Sweep UK Rug Racers Series Round Two
Racers hit the carpet once more for round two of the Sweep UK Rug Racers series. With almost maximum capacity across touring and GT12 (as well as a very good attendance of 1:12 circuit drivers) the day would be a busy one. In 17.5T (Stock) Touring the day would start out with Richard Clarke and his TOP Photon EX going fastest in round one with 24 laps 306.47. Next up, just a few tenths back, would be Mark Young in second with another TOP EX and Malc Hall topping out the top three with his HB TCXX. Round two would see Richard improve to 25 laps 310.68 with no change to Mark and Malc behind him. Round three and Mark was now pushing the times and with it he would go top with a 25 laps 303.92, Richard just 0.07 shy in second spot and Malc third also on 25 laps. The final round would be the one to watch. All the top three could take pole, plus a few others showing ability like Dani Young and Andy Ashman who could pull out a good run. Through the five minutes the lead changed between Richard and Malc. They were heading away from Mark who was off the pace this round. As the time ran out Malc would take pole from Richard by just two hundredths of a second. Mark had done enough to claim third spot though with his round three time so that’s where he would start for the A final.
In leg one of the A finals, Malc would get away but a collision with Richard a few laps in would drop them away from the field. Dani Young (TOP Photon EX) would come through to take the win though with a great drive, with Nicky Yarranton (TOP Photon EX) second and Mark Young third. Leg two and this time Malc got another good start and held a gap over Richard Clarke for the five minutes. Taking this leg win ahead of Richard with Nicky third. Overall with some very consistent driving this meant Nicky would take this rounds overall win, a great achievement for this up and coming driver. Malc Hall would take second overall with Mark Young third.
In 13.5T qualifying, Ashley Wiffen (Schumacher Mi4CXL) was on top spot after round one with 26 laps 307.81. Behind him Jimmy Maddison was on form and looking good for a top spot with Colin Gardner showing some good early pace in third. Ashley would improve his time by five seconds in round two with fellow Schumacher team mate and last year’s champion Paul Pinkney now moving to second spot on another 26 lap run. Jimmy would also improve to 26 laps to stay in there with third spot. The track was getting ever quicker, and with it Jimmy put in a blistering 27 laps 306.16 in round three to top the table ahead of Paul and Ashley both on 27 laps as well. It was clear that to be in the A final a 27 or fast 26 lapper would be needed. Ashley set to it and was pulling out everything to take pole, and he did with a 27 laps in 301.79. Paul improved on his time to go second a few seconds shy of Ashley, with Jimmy in third spot with his round three time.
Leg one of the A final would see Ashley take the win ahead of Paul with Ricky Copsey moving up the field to finish third. Leg two would see some thrilling driving from Ashley and Jimmy and one of the best comeback run’s by Paul Pinkney. Paul would find himself near the back of the field at the start of the race and work back though the field over the five minutes. Jimmy was fighting hard to keep first place and managed to hold on to it to the end. Paul though fought hard and got back through the field, taking Ashley with a superb move to recover to second where he would finish with Ashley just behind him. Overall Ashley and Paul would finish with four points each, but on count back Ashley would take this rounds win. Paul would be second with Tony Broad, and some consistent finishes, in third spot.
Over to GT12 now and Tom Hampson would have his Mardave hustled by David Gale’s Superstox up to the line in leg one. Tom would take the win by just under four seconds from David with Garrett James in third. Leg two would see a much more dominant run from Tom. Taking the win by over a lap from a hard battling due of Garrett and David. In the end though Garrett took second spot just 0.16 of a second in front of David.
Finally we had the 1:12 class. This round saw more drivers attending which can only be a good thing for this class in the south east showing what a great class this is. In round one Mark Stiles would just about take the lead on 43 laps 486.54 with his CRC from Chris Clarke. A gap of just 0.06 of a second separating the pair. Gary Dyson would run well to third spot this round. Round two and this time Mark had found his pace. Pulling out to 45 laps he was proving his skill in this class. Chris would also improve adding another lap to his best time to hit the 44 lap marker. James Stewart would now move into third spot with a good 43 lap run. Mark would improve by a few second into round three to stay on top, this time though Gary had got the bit between his teeth and powered into the 44 lap mark placing second this round. In the final leg of qualifying it looked like Mark would be favourite for pole and he did not disappoint. A 46 lap run in 486.81 secured pole ahead of James Stewart who was really on it that last round just piping Gary into second spot. Gary’s third round time was good though and third place on the grid was his.
In the A finals, Mark would take the win in both legs comfortably and with it this round. The battle was really for second spot between James and Gary. Gary would take the upper hand in leg one of the A final with James third so all he needed was to squeeze out James in leg three, but it was James piling on the pressure and taking second in the final leg, equalling their points tally. On the tiebreaker James would take second overall this round and Gary third.Yet again another great round and some incredible driving. Thanks from the SUKRR Team for coming along. Don’t forget round three is on 2 December and booking in will be filling up so get your entries in now.
Source: UK RC Racer
