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The first BRCA National of the 2008 season was held at the excellent all-weather track at Kidderminster. The track is a good choice for early in the season, comprised mostly of astro turf which can cope well with the poor weather - which was a good thing considering the predicted rains.

Kidderminster held a National in 2007 - which itself was rained off after the second round of qualifying and many people suffered from damaged cars

Sunday 20th April 2008 - 4WD Day
Tyres for this years series are the same throughout the 6 round series, with Schumacher mini spikes and Ballistic spikes the nominated tyres. The Ballistic tyres are usually reserved for wetter tracks - with Schumacher mini spikes in yellow compound being the usual choice in the dry.

The Ballistic tyres seemed to be the popular choice - providing good traction in the dry but without the snappy agressive traction of the schumacher tyres on this surface. Ballistic no longer produce a 2WD front spike tyre, so drivers had to use either the 4WD front (see Paul Rotherams car below) or a different tyre.

Round One
A couple of years back the BRCA changed the way the heats were arranged. Where normally the fastest drivers would always be last on - now things are swapped around at each meeting. So first out it was Neil Cragg in heat one that put in a great time to take pole, the only driver on 13 laps. A mistake on the last lap cost him some time however.
Tom Yardy always seems to go rather well at Kidderminster, and set about the task right away. Running in heat two Tom went even quicker than Neil, edging him out by over 2.5 seconds. The next ten heats all the way down to the lowest ranked drivers didn't produce anything that could overturn Toms time - so Tom took the first round of qualifying, Neil Cragg second and Ellis Stafford third.

Round Two
The second round of qualifying was more of the same at the sharp end, Neil again put in a good time of 13/323.75 - but Tom again went better with a 13 / 322.91 to take the round. Phil Sleigh edged out Ellis to take third in round just barely off 13 laps on 12/ 300.19.

Round Three
With two round wins to his name Tom was looking really quite comfortable but Neil Cragg wasn't beaten yet and in round three Neil put in the quickest time of the day so far with 13 laps in 320.70 seconds. Tom couldn't better it this time and just missed out on 13 laps. Neil took the round, Ellis second and Phil Sleigh came in third all on 13 laps.

Round Four
Neil Cragg did it again in round four with a slightly faster 13 laps in 320.39 - Tom Yardy had to go quicker to take the overall TQ and really pushed hard, but one mistake cost him the chance and after that more mistakes followed. Lee Martin finally got things together to take second in round behind Neil, on 13 laps 323.07. Both Ellis Stafford and Paul Bradby in 3rd and 4th respectively were also on 13 laps in slower 323 second times

The rain started coming down, slowly at first, mid way through round four of qualifying - and it was there to stay. The tyre choice seemed to stay pretty much the same for many drivers, with Ballistic spikes on the rear, with either Schumacher Green mini spike fronts or Ballistics.

Neil got away from pole with Tom chasing - Ellis and Phil Sleigh a few lengths back in third and fourth. Neil just kept it cool and Tom looked to have a little understeer with his tyre choice. Half way round lap two Tom got tapped and fell from 2nd to 10th! With breathing room now, Neil wound out a nice lead - but coming round the corner at the end of the straight Neil rolled, sending his car into the hedge at the side of the track and allowing the rest to catch back up.

Neil holding off a charging Tom Yardy

Neil made a rare mistake

Matt Benfield - Editor of RACER magazine made the A final - maybe it will be me next? yeah, right.....

Neil on his way to the first leg win

Neil didn't seem too phased and again pulled a gap from the rest. Paul Bradby got into second and Mark Stanley and Ellis were battling it out in 3rd and 4th. Neil and Paul were the only ones to get through for 13 laps so Neil Cragg won the first leg, Paul Bradby in second and Mark Stanley driving the only Losi in the A final finished third.

Pos

Car

Name

Result

1

1

Neil Cragg

12/ 323.68

2

5

Paul Bradby

12/ 326.31

3

7

Mark Stanley

11/ 303.16

4

4

Phil Sleigh

11/ 303.27

5

3

Ellis Stafford

11/ 306.67

6

10

Matt Benfield

11/ 309.42

7

6

Lee Martin

11/ 309.59

8

9

Simon Moss

11/ 309.77

9

8

Chris Doughty

11/ 310.59

10

2

Tom Yardy

11/ 313.62

A Final Leg 2
Neil got out front followed again by Tom Yardy. Neil looked comfortable with a nice lead but coming onto the main straight the now-constant rain played its part, Neil ending up off the straight and in the infield - losing enough time for Phil Sleigh to come through for first.

