Here is a report on the Men’s finals from Round 3 of the UK Autograss Championships at Ludlow Autograss Club.
Class 1
Going into the final Jake Law (SR3) had had a set of mixed heat results, however he was the one to make the best of the tricky conditions to take the lead off of the start and then the race win. Behind him there was a battle for second which Rich Owen (NW15) broke free from to take the place comfortably. This left the rest of the field battling for third. It was Lee Powell (NW52) who took the position ahead of fellow clubman Dave Owen (NW97) in fourth and Richard Mitchell (17F) in fifth. Next up was Caine Parnell (SP129) in sixth ahead of Shaun Powell (SV18) the last of the finishers. The last of the finalists was James Claydon (Y229), who pulled off at the start of the race after losing his bonnet.
Championship Points: 1st Dave Owen (NW97) 444 2nd Caine Parnell (SP129) 402 3rd Rich Owen (NW15) 399 4th= Jordan Butcher (SN375) 374 4th= Lee Powell (NW52) 374
Class 2
Going into the final the two Scunthorpe members were level on points with two wins and a second each and in the previous rounds it was Craig Conway (SC126) who had the upper hand, however he got caught up in turn one and spent the race chasing down the rest of the field finishing in seventh. This left David Hughes (SC400) with an unchallenged run, taking the win ahead of Jack Joyce (WS222) who had pulled away from the battle behind for third. Getting the best of this battle was Darren Monks (T16) ahead of Jay Albrighton (N156), Aaron Smith (SR228) and Simon Overty (SC18). The last of the finalists who didn’t compete in the race was Andrew Jones (SV151).
Championship Points: 1st David Hughes (SC400) 524 2nd Craig Conway (SC126) 520 3rd Jack Joyce (WS222) 435 4th Jay Albrighton (N156) 342
Class 3
Adrian Joyce (WS22) continued to establish himself as the man to beat, unbeaten in the heats he continued this in the finals, even with the rain falling. Taking the lead at the start he continued to pull away from the battle behind. Dave Westlake (123F) was Adrian’s closest competition but a wide line a few laps in dropped him down the order, leaving Martin Roberts (PAC157) to take second place, whilst Dave was able to recover to third. It was close between the remaining finalists, with Adrian Herbert (S26D) taking fourth ahead of Phil Thompson and Peter Lemmon (SP11) in fifth and sixth respectively. Mick Sumners (R169) was the last of the finishers in seventh, whilst the last of the finalists was Steve Carpenter (IK32).
Championship Points: 1st Adrian Joyce (WS22) 566 2nd Adrian Herbert (S26D) 445 3rd Phil Thompson (Y51) 434 4th Peter Lemmon (SP11) 358
Class 4
Over the weekend the class proved to be a level playing field, with three different winners from the six entries. The best suited to the wet conditions was Mike Jones (H31) who took his second win of the day. However, he had both Jamie Williams (M58) and Colin Attrill (IK272) chasing him down, who finished second and third respectively. Next up was Nick James (C14) in fourth and heat one winner Luke Oakley (M51) in fifth. Rounding out the grid was Ray Tudgay (WS23) in sixth.
Championship Points: 1st Jamie Williams (M58) 447 2nd Colin Attrill (IK272) 385 3rd Luke Oakley (M51) 346 4th Jonny Brown (Y87) 246
Class 5
The weekend had been close between the entries, with no clear front runner and a few drivers with two wins under their belts going into the final. It was one of these drivers who went on to make it three wins, coming out of turn one first Stuart Deacon (S60D) dominated the race all the way to the flag, whilst behind him there was a close battle for the next positions. Brian Wright (P24EM) claimed second place on the line, just getting his nose in front of Barry Williams (C5). Again, Nigel Candy (SS14) picked up fourth place crossing the line ahead of Steve Donovan (IK72) in fifth. Julian Heath (E10) finished sixth ahead of Lee Bamford (B131H) and Mark Ashmead (38F).
Championship Points: 1st Nigel Candy (SS14) 517 2nd= Stuart Deacon (S60D) 435 2nd= Julian Heath (E10) 435 4th Scott Holmes (N444) 358
Class 6
Jordan Spavins (SN451) came flying out the gate to take the lead off of the start, he then went on to take the win despite having Jamie Hornby (ST47) crawling all over the back of him and also the ever closer Matt Baker (L117). Jamie and Matt crossed the line together, with Jamie just edging it to take second with Matt third. Behind them Lee Rowley (WS24) just claimed fourth after a race long battle with Peter Grimwood (SN158). Behind this battle was Phil De Prez (NS251) in sixth ahead of the last finisher Simon Hall (SR888). Mark Evans (YS57) was the last of the finalists but pulled off with a problem.
Championship Points: 1st Jordan Spavins (SN451) 385 2nd Lee Rowley (WS24) 343 3rd Matt Baker (L117) 273 4th Steve Ford (WS57) 262
Class 7
One of the best races of the weekend, saw the father and son battle of Paul (139F) and Lee Waldron (4F). Paul took the lead to start, but Lee came out of turn two in front, and held the position to the end, with Paul trying everything to get back past. Behind these two there was another close battle between Paul Bacon (N60) and Pete Bott (S47D), where Pete claimed third place ahead of Paul, however pulled picked up a green flag which dropped him back to sixth. Colin Reid (CS21) was on the tail of this battle and took fourth place ahead Jamie Cox (N52). The final two places went to Charlotte Pugh (LM30) and Darrell Cole (CM15).
