Pudding Races, we’re never averse to racing here before then either, and Saturday will see the BRSCC Midlands Centre spring into action for the second time this season, with a plentiful mix of single-seaters, sports cars and saloon cars all on display across five different championships and series.

From the BRSCC camp, the Kerax Hyperdrive ST-XR Challenge enjoys one of its annual away days this weekend as they venture from their usual venues of Oulton Park and Anglesey to a circuit nestled deep in the Midlands. All three of the main championship contenders in Class A are here once again as Adam Brown, William Heslop and Greg Speight will likely be the favourite to contest overall victory. Class B will see a returning Justin Roberts in an Escort XR3i instead of his more familiar XR2 as he prepares to do battle with regulars Jason Hennefer, Peter Futers and all three members of the Bowron clan, with Lewis, Ryan and Lee all entered this weekend. Ron Loffstadt joins Chris Rowlands and Matthew Spencer in the Fiesta STs in Class D, while Matthew Morton and Rob Ottewill line up in the non-LSD equipped XR2 in Class E. The fast nature of Mallory should certainly suit these cars well.

Also from the BRSCC comes the Alfa Romeo Championship with cars representing the Power Trophy and Twin Spark Cup classes. Ben Sharich’s MiTo will have a trio of pumped-up 156s to contend with in the PT class with Jamie Thwaites, Dave Messenger and Andy Inman all bidding to come out on top in this contest. As for the Twin Spark Cup, the ever ongoing struggle for power between former champions Tom Hill and Andrew Bourke looks set to continue, with a supporting cast of Simon Cresswell, Richard Ford and the 147 of Martin Jones all starring alongside them in what should be an entertaining pair of races.

There’s also a healthy trio of guest championships and series on the timetable here too, starting with the ever-popular Monopost Tiedeman Trophy. Mallory Park marks the opening rounds of this mini-series that runs alongside the main championship in honour of their late founder Frank Tiedeman and is a home for just about any type of junior level single-seater. Be it Formula 3 cars in their own class, Formula Fords or bike-engined single-seaters such as Jedis, there’s a fascinating mix of machinery that spans a wide timescale – the very reason Frank created Monoposto and something he would have still been proud of to this day.

Also appearing here for their own away round and sporting another set of championship battles to be resolved, we’re pleased to welcome the Welsh Saloon & Sports Car Championship on to our timetable for the second time this season, after they joined us earlier in the year at their local circuit of Pembrey. The outstanding favourite for victory has to be the thunderous Audi R8 LMS GT3 race car of Keith Butcher, as he will look to make full use of his bellowing V10 engine. His main rival in Class D is the ever-present Chris Everill in his Ginetta G50, whilst further down the grid, there are other notable machines to watch out for including Damian Longatano’s Westfield SE and the BMW M3 of Glynne Jones.

Finally, there’s another eclectic mix of marques and models on display from our friends at the Track Attack Race Club. Their unique trio of categories in the Nippon Challenge, Tricolore Trophy and Multi Marques never fails to entertain wherever they go, and Mallory should produce more of the same. Favourite for race wins is arguably the brightly coloured, flame-spitting Mazda RX-8 of Clive Haynsford from Multi Marques, however, Richard Hockley and Tony Markham from Nippon Challenge and Nick Gwinnett and Robert Buckland from Tricolore Trophy should also be threats to the top step as well. Plus, keep an eye on the trio of 206 GTi Production Cup cars in the field too as they look set to enjoy their own private battle.

Scott Woodwiss