The weekend of 6-7 August saw round four of the BRCA 1:8 Off-Road Nationals down at Pembrey Race Circuit in South Wales. This was a new venue for the nationals and the Swansea and District Model Car club did a fantastic job on the track and venue to get it in great condition. The race weekend was dedicated in the memory of Bob Williams from the club, and donations of a fantastic £350 were collected and will be donated to the Stroke Unit at Cardiff Hospital in his honour.
The dirt track developed over the course of the weekend and held up very well in its first national. After five gruelling rounds of qualifying it was Agama/Bullitt driver Darren Bloomfield who took the TQ and although he had the same results as second placed Elliott Boots and his Reds-powered Kyosho, Darren had a better result on count-back. Team Associated driver Neil Cragg got third place in qualifying and some fantastic driving by top junior driver Lewis Beech and his Novarossi-powered Sworkz with two fourths in rounds secured him fourth overall. Jonathon Skidmore and his Agama continued his fine recent form an took fifth whilst the next three drivers all had the same points after qualifying – Lee Martin, Simon Willetts and Michael Lewis qualified sixth, seventh and eighth retrospectively. Tony Truman was ninth an along with Jamie Clancy rounded out the top ten. Qualifying was so close all the way down the field of racers it would be mean great finals were to come.
The A final top three would line up as Darren, Neil then Elliott. All three started amazingly and travelled round in order for the first 15 laps of the 45-minutes. Neil and Elliott both unfortunately returned to the pits just before halfway moving up Lee Martin and Jack Embling to chase down the Agama driver, but Darren could not be caught. He once again led from start to finish, taking another maximum points hall in the process. It was all to play for behind him as Lee had a very smooth drive to bring home the Mugen in second, but third was up for grabs. Jack Embling and Milan Dragojlovic were up for it and some good fortune and once again one less pit stop saw Milan take the final podium spot from Jack with a quarter of the race to go. Milan’s pitting and superb consistency paid off and he took third and his first national podium as Jack took a fine fourth just behind Milan with Simon Willetts another five seconds back in fifth.
Some amazing close driving on a tight racing line meant overtaking was hard, but great to watch. A big well done to all the Swansea team, all the drivers and pit crew and a massive well done to the top three. Things are now hotting up in the championship with Darren one point ahead of Elliott going into the last round of the 2016 championships at Slough in September.
A full breakdown of the qualifying and finals can be found here as well as the current championships standings and all the other class information.

Source: Juliet Exall