Sunday the 15th of June had the Little Green Man’s Championship visit Buckmore Park.

The meeting was raced cleanly overall. With few major incidents and some amazingly careful driving, resulting, in some cases, with drivers waiting the lengths of their race to make their move. One race in particular, which I’ll develop on later, was one of the best races I have ever seen; granted I haven’t been here long, but it was still a great race to watch.

The first final of the day was a tense Mini Max race. The first few laps were tight at the top. First place swapping between Tyler Sullivan (62) and Charlie Bennett (42). They were closely followed by Patrick Kibble (22). Sullivan won the race, gradually increasing his lead as the race progressed. He managed to win comfortably in the end, by roughly 3 seconds over second placed Bennett. Third place went to Danny Harrison (19). He started where he finished, but had to work his way back up after falling to fifth during the race.

There was time to relax for Chandler Horsefield (12) who won his Junior Subaru race after leading from start to finish and also clocking the fastest lap of the race at an impressive 44.72. An equally comfortable second place was taken by James Freeman (99). Horsefield and Freeman pushed ahead in the mid-early stages, granting them their top spots. Third place was awarded to Max Goodwin (80), who climbed from a low starting position to third at the midpoint of the race and held his place to wrap up the podium.

6th position on the grid, Elliot Harvey (37) won the Junior X30 after reaching first place within 3 laps courtesy of some brilliant overtakes and a little slice of luck. A steady second place was won by Alfie Brown (18), only not being in second when he overtook eventual third place finisher Euan Wilson (16), before being overtaken by Harvey. A brilliant drive by Harvey was topped off with a clear fastest lap of the day for the JX30 class.

The race I was talking about. The Honda Cadet Final. Pole sitter Myles Apps (0) had a harsh slice of bad luck which sent him back to 11th. As the race advanced, Apps slowly but surely made his way back on to my position notes. By the 8th lap, he was in fourth and wasn’t content with staying there. Up to second by lap 10 and it looked like the comeback was on, but the next lap he went wide on the exit of the hairpins, slipping to fourth. Bad luck maybe, but it was soon resolved with the front three making contact, letting Apps move into first position for the first time since lining up on the grid. Second and third went to Harry Thompson (17) and Alex Lloyd (48) respectively, who both were jostling for first and could have easily taken it on another day if luck went their way, as it did for Apps.

The LGM B Final threw a lifeline to James Taylor (66), Mario Mills (19), George Price (99) and Van Knapton (45) who qualified for the A Final after finishing 1st to 4th in the pre-final race. The A Final was lead from the start by Kiern Jewiss (5). He started on pole and lead for every lap; but Zachary Robertson (11) was constantly on his tail it looked like the two were glued together! Robertson showed extreme patience to wait until the final lap to make his first move, the two darting around the first hairpin before Robertson went up the inside on the second. Third placed Tom Wood (3) also stayed in the same position for most of the race. After overtaking Lewis Thompson (10) on the first lap, he held his position to gain the final spot on the podium.

There was a first and second battle in the Junior Max final, between Will Heasman (51) and Levi King (94). The two drivers exchanged top spot four times during the race, with King coming out the eventual winner. It was a good race from King, who won after starting from fourth. Third place finisher, Jonathan Wilkes (55), retained his starting place, whereas second place on the grid, Archie Tillett (20), had to settle for 6th.

In the X30 Final, the early laps of the race saw three different leaders. Pole sitter Graham Hill (59) was overtaken by Josh Hatton (43). He was overtaken, after 3 laps in top spot, by Danny Cruttenden (47). Cruttenden held his lead for the rest of the race, with an extremely close finish as Hatton dived for the line. Cruttenden just clinched 1st place by half a length, leaving Hatton to settle for second; and Hill to take third.

Unfortunately for Alexander Moody (99), his lead though most of the Honda Cadet Clubman and IAME final, was cut short of a win by Owen Tolley (19) who overtook him with two laps to go. Furthermore, on the penultimate lap, Moody was overtaken by Rhys Anthony (68). Moody hung on for third, with Tolley claiming first place and Anthony taking second. The win in the Iame class went to Rashan Chigarimbo.

A great start by Kit Brough (66) meant he climbed from 4th to 1st at the start of the race. He slipped to third on the second and to fifth on the third, meaning Elliot Rice (74) was now leading the race. Rice led for the rest of the race, with Tom Hill (74) finishing a close second. Hill was closing, especially after recording the fastest lap of the race at an impressive 39.42. Tom Prior finished 3rd with a steady race, maintaining his starting position.

 

Trophy Winners Today

Honda Cadet
1st Myles Apps
2nd Harry Thompson
3rd Alex Lloyd
4th Dragan Pinsent

Honda Cadet Clubman
1st Owen Tolley
2nd Rhys Anthony
3rd Alexander Moody
Novice: James Popple

Iame
1st Rashan Chigorimbo

Mini Max
1st Tyler Sullivan
2nd Charlie Bennett
3rd Danny Harrison
4th Thomas Manning

Junior Subaru
1st Chandler Horsefield
Novice: Larbi Belkhit

Junior Max
1st Levi King
2nd Will Heaseman
Novice: Lewis Wadley

Rotax
1st Elliot Rice
2nd Tom Hill
3rd Tom Prior
Trophies for the LGM, Junior X30 and X30 classes were awarded as per their own championship regulations.

 

Report author: George Livett

Picture supplied by Paul Babbington Photography