Championship Points: 1st Jamie Cox (N52) 402 2nd Paul Bacon (N60) 359 3rd Lee Forster (CA1) 336 4th= Paul Waldron (139F) 328 4th= Lee Waldron (4F) 328
Class 8
Mike Mumford (160F) has always been one to beat, but with his new car he looked even quicker this weekend, and he went on to take the final win. However he didn’t have it easy with Simon Reeve (N8) chasing him down and on in his tail during the closing stages of the race, however with no way past Simon had to settle with second. Behind the leading duo was a three car battle for third, with Kenny Smith (S41D) coming out on top, ahead of James Poltimore (SS79) and Simon Parsonage (NW136). Alex Hall (R411) claimed sixth place ahead of Victor Majoram (CA543), whilst Sam Perry (G8D) rounded out the field.
Championship Points: 1st Mike Mumford (160F) 420 2nd Alex Hall (R411) 402 3rd Kenny Smith (S41D) 389 4th Jay Jones (NW106) 386
Class 9
Coming out of turn one in the lead and avoiding the chaos of a messy first lap and a half was Jack Joyce (WS2), pulling away to have a comfortable win. Also avoiding the chaos was Martin Bugg (M14) who broke away from the pack behind to take a convincing second place. Third place went to Ynyr Davies (NW334) ahead of Stephen Goodman (M888) and Allan Kerr (SB47). Taking the last position was Jason Richardson (P5EM), whilst not completing the race were Anthony Read (SC150) and Mike Liddiatt (309F).
Championship Points: 1st Jason Richardson (P5EM) 508 2nd Jack Joyce (WS2) 505 3rd Mike Liddiatt (309F) 395 4th Anthony Read (SC150) 376
Class 10
The first two laps was close between Andy Lee (R99), Luke Bennett (NW62) and Karl Bennett (NW26), but once Andy took up the lead he would stay there to take the win, whilst the two Bennett boys would be racing wheel-to-wheel throughout the race with Luke eventually taking second place ahead of Karl. Tony Jones (SR117) took a comfortable fourth place, whilst behind the remaining finalists were fighting for the next positions with Sean Wright (WR11) claiming fifth place ahead of Paul Smith (WS77) in sixth. George Young (A21) took seventh ahead of Adam Waldron (44F).
Championship Points: 1st Karl Bennett (NW26) 457 2nd= Luke Bennett (NW62) 375 2nd= Andy Lee (R99) 375 4th Sean Wright (WR11) 372
F600
Andrew Watson (SB20) has proven himself as being the man to beat, and again he took the win having lead from the start with no threat from behind. However, the battle for second was between the rest of the field, with places being swapped throughout and plenty of wheel-to-wheel action. It was Robert Paterson (SL87) who made a break from this battle to take second place ahead of Jason Garnett (T692) in third. Andy Reeve (N28) just got his nose in front across the line to take fourth ahead of Steve Faunch (T36) with Matthew Hickingbotham (ST62) who rounded out the field.
Championship Points: 1st Andrew Watson (SB20) 565 2nd Jason Garnett (T692) 379 3rd Andy Reeve (N28) 289 4th Graham Dawson (SL103) 25
Stock Hatch
Adam Golding (CA120) went into the final unbeaten, continuing his run from Round 2, and again he came away with maximum points, taking another win. However, he didn’t have it all his own way with Phil Peek (YD24) chasing him down and looking for a way past but having to settle for second. Behind there was a battle between Ian Fay (WS500) and Paul Maxim (C23E) who spent the whole race side-by-side and it was only on the line that Ian took third place from Paul. Trying to disturb this battle was Mick Wood (L2) who finished fifth ahead of Vivienne Chapman (CA149).
Championship Points: 1st Adam Golding (CA120) 538 2nd Ian Fay (WS500) 457 3rd Paul Maxim (C23E) 350 4th Mick Wood (L2) 269
Champion of Champions
We saw the most contenders enter in the Champion of Champions race, with at least one car in each class except for class eight. Taking part was Jake Law (SR3), Caine Parnell (SP129), Craig Conway (SC126), David Hughes (SC400), Adrian Joyce (WS22), Colin Attrill (IK272), Julian Heath (E10), Stuart Deacon (S60D), Jordan Spavin (SN451), Paul Bacon (N60), Jack Joyce (WS2), Andy Lee (R99), Andrew Watson (SB20) and Adam Golding (CA120). A very fast race saw Adrian and Jack Joyce to emerge at the front and it was a race to the line for the top spot which went to Adrian. It was Colin who came through to claim third ahead of Andy, David and Andrew. Next up was Stuart, Paul, Julian and Adam, whilst the two class one’s couldn’t hold on and ended up at the back with Jake beating Caine to the flag. Unfortunately Jordan and Craig were unable to finish the race.
