The penultimate round of the 6-race UK National series took place at the popular Southport track. Southport is a challenging and demanding multi-surface circuit with plenty of features to keep even the top drivers working hard. There isn't much in the way of 'jumps' at southport, and it's a big contrast to the week before when some drivers were racing at the European Championships - a track all about jumps. Despite the lack of air time southport is far from dull - except the weather maybe, since Southport has a reputation for bad weather when hosting a National event.
The 2WD on saturday was greeted by a dull and overcast day, with light spitting rain giving everything a slightly damp feel. That's how it stayed all the way through qualifying, with occasional light showers and a constant spitting.
Schumacher Yellow mini spikes were the order of the day all through qualifying - the track never truly getting wet enough for the green compound (though some ran them) or Ballistic spikes (the alternate 'spec' tyre choice at Southport).
Qualifying went as follows:
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
1
Neil Cragg
28
1
122
1
2
Darren Bloomfield
2
118
1
3
3
Richard Taylor
29
5
3
2
4
Lee Martin
16
2
56
4
5
Tom Yardy
6
6
2
13
6
Mark Stanley
1
9
19
14
7
Chris Doughty
31
3
7
7
8
Danny McGee
78
18
5
6
9
Chris Evison
5
10
6
10
10
Simon Moss
8
4
14
8
11
Paul Bradby
7
8
22
5
Mark Stanley from the mid-west region, made an impressive start in round one of qualifying with his RC10B4 - taking the round ahead of Darren Bloomfield. This is Marks first year back racing Nationals and as a consequence is only an F5 grade!
With the first in round backed up with a 9 in round two, Mark was in the A final.
The challenging back section of the track is a favorite of the local racers but can be the nightmare of those unaccustomed to its intricate and mysterious secrets.
From the drivers stand it is hard to see just how 3-Dimensional this section actually is, but up close and personal it's a different story.
The fast and experienced drivers can make up serious time through here just by 'hammering through' - if you get it wrong, this is the section that's most likely to break the car.
Darren Bloomfield took the lead in leg one of the A, after pole sitter Neil Cragg took a tumble after taking an apex too tight. With leg one under his belt, Darren missed out in leg two as Neil took the win. Darren took leg three of the A whilst current 2WD national champion and recently crowned European 2WD champion, Neil Cragg, had to retire after a break on the tricky back section.
With this, his third 2WD win of the season, Darren Bloomfield creeps into the lead in the points table, just one point ahead of Neil, and Tom Yardy three points further back in third place.
A final results in finishing order.
Leg 1
Leg 2
Leg 3
1
Darren Bloomfield
1
5
1
2
Neil Cragg
2
1
10
3
Lee Martin
3
2
3
4
Richard Taylor
8
3
4
5
Tom Yardy
4
4
6
6
Chris Doughty
7
8
2
7
Danny McGee
5
6
9
8
Chris Evison
6
7
5
9
Mark Stanley
9
9
7
10
Simon Moss
10
10
8
Top Qualifier - Neil Cragg
Neil rolls in leg 1 of the A - allowing Darren through
Neil had to retire in leg three - a victim of the back section
Darren Bloomfield takes his third 2wd National win
4WD - Day two
Sunday started as a nice contrast to the previous day, with bright sun and soaring temperatures. Neil Cragg and Paul Bradby were missing, having gone to a rescheduled (cancelled due to rain) 8th scale RallyX meeting instead.
From the outset, local hero Richard Taylor was on a mission. Richard was back with the XX4 after a brief flirtation with the now seemingly unfashionable XXX4 at the European Championships a couple of weeks previously, where he qualified 2nd. Current championship leader Lee Martin was struggling a little to show the sort of form he had previously - the problem was only realised after the meeting but a new / replacement part had introduced some rogue rear 'toe' settings which weren't helping the car.
Overall qualifying saw the ultra consistent Richard Taylor take the top spot ahead of Chris Doughty and the Atomic Carbon S4 - with Darren Bloomfield laying in third. Tony Truman got his D4 running well, showing the new car can handle the most punishing of tracks - placing 5th on the grid and giving Hot Bodies their first UK National A final.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
1
Richard Taylor
1
3
2
1
2
Chris Doughty
2
1
4
109
3
Darren Bloomfield
4
101
1
12
4
Danny McGee
3
2
3
6
5
Tony Truman
14
4
5
2
6
Lee Martin
27
12
6
3
7
Phil Sleigh
5
7
13
5
8
Richard Lowe
7
4
47
14
9
Kevin Lee
34
10
113
4
10
Richard Cree
8
6
10
110
BQ
Ellis Stafford
109
8
11
7
A Main leg one
Richard Taylor got off to a good start from pole with the Losi XX4, closely followed by Chris Doughty with the Atomic S4 and Darren Bloomfield with another XX4. Various lead changed took place and Danny McGee took it up for a couple of laps before a roll put him down the order and Darren Bloomfield pulled a few car lengths. On the last lap and a few corners from taking the win Darren rolled allowing Richard Taylor to re-take the lead and cross the line in first.
A Main leg two
Richard Taylor lead from start to finish - at first pushed hard by Chris Doughty and then Danny McGee who looked very fast in the technical back section. Richard was the one to keep the car on its wheels and took a fairly comfortable victory. So with the first two legs won, Richard took the meeting.
A Main leg three Richard Taylor stuck in a 'silly motor' for the third leg, but it was Darren Bloomfield to took the win ahead of an unlucky Danny McGee who always looked fast.
Leg 1
Leg 2
Leg 3
1
Richard Taylor
1
1
3
2
Darren Bloomfield
2
2
1
3
Danny McGee
3
5
2
4
Lee Martin
8
3
5
5
Chris Doughty
4
4
7
6
Richard Lowe
6
7
4
7
Kevin Lee
10
6
6
8
Phil Sleigh
5
9
9
9
Richard Cree
7
10
8
10
Tony Truman
9
8
10
With his 4th position finish, Lee Martin secured the 4WD Championship title with one round left to go. Theoretically Darren Bloomfield can gain the same score but even then Lee will still have the best scores and take the championship. Lee will have to wait until the final round at Stotfold to get his trophy - a great season for Lee and his AERO team mates.
Position
Name
Score
Round 1
(Tiverton)
Round 2
(Kidderminster)
Round 3
(Bury Metro)
Round 4
(Oswestry)
Round 5
(Southport)
1
Lee Martin
520
131
131
126
131
127
2
Darren Bloomfield
517
122
129
131
128
129
3
Chris Doughty
512
129
127
129
127
126
4
Richard Taylor
508
124
128
125
123
131
5
Phil Sleigh
503
127
124
111
129
123
6
Ellis Stafford
497
128
109
123
126
120
7
Neil Cragg
489
113
123
128
125
---
8
Tom Yardy
486
123
120
119
124
119
9
Kevin Lee
485
121
119
114
121
124
10
Richard Lowe
482
119
111
127
109
125
11
Richard Barton
482
126
125
113
118
102
12
Richard Cree
482
125
116
50
119
122
13
Simon Moss
479
120
121
84
120
118
14
Danny McGee
478
---
126
120
104
128
15
Paul Bradby
470
112
122
121
115
---
16
Tom Cockerill
469
110
113
118
122
116
17
Craig Harris
462
117
117
115
95
113
18
Stuart Wood
460
115
11
124
106
115
19
Tony Truman
460
108
114
117
102
121
20
Mat Dodd
458
118
110
108
113
117
2WD Photos
4WD Photos
All photos are mine, all mine, and not to be used in commercial purposes without prior permission. Jimmy Storey. rc(at)oople(dot)com.
