Wins for Spashett and Jefferies at BRCA 1:12 National

Round one of the 2011-12 BRCA 1:12 Nationals took place at Ardent Raceway last weekend. Saturday’s event was for the Stock class, with all cars running 10.5T motors in ‘blinky’ zero-timing mode. Team Associated/LRP driver Olly Jefferies qualified on pole for the A final ahead of multiple World Champion David Spashett who has returned to competition in this class for the first time since 2006 and was driving one of Josh Cyrul’s CEFX cars. Mark Stiles lined up third for Serpent/LRP with the new S120LT ahead of his team mate Chris Kerswell and multiple British Champion Andy Griffiths who is once again driving for V-Dezign/Nosram this season.
In the A final, Olly led away the field, but was involved in a collision early in the race allowing Mark to move into the lead. The next six minutes saw an epic battle for the lead in what many felt was one of the best races seen at the UK Nationals for some time. Mark led Andy Griffiths and David Spashett – the three drivers never more than three metres apart with onlookers gripped by the spectacle. Entering the last 30 seconds, the lead trio encountered a back marker who crashed in front of them, leaving Mark and Andy with nowhere to go. This allowed David through into the lead and he would go on to take a hugely popular victory on his return, while Mark managed to keep second place ahead of Olly who recovered to third.

Results – Stock
Pos    Qual    Driver                     Chassis         Result
1       2         David Spashett        CEFX            39 laps 488.94
2       3         Mark Stiles              Serpent        39 laps 489.57
3       1         Olly Jefferies           Associated    39 laps 491.06
4       5         Andy Griffiths          V-Dezign      38 laps 480.37
5       4         Chris Kerswell         Serpent        37 laps 488.10
6      10        Jason Butterfield     Associated     37 laps 491.70
7       9         Mark Jewitt            V-Dezign       36 laps 485.00
8       8         Andy Sawyer          Corally          36 laps 490.08
9       6         Matthew Varah       Associated    34 laps 449.60
10     7         Mick Farrell             CRC             23 laps 297.34

Sunday was for Modified with no limits placed on motor or speed controller choice. Qualifying saw a similar story to the previous day with Olly taking pole. However, a solid last qualifier saw Mark Stiles take second on the grid with his S120LT ahead of Spashett, Griffiths and Kerswell.
The A final was less of a spectacle than on Saturday with Olly cruising to a comfortable win and Mark driving a lonely race to finish second. Andy Griffiths completed the podium after a race long battle with Chris Kerswell as Mick Farrell finished fifth for CRC. The Horizon Hobby UK team (Spashett, Stiles, Kerswell and Varah) took the team prize on both days.

Results – Modified
Pos    Qual    Driver                  Chassis
1       1         Olly Jefferies        Associated
2       2         Mark Stiles           Serpent
3       4         Andy Griffiths       V-Dezign
4       5         Chris Kerswell       Serpent
5       6         Mick Farrell          CRC
6       3         David Spashett     CEFX
7       9         Andy Sawyer        Corally
8       8         Matthew Varah     Associated
9      10        Luke Burley          Associated
10     7         Jason Butterfield   Associated

Look out for a full report in Racer Magazine soon.