THE ROAD TO ROCKINGHAM
There is just one meeting on the BRSCC schedule this weekend, a one-day Midlands Centre event at the Rockingham Motor Speedway. The meeting will feature six championships with ten races packed into the afternoon session.
All races will be on the 2.05 miles of the International Super Sportscar Long circuit, with the exception of the old Rockingham favourite, the Pickup-Truck Championship, who will bring their unique brand of exciting racing back to the Oval circuit. The Pickups have a strong following at Rockingham so the fans will be looking forward to seeing them back in action for the first time since May. Sutton Coldfield’s Antony Hawkins (#98) arrives at the Rock as the championship leader but the experienced Pete Stevens (#4) is in hot pursuit. However, both drivers will need to watch out for #74 Paul Poulter, who won both Pickup races on the oval at that May meeting.
The Teekay Couplings Production GTi Championship will field their best grid of the season at Rockingham tomorrow, with 22 VW Golf GTis on parade. Simon Hill is the man they are all trying to catch – the Knutsford racer maintained his great form by winning both races at Brands Hatch last month and will be determined to confirm his ‘champion’ status this weekend. Class B (8v) winner Craig Roberts could be worth keeping an eye on in the double-header. He has hired a 16v car for Rockingham so will be eager to mix it with the Class A leaders.
The Pistonheads.com Caterham Academy brings 56 new drivers into motorsport every season, with the championship split into two groups to accommodate them. Rockingham will be the third circuit race all the drivers have experienced in their fledgling careers, but they will find it very different from the Donington & Brands Hatch races they competed in earlier this summer. Chris Hutchinson is the Group 1 leader but his credentials will be closely scrutinised by Nick Horton. In Group 2, William Smith has proved unstoppable winning every round from sprints through to races. The Suffolk driver is now striving to match Tony Lawrence’s 2001 record of winning every race in a season.
A powerful line-up of cars will assemble on the grid for rounds 8 & 9 of the Dunlop TVR Challenge. Tuscans dominate in terms of numbers but it is likely to be the Sagaris' of Tim Hood and Steve Glynn that fight it out for podium honours at the head of the pack.
Adding to the entertainment will be a double-header for the Tegiwa Civic Cup, which has attracted an entry of 20 Honda Civics. After Rockingham there will be just two races left in the 2013 season, which is the inaugural year for the Civic Cup, so all the drivers will be out to impress.
For the timetable, entry lists & Final Instructions visit ROCKINGHAM RACEDAY