After a really promising start to the day, Tom Yardy was having no luck in the final. Tom slowly fell down the order, putting his hopes of a win firmly to sleep.

Phil Sleigh, Neil Cragg & Paul Bradby were now in a procession around the track - Neil looked to be catching Phil and looking for a way past, but going too tight on a corner - Neil got hung up and allowed Paul past into second. Phil sleigh took the second leg with Paul Bradby a little way behind with Neil hot on his tail.

Neil looks for an implausable route past

Phil Sleigh kept his cool under pressure to take the leg

Pos

Car

Name

Result

1

4

Phil Sleigh

11/ 308.50

2

5

Paul Bradby

11/ 309.54

3

1

Neil Cragg

11/ 309.77

4

3

Ellis Stafford

11/ 310.51

5

2

Tom Yardy

11/ 313.38

6

7

Mark Stanley

11/ 317.57

7

10

Matt Benfield

11/ 319.85

8

9

Simon Moss

11/ 322.23

9

8

Chris Doughty

11/ 325.83

10

6

Lee Martin

7/ 201.37

A Final Leg 3
The third and final leg saw Neil Cragg head off with Tom Yardy in pursuit - there were still a few drivers who could take the win at this point. The rain really was coming down by this point and a few small puddles had started to form - still a long-long way off the conditions of last years event, but bad enough.

Tom stuck with Neil for a while in the poorconditions, but even with a win Tom could only place 4th at best and despite his best efforts had to settle for second in the led. Neil took the final leg and with it won the meeting.

Mick wonders if I'm taking his photo - I AM! haha.

Neil didn't hang about - half a lap into the race here.

Pos

Car

Name

Result

1

1

Neil Cragg

12/ 326.03

2

2

Tom Yardy

12/ 330.99

3

3

Ellis Stafford

11/ 302.15

4

4

Phil Sleigh

11/ 307.04

5

7

Mark Stanley

11/ 309.40

6

5

Paul Bradby

11/ 310.61

7

8

Chris Doughty

11/ 311.62

8

9

Simon Moss

11/ 318.55

9

6

Lee Martin

11/ 319.43

10

10

Matt Benfield

11/ 321.02

Pos

Car

Name

Result

1

1

Neil Cragg

2 [ 1 3 1]

2

5

Paul Bradby

4 [ 2 2 6]

3

4

Phil Sleigh

5 [ 4 1 4]

4

2

Tom Yardy

7 [ 10 5 2]

5

3

Ellis Stafford

7 [ 5 4 3]

6

7

Mark Stanley

8 [ 3 6 5]

7

10

Matt Benfield

13 [ 6 7 10]

8

6

Lee Martin

16 [ 7 10 9]

9

8

Chris Doughty

16 [ 9 9 7]

10

9

Simon Moss

16 [ 8 8 8]

After missing out on both National titles in 2007, Neil Cragg started his 2008 season off well.
Reigning 2WD National title holder, Darren Bloomfield had to miss this event due to 1/8th rallycross commitments - and will miss the next event also, but will be back to defend his title later in the season.

Neil was using a Nosram 7.5 brushless motor in his car with a 12.5mm sintered rotor to give a nice smooth power band.

Eight of the top ten cars were the Associated B4, with one Losi XXXCR and one XFactory X-6.

Left: Neil and BRCA rep Paul Worsley try to look happy about standing in the rain whilst my camera flash recharges.

Above, Neils rather wet looking Associated B4 Factory Team car.

Sunday 20th April 2008 - 4WD Day

Sunday started wet from the previous days rain and things got worse by the time second practice was underway, with a constant drizzle helping to moisten things further. The track layout was changed from the previous day but was also being run in a clockwise direction - the opposite of the 2WD event.

Like the previous day, two rounds of practice were run before racing got underway at 10am - and just like the previous day there were 12 heats with a maximum 120 drivers entered (118 in 2WD).

Round One
Reigning 4WD National Champion Lee Martin had no problems with the rain and took his AE B44 to the round TQ with a time of 13 laps 315.55. Tom Yardy was three seconds off Lee in second place, with Chris Doughty coming in third a second further back.

Lee was using the AERO car last year but like most Team Associated drivers has now switched to that brands new 4WD buggy, the B44. Paul Bradby was another that changed very recently to the B44, in his case from the Yokomo BX.

Simon Moss driving the new Schumacher CAT SX had problems when his servo screw fell out mid-way into his run. Neil Cragg running in heat three didn't make it off the line in time - his motor moved during the warmup and he missed the start.

