2025/26 RugRacers Round 1 – Report
British Winter series Rugracers returned last weekend for the 2025/2026 season with Round 1 of 3 attracting a record front wheel drive entry alongside Stock and Modified. Notable changes this season being the change of race format to Round by Round & the addition of bump up finals for the winners of the Leg 1 B finals. Series title sponsor Schumacher are also joined by RDT Products, TI22, MoodyFools & SC Models supporting all rounds. Modified defending champion, multiple National & EWS Champion, Elliott Harper would start his defence ahead of Alex Thurston & the fastest multi class female on the planet Harley Eldridge, Harper securing 3 of 4 rounds to take TQ, rounds being super close and down to the wire he would line up ahead of Thurston then Eldridge. Leg 1 was secured by Harper with Thurston 2/10ths behind as they crossed the timing loop after a superb nose to tail fight for the win, Eldridge 3rd, Leg 2, the top 3 broke away again with pressure being applied to Elliott from both cars behind, able to keep it all under control Harper brought home the win ahead of Thurston with Eldridge in 3rd place.
Modified Result
1. Elliot Harper
2. Alex Thurston
3. Harley Eldridge
4. Liam Tyrrell
5. Richard King
6. Adam Downing
7. Oli Meggitt
8. Damian Giddins
In the Stock class, defending champion Billy Fletcher lineing up ahead of the returning multiple EWS/RugRacers/MICC & National Stock champion Zak Finlay and the talented Finley Whitelock amongst many other top drivers. Zak got down to business early stamping his mark taking all 4 rounds of qualy to secure TQ ahead of Finley Whitelock & Adam Southgate. Final leg 1 Zak was tone to tone, all the action taking place just behind with late drama changing the finishing order with Mason Weston securing 2nd ahead of a charging Billy Fletcher, Leg 2 went to Zak who had to push early with Finley staying in touch, posting the fastest lap of the day on the way to victory, taking the overall win ahead of Finley Whitelock and Billy Fletcher in 3rd.
Stock Result
1. Zak Finley
2. Finley Whitelock
3. Billy Fletcher
4. Mason Weston
5. Adam Southgate
6. Martyn Ross
7. Stewart Wilcox
8. Ashley Wiffen
9. Mark Wilson
10. JK
11. Will Everett
The biggest indoor gathering of the Front wheel drive class in the UK was spearheaded by Series defending & multiple National champion Ben Moorey, ahead of an impressive field of drivers featuring 3 previous EWS FWD Class winners & multiple ETS & National A drivers, this was sure to be competitive. It proved so out of the gate with last seasons runner up Sam Jones taking Round 1, Ben Moorey taking Round 2, Adam Southgate 3 & Ethan Southall Round 4, Ben, Adam & Ethan each having the same points (3) was settled by a few seconds. Leg 1 and the top 3 along with Sam & Shane broke away a small error allowing Shane a chance to come through for 4th, the top 5 racing nose to tail within a few seconds as Ben took the win ahead of Adam & Ethan. Leg 2 had a similar feel, Shane getting the jump on Sam & Ethan up to 3rd would hold out for half the race before Ethan found a way through and hunted down Adam, time running out the order would stay with Ben claiming the victory ahead of Adam with Ethan 3rd. RugRacers returns for Round 2 on the 30th November.
FWD Result
1. Ben Moorey
2. Adam Southgate
3. Ethan Southall
4. Shane Chipolina
5. Sam Jones
6. Michael Chapman
7. Mark Burgess
8. Jason Loft
9. Gary Taylor
10.Jon Seals
11.Thomas Looney
Source: RugRacers [Facebook]
