Horizon Hobby UK’s David Spashett Cleans Up at Teesside

Round one of the 2012-13 BRCA 1:12 Nationals took place at Teesside last weekend and for many of the competitors, it was like stepping into a time warp. David Spashett made a successful return to 1:12 racing last winter and over the summer has been working hard to improve his chassis and driving skills. He arrived at Teesside having recently won the third round of the popular AMC Summer Shootout series at Chesterfield so was in confident form heading into the event.
Those present witnessed the skill in car set-up and driving that won David three World titles in this class during his career. Winner of every single qualifying round, TQ and dominant A final wins in both the 10.5T Stock and Modified classes, David was almost untouchable all weekend.
Chris Kerswell was driving a development version of the Serpent S120LT and lined up second on the stock A final grid ahead of reigning British Champion Olly Jefferies, who was over a lap off of the TQ time. Olly’s Associated team mate Zak Smith drove superbly to line up fourth ahead of new CRC signing Mark Stiles who was running the latest Gen-Xti chassis for the very first time. In the final Spashett cruised to victory by almost a full lap and the top five finished as they started.

Result – 10.5T Blinky Stock A Final
1 David Spashett – TLR/LRP/Dynamite
2 Chris Kerswell – Serpent/LRP
3 Olly Jefferies – Associated/LRP/Reedy
4 Zak Smith – Associated/Reedy
5 Mark Stiles – CRC/LRP/Reedy
6 Mick Farrell – CRC/HPI
7 Daniel Holmes – V-Dezign
8 Luke Burley – DoRi5
9 Matt Rice – DoRi5
10 Richard Hicklin – Serpent

The 17.5T Blinky class was won by the LRP-powered Corally of Andy Sawyer, while local driver Adam Catchpole won the GT12 A final driving a Mardave ahead of Chris Ashton’s Schumacher and Mark Jewitt’s Mardave.
In the Modified class on Sunday, things at the sharp end were a repeat of Saturday with Spashett dominating proceedings. He looked at ease and never under serious pressure with a car that was consistent and fast. Olly and Chris were in the top three again but this time Olly joined David on the front row of the A final grid. Zak Smith qualified fourth again ahead of Mick Farrell’s HPI-powered CRC.
The final was a scrappy affair, but David got away cleanly at the front and cruised to a comfortable victory. After a blistering start, Mick Farrell finished second to equal his best ever result at a Modified National, while Olly Jefferies completed the podium.

Result – Modified A Final
1 David Spashett – TLR/LRP/Dynamite
2 Mick Farrell – CRC/HPI
3 Olly Jefferies – Associated/LRP/Reedy
4 Chris Kerswell – Serpent/LRP
5 Luke Burley – DoRi5
6 Zak Smith – Associated/Reedy
7 Matt Rice – DoRi5
8 Mark Stiles – CRC/LRP/Reedy
9 Andy Murray – Alien Racing
10 Andy Sawyer – Corally/LRP

Richard Hicklin won the 10.5T Blinky class for Serpent despite a late charge from Jim Spencer. The GT12 A final podium was the same as on Saturday.
The next round of the Championship takes place at Chesterfield in November, but before then there will be a fourth and final round of their shootout series to keep the drivers busy. For more information about the BRCA Nationals visit www.brca.org or join the discussion on www.rcracechat.com