Take it wide or do it in style - the best way to get your photo snapped!

Round Two
Lee Martin went even quicker in round two with a 13 / 311.57 - Paul Bradby and Tom Yardy both came in just over a second later on 13 / 312 times, Paul edging out Tom by a little over a tenth of a second. The rain had stopped after round one of qualifying but the track was still very greasy and damp.

Neil Cragg, the previous days winner, wasn't having much luck and his car suffered electrical problems forcing him to retire.

Dave Church was seen taking photos of some 'loud and obnoxious maniacs'

Hot Bodies driver Tony Truman, caused upset and outrage with his sock arrangement. Bloomfield eat your heart out!

Lee Martin was out to bore everyone and took the next two rounds of qualifying to cement his TQ with a perfect score and win in every round. The closest consistently were Tom Yardy and Simon Moss and these two took 2nd and 3rd on the grid respectively.

A Final Leg 1
Lee Martin (B44) was on pole and made the most by getting a small lead with Tom Yardy (D4) and Simon Moss (driving the new CAT SX) right with him. These three built up a gap to the rest but the battle between Tom Yardy and Simon Moss allowed Lee a little breathing room. Tom made an error and lost several places whilst Simon Moss pushed his CAT SX as hard as possible to catch lee. As Simon was closing the gap he made an error which allowed Chris Doughty to catch up in third place.

Simon Moss looks for a way past Tom Yardy ..The battle between these two allowed Lee some space

By the final lap Lee was in cruise mode and would have needed to make a mistake to give the others any chance of catching - so the current 4WD National champ took the first leg with Simon Moss second and Chris Doughty third with the 'Atomised AE B44'

Pos

Car

Name

Result

1

1

Lee Martin

13/ 315.18

2

3

Simon Moss

13/ 316.98

3

5

Chris Doughty

13/ 317.22

4

2

Tom Yardy

13/ 319.53

5

8

Neil Cragg

13/ 321.99

6

9

Chris Bowater

12/ 300.75

7

4

Paul Bradby

12/ 301.15

8

7

Ellis Stafford

12/ 301.88

9

6

Phil Sleigh

12/ 303.49

10

10

Mathew Dodd

12/ 307.00

A Final Leg 2
And the trio of Lee Martin, Tom Yardy and Simon Moss were out front. Simon was looking for ways past Tom but it stayed as it was for a while. Tom lost several positions after a collision and Chris Doughty was up to second with Simon still in third. Simon Moss got back to second and with Lee in his sights, Simon slowly reeled in the reigning champ until the two had a small collision - it was clear Lee wasn't going to make it easy.

Simon dropped back after a mistake but wasn't finished and kept up the pace, getting the fastest lap of the race on lap 8. Coming to the finish line Simon had caught right up and the two crossed the line together - Lee taking the win by just 0.16 of a second from Simon, with Tom Yardy working his way back up to finish 3rdlkffffffffffffffffflklkffffff - this part is where I fell asleep writing the report but I thought I would keep it in because it's funny.

A Final Leg 3
Lee had already dominated the day so far and won the meeting in the second leg of the A final, but wanted the clean sweep - greedy boy. Tom Yardy on the other hand had already had a couple of bad days but a win here in the last leg would give him the satisfaction of 2nd place at least - so he was on a mission.

Simon Moss had two 2nd places already but a win would give him and Schumacher a nice boost with the new car - but it wasn't to be and after a mistake Simon dropped down the order.

Tom tried everything to pass Lee but it just wasn't Toms weekend and he had to settle for 2nd in leg 3.

Tom meanwhile tried everything he could to pass Lee, but everytime he got close Lee shut the door on him - Lee driving a brilliantly defensive race. Coming around for the last Lap Tom made a mistake and gave Lee the room he needed to cruise to an impressive and dominant victory. Toms second place was good enough for third overall, with Simon Moss finishing last but gaining second place at the meeting from his previous results.

Overall finishing positions from the 3-legged finals:

Last year Lee won by default at Kidderminster National after the event was rained off & went on qualifying. but this time Lee got the chance to go all the way and dominate the meeting in impressive style

Anyone who might have doubted the change in car and Lees ability were wrong (if there ever was such a person) - Lee gets his season off to a determined start.

Congratulations to Neil Cragg and Lee Martin - and thanks to all the hard work that went into organising and running the weekends racing.

oOple will have a proper 'expose' of all the new chassis on the National scene for the 2008 season in the next National report - Oswestry National 10th&11th May, where we'll get some inside info on what the top drivers are running and their thoughts.

2WD Photos

4WD Photos