The shortest day of the year welcomed the competitors to the final round of the Buckmore Park summer championships and with double points on offer there was plenty to play for.
The circuit stayed dry throughout thankfully this month and several top Super One teams added to the entry lists trying out potential drivers for next year.
In the first final for the Junior Max class, Strawberry’s Jack McCarthy finished off from where he left last month’s event with a relatively comfortable win over visiting DHR driver Ben Davis, behind them Will Heasman finished third with Jack Martin fourth. Jonathan Wilkes secured the Junior Max title by finishing seventh over Heasman.
In the Honda Cadet class Nicholas Reeve had been on fine form in the qualifying races and continued this run with a victory in the final, only this time Oliver Marsh gave him a good run for his money. The squabbling pack behind this pair consisted of the new Summer Championship winner Harry Thompson, who led home Kieron Jermey.
In the IAME class Toby McDonald pipped new champion Samuel Shaw to take the victory.
The closely thought Honda Cadet Clubman class had its highs and lows for the title protagonists. A delighted Owen Tolley won the Championship overall for Ambition racing but not the race; he finished third behind Oliver Bennett and race winner Sam Heading, who celebrated in style punching the air as he crossed the finish line.
Sam had one of those days where everything just seemed to fall into place, whereas another title favourite Rhys Anthony endured heartbreak. After running at the front in the earlier races his kart stuttered to a halt whilst in the lead of the restarted pre-final, his kart allegedly starved of fuel duel to a tap being switched off. This left him too far back to make an impression in the final, although his determination moved him up to eighth, nine places up from his grid position.
The Mini Max final had circuit manager and stand in commentator for the day, Chris Pullman, sounding like the Murray Walker of old, such was the frenetic racing that was on show. Early leader Axel Charpentier diced with last month’s dominant winner Kiern Jewiss and a resurgent Tyler Sullivan, losing the lead twice before regaining to the end after an electric last two laps.
It was hard to keep up with what was going on over this period as contact was certainly not avoided, leaving Tyler Sullivan a dejected ninth and Kiern Jewiss fifth. Second behind Charpentier was diminutive DHR driver Mark Kimber, RL racing’s Chris Lulham complete with new suit was third.
The Mini Max Summer Championship eventually fell to Charlie Bennett who by finishing sixth gained the extra points to beat Tyler Sullivan overall.
Four Junior Subaru drivers raced on the back of the Mini Max grid with Chris Bridle taking the victory from his brother Eric Bridle. James Freeman who finished fourth took the overall title.
The Senior Max drivers entertained all day with some close and very competitive racing, Evolution’s racings Levi King won the final by just under half a second from Kit Brough, with Tom Prior holding off a tight battle for third place a further 4.5 seconds back. Connor Hall, Elliot Rice and Luke Reade filled the following positions. Elliot Rice took the overall title from Kit Brough and Tom Prior in what had been a very closely fought Championship. Mark Figes won the 177 class for the second month in succession.
It was mince pies and chocolates for the winners at the trophy presentation, after what had been an amazingly slickly run event, which won the fight to beat the shortest days fading light.