BRCA 1/8 Circuit National Championship Rd5 – Report

The 5th round of the BRCA 1/8th Circuit 2014 National Championship was held at the Halifax circuit in West Yorkshire. The weather was set to be the best of the year so far and this made for close racing. This track and its associated facilities is one of the best in the country and successfully hosted the A European Champs in 2013. Also it was the start weekend of the “Tour de France” so making it to the track was extra difficult due to local roads being closed. With all the championship contenders present apart from Branson who is only racing at major events this year, the competition at the top would be close. From practice times on Saturday, it was clear that consistency would be key with all the top drivers running fastest times within 0.1 seconds of each other.

In round 1, heat 5 and Tim Wood laid down a marker to record a 21 lapper with Andy North second with a quick 20 lap result with Andy Hastings and Jason Frost behind. Neil King however was disqualified from second position due to a scrutineering infringement.

In round 2 and into heat 5 major improvements let Green win the heat ahead of Wood who ran out of fuel on his 21st lap. Neal King came home third with a quick 20 lapper and Carr improved to make it into the top ten.

Into round 3, heat 4 and it was Richard Hicklin again who won the heat ahead of Ashley Gouveia both recording 20 lap results. Heat 5 and it was Tim Wood who just won the heat by 0.12 seconds from Green, both on 21 laps, with North just two seconds behind on 20 laps which would bump North up to third overall.

So in the 4th and final round heat 4 also witnessed Hicklin do the clean sweep of wins with another 20 lapper ahead of Gouveia and Waters also on 20 laps. Heat 5 and it was Woods, Green, North, Carr and Bancroft with no more than 2 seconds separating the top 5 but the times were slower overall.

Qualifying top 10:
1. Tim Wood – Serpent/OS – 21 Laps 314.350 secs
2. Mark Green – Serpent/Novarossi – 21 Laps 314.470 secs
3. Andy North – Mugen/Sirio – 20 Laps 302.1 secs
4. Richard Hicklin – Serpent/Sirio – 20 Laps 304. 24 secs
5. John Carr – Serpent/OS – 20 Laps 304.55 secs
6. Neal King – Capricorn/XRD –20 Laps 304.57 secs
7. Andrew Hastings – Shepherd/Sonic – 20 Laps 304.84 secs
8. Daniel Bancroft – Motonica/CBR – 20 Laps 305.5
9. Jason Frost – Serpent/Sirio – 20 Laps 306.24 secs
10.Joaquin Desota – Serpent/Novarossi – 20 Laps 307.5 secs

The main final blasted away in grid order with the first casualty yet again was North by probably being too slow to try and maintain track position which bent his exhaust stinger. After the opening laps it was Wood who was increasing his lead over Green and comfortably in the lead. Behind was Hicklin with Frost chasing hard until Hicklin became the second retirement after Carr did not make the grid. Bancroft then passed Frost at the 10 minute point and he maintained his position to finish a good third. Up front Woods domination continued and he managed to pull out almost a lap on Green to take his second win of the season.

The final result:
1. Tim Wood – Serpent/OS – 116 Laps
2. Mark Green – Serpent/Novarossi – 115 Laps
3. Daniel Bancroft – Motonica/CBR – 114 Laps
4. Jason Frost – Serpent/Sirio – 113 Laps
5. Andrew Hastings – Shepherd/Sonic – 111 Laps
6. Neal King – Capricorn/XRD – 111 Laps
7. Joaquin Desota – Serpent/Novarossi – 110 Laps
8. Andy North – Mugen/Sirio – 68 Laps
9. Richard Hicklin – Serpent/Sirio – 32 Laps
10.John Carr – Serpent/OS – DNS

The next round will be at the Cotswold track on the 10th August.

Thanks to Andrew North for sending the report.