BRCA Truggy & E8 championship Rd4 – Report

This past weekend the BRCA Truggy and E8 championship moved South to the newly revamped dirt track at Kent. The morning skies had a little moisture in them to welcome the drivers. The 6 minute practice session that both classes had was a little greasy but still allowed the drivers and marshals to get a feel of the new layout. Round 1 started with the E8 buggy doing there first qualifying run out of 3, with the best 2 to count. This resulted in an assortment of lap times with Kevin Brunsden fastest in heat 1 and Elliot Boots fastest in heat 2. By the time the Truggy class started the track was starting to loose the damp shine. Heat one of the Truggy class was won by Tony Truman and heat 2 by young Oliver Currie.

Round 2 started and the track conditions were improving after each run. Heat 1 was again topped with Kevin and Shaun Howe improving from his 10 place round 1, to 2nd in the second qualifying run. Heat 2 saw Darren Bloomfield finishing above Elliot and Ashley Owen being the other big mover. Heat 1 of the Truggies saw Tony Truman have problems and only completing 2 laps this left the door open for Simon Willetts to have the fastest time in his heat. Heat 2 had no change with the top 3, Oliver showing both the Jon Hazelwood and Jon Howells how to do it. Round 3 and track had dried out with the top surface getting loose in places. Heat one and Kevin still had his finger on the pulse and heat 2 saw Darren still topping the field with his Agama with Lee Martin posting he second fastest time. So at the end of the E8 buggy qualifying session the top 10 places were as follows.

E-Buggy qualifying top 10:
1. Darren Bloomfield
2. Elliot Boots
3. Lee Martin
4. Simon Reeves
5. Callum Niblett
6. Jack Embling
7. Kevin Brunsden
8. Tony Truman
9. Lewis Jones
10.Tommy Chung

So the final qualifying run for the Truggies and the sun had broken through the clouds. Heat 1 of the Truggies saw Simon Willetts moving ahead of Tony Truman and no change to the top 3 in heat 2. The overall qualifying positions for the Truggy class were as follows.

Qualifying top 10 Truggy:
1. Oliver Currie
2. Simon Willetts
3. Jon Hazelwood
4. Tony Truman
5. Jon Howells
6. Tom Saggers
7. James Tatlow
8. Allan Bridgeman
9. Michael Shorey
10.Llyod Pitt

Lunch time allowed all drivers to check and prepare their cars ready for their respective finals. The E8 buggy B final was the first to start proceedings which was a 12 minute race with the top 4 to bump into the A Final. The first final was the E8 Buggy B final. This was going to be a 15 cars fighting it out over the 12 minute final to be in the top 4 which would then bump up to the A final. Ashley Owen was the first driver to achieve this but he was pushed hard by the following. 2nd Matthew Perry, 3rd Ian Barnard and 4th Rhys Herd. The Truggy B final saw 11 cars again looking for a top 4 position for a bump up to the A final. Young Jack Willetts had an impressive race win, completing 18 laps in the 15 minute final. He was followed home over the line by Steve Johnson, Josh Johnson  and Steve Carter. After a short break which allowed the bump up people to charge batteries and check their cars the E8 buggy lined up for the start of the 12 minute final. With Darren Bloomfield in pole position followed by Elliot Boots, Lee Martin and Simon Reeves everyone knew that they where in for for a nail bitting race. Did they let the crowd down? No! Bumper to bumper, door handle to door handle, lap after lap, constantly changing places. First Darren Lead then Elliot, then Lee. At the end of the battle Darren was the first to cross the line after Lee made a last minute attempt to pass him over the whoop section. This he achieved but then made a mistake in the last corner. As a results the final places were as follows.

E8 final result:
1. Darren Bloomfield – Agama
2. Elliot Boots – Kyosho
3. Lee Martin – Mugen
4. Ashley Owen – HB
5. Tony Truman – Agama
6. Matthew Perry
7. Kevin Brunsden
8. Callum Niblett – Mugen
9. Tommy Chung – Kyosho
10.Lewis Jones – Kyosho

The last final to race was the Truggy A final. 25 minutes around the dry, dusty impressive, technical Kent track. After a good previous final the Truggies tried to do the same. The racing was close but not as close. No discredit though to the drivers. All drivers raced a clean race. Simon Willetts was the one to watch with a brilliant start and moving past the pole sitter young Oliver Currie who had been driving his Agama impeccably all day. These 2 left the other drivers in their cloud of dust and was the only drivers to complete 34 laps. Jack Willetts has to have a mention after bumping up to the A final. He started off in 11th place and at the end of the race had moved through the field to an impressive 5th place with his Mugen car.

Truggy final result:
1. Simon Willetts – Mugen
2. Oliver Currie – Agama
3. Jon Hazelwood – Agama
4. Jon Howells – Associated
5. Jack Willets – Mugen
6. Tom Saggers
7. Michael Shorey – Agama
8. Allan Bridgeman – Agama
9. Steve Johnson
10.Josh Jonhson

Look forward to the final round of the championship at Slough on 14th September.

Thanks to Dean Coupland for sending the report.