May 17th 2009 Round 4 FEKC Club Championship

Round 4 of FEKC’s 2009 Championship was run mid month due to no meeting in September and a day of mixed weather did all it could to dampen the drivers and mechanics spirits, in spite of the various downpours the racing remained hot

First final out was the cadet libre grid with comer shod Jordon Gilbertson on pole, Cory Steven’s WTP alongside, the whole grid were on wets due to a turn of the weather toward the end of the final heats. Stevens and Gilbertson pulled away from a tussling full grid behind, Harry Torpy with great exit speed from “bus stop” did all he could to keep on terms with the front two and in the end took third on track. First Honda home was Jason Duffett (fourth on track) just ahead of George Thomson’s Honda leaving David Wright’s WTP coming through from 24th to take 6th on track and 2nd WTP behind Cory Stevens. Alan Rees’ recovering Comer pushed Wright hard to the line taking third Comer.

In Minimax poleman Matt Duffett suffered an exclusion for an early incident in the wet at Bus Stop, this gave Piers Hickin the opportunity to break away from the pack taking a fine win from Eliot Hall in second taking his first trophy since moving up from cadets. Tom Miller held off Michael Gibbins to secure the final podium spot.

Senior TKM also had all drivers on wet tyres and saw pole sitter Matthew Cardwell make a great start and each lap just eased away from Jonny Goddard, novice Glenn Cox had an exceptional race to take third from Cardwell and Goddard.

Rotax saw the whole grid make it through the first corner fairly unscathed and that was enough to allow Barry Thomsit to make a break from the field to take an unchallenged lights to flag victory, Gemma Batsone took advantage of some squabbling early on to manage a fine second place from Thomsit. Marc Othen came through from fifth for the final podium step keeping Stephen Andrews back in fourth.

Rotax 177 saw a drying track destroy all the tyres from the whole grid, Chris Hartridge on pole drove away from the field to take his first ever win from Charlie Watson who just managed to hold off Ashley Bond on the line.

Junior Rotax, as normal had a full grid and today Zak Price looked the class of the field by driving away to take a comfortable win from Jack Mayle who was pushed hard the whole race by Michael Cheek who in the end just could not find away past Mayle’s Maranello and had to settle for the final step.

The last race of the day was the Cadet Devil take the Hindmost reverse grid, with a mixture of slick and wet shod drivers. David Wright starting 3rd from the back took the lead after 3 laps navigating past 19 drivers in front, Gilbertson looked ominous despatching Matteo Zanetti to get on terms with Wright after 7 laps. Lap eight the rain started which looked to be playing into the hands of Gilbertson’s wet shod BRM, one lap to go, Wright on slicks looked a sitting target as Gilbertson powered through, somehow Wright found some grip and with three corners to go slipped inside Gilbertson and held his line to the chequered flag to take the win in a hugely exciting race.

Next race weekend is the prestigious Southern Championship 2 day event in June with many prizes from the likes of Brawn Grand Prix and Williams!