BRITISH SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT ARCHIVE

Holmes takes a double at Combe finale

Event 18 at Castle Combe on 23/10/2021
Competitors for the 2021 SBD Motorsport UK HSA British Sprint Championship arrived at Castle Combe for  the postponed 1 3/4 lap Great Western Sprint on October 23rd and were welcomed with a fine Autumn day. The 2021 Champion, Steve Miles had already been confirmed but a couple of competitors who had yet to drop scores sttod a chance of improving their overall positions and even greak into the top three.

Qualifying for the First Run Off saw Terry Holmes (Lola T90 Tegra) a second ahead of Miles (Van Diemen RF96) with another second to Pete Goulding's Mygale Ecoboost, the latter looking to hold on to his second place in the championship. Both the Lola and Mygale drivers had minor problems to contend with - the Lola suffering a burnt out exhaust (oxygen sensor issues) repaired with some spare aluminium while the Mygale's version was making too much noise! Alan Mugglestone was sharing the Miles Van Diemen (but not taking part in the Championship) and set a time that would have been good enough for third.

Next up were Matt Hillam and Steve Broughton in the SBD Dallara. Netiher driver had run a full season and were yet to drop scores with Hillam mathematically having a chance to move up to second in the Championship but would need a couple of outstanding scores to get there. Unfortunately the Dallara is kind on tyres but doesn't generate enough heat in them on colder days so the car was sliding around a lot and frustrating both drivers. Sixth fastest qualifier was Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost) who was lying third in the Championship and had a small turbo fire in the morning which luckily put itsel out without the application of extinguishant.

In Run Off one, Holmes maintained his advantage to take the win from Miles, Goulding and Blackwell. Appearing in fifth place and making good use of his aero package and V8 power on this fast track was Simon Bainbridge in the SBR Crono from Hillam and Broughton. Grahame Harde went well in the Radical PR6 to take ninth and John Loudon was the quickest 1100cc runner in the Force HC in eleventh.

Qualifying for Run Off two saw Holmes well in control ahead of Goulding, Bainbridge and Graham Porret (Lola T90 Tegra). Next up were Hillam and Broughton struggling in the Dallara while Blackwell and Harden were forced to retire their cars. Mugglestone set a time good enough for second and was now running comfortably ahead of Miles - no surprise as he had set the car up!

In Run Off two Holmes repeated his victory (taking FTD) from Goulding who pipped Bainbridge by a couple of tenths and earing both drivers new class records. Miles took fourth from Porrett (happy with a good balance from running hard fronts and soft rears), Hillam and Broughton with the Dallara drivers scores sufficient to elevate Hillam to third in the Championship and Broughton to seventh. Next up were 1600cc class competitors Robert Tonge (Force TA) and Carole Torkington (OMS CF08) - both drivers completing very successful seasons. The final three places went to 1100cc competitors Loudon, Simon Wallis (OMS 3000M) and Tony Beesley (Jedi MK4).

Results:

Castle Combe, Great Western Sprint October 23rd 2021

Bristol MC

SBD Motorsport UK British Sprint Championship Rounds 31 & 32

Run Off 1 (Round 31)

1. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 114.12secs
2. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 117.37secs
3. Pete Goulding(1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 118.02secs
4. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 118.44secs
5. Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 119.55sec
6. Matt Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 119.95secs
7. Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 121.40secs
8. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 122.93secs
9. Grahame Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 123.24secs
10. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 126.13secs
11. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 131.28secs
12. Tony Beesley (1.0 Jedi MK4) 133.71secs

Run Off 2 (Round 32)

1. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 112.70secs
2. Pete Goulding(1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 117.20secs
3. Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 117.41sec
4. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 118.44secs
5. Matt Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 120.30secs
6. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 120.80secs
7. Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 120.99secs
8. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 126.47secs
9. Carole Torkington (1.5 SBD OMS CF08) 126.90secs
10. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 129.09secs
11. Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 131.90secs
12. Tony Beesley (1.0 Jedi MK4) 136.61secs

Final British Sprint Championship 2021 positions:

1. Miles 446pts
2. Goulding 432 pts
3. Hillam 423pts
4. Blackwell 421pts
5. Bainbridge 384pts
6. Tonge 375pts
7. Broughton 374pts
8. Loudon 368pts
9. Holmes 352pts
10. Wallis 352pts
11. Anson 348pts
12. Porrett 317pts
etc.
 

Hillam's Anglesey double

Event 17 at Anglesey on 03/10/2021
Day two of Longton's autumn Anglesey sprint week-end was held on the International track and in much better conditions to the day before.

Qualifying for the first Run Off saw Matt Hillam (SBD Dallara) well clear of a close bunch behind led by Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost), Terry Holmes (Lola T90 Tegra) and Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost). Miles, Robert Tonge (Force TA) and Simon Wallis (OMS 3000M) were a little further back.

Hillam maintained his pace to take Run Off one from Holmes and Goulding with the, newly crowned 2021 British Sprint Champion, Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) and Blackwell next up and separated by a hundredth of a second.

Simon Bainbridge's week-end with the SBR Crono came to an abrupt end with a DNF on the first Run Off with a broken drive shaft.

Run Off two saw a repeat of the first with Hillam taking the win from Holmes while Miles took the remaining podium spot. The two Mygales reversed their first Run Off positions with Blackwell in fourth ahead of Goulding in fifth. Graham Porrett (lola T90 Tegra) qualified for the second Run Off and took seventh. 
 

Results:

Anglesey, International Circuit October 3rd 2021

Longton & District MC

SBD Motorsport UK British Sprint Championship Rounds 29 & 30

Run Off 1 (Round 29)
1. Matt Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 79.09secs
2. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 79.81secs
3. Pete Goulding(1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 80.25secs
4. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 80.47secs
5. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 80.48secs
6. Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 82.67secs
7. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 82.89secs
8. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 83.78secs
9. Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 85.42secs
10. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 86.70secs
11. Grahame Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 86.80secs
Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) DNF

Run Off 2 (Round 30)
1. Matt Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 78.99secs
2. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 79.33secs
3. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 79.40secs
4. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 79.42secs
5. Pete Goulding(1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 79.83secs
6. Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 81.47secs
7. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 82.54secs
8. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 82.76secs
9. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 82.94secs
10. Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 83.55secs
11. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 85.57secs
12. Grahame Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 86.62secs

 

Steve Miles - 2021 British Sprint Champion!

Event 16 at Anglesey on 02/10/2021
At Longton & District's autumn Anglesey sprint on 2/3 October Steve Miles was confirmed as the 2021 British Sprint Champion, having led the championship from start to finish.

Despite not adding to his overall score at Anglesey (taking dropped scores into account) his nearest rivals were unable to collect enough points to overtake Steve's total of 445 points with the final rounds at Castle Combe still remaining.

The winning Van Diemen RF96 is a testament to continued development and from its beginnings as a Formula Ford Zetec back in 1996 it has received a 2 litre SBD/Duratec race engine, fully modelled aero and carbon bodywork and the first MBR built Hewland JL gearbox to appear in British speed events.

Day one of the week-end was held over 1 lap of a cold and very wet National circuit and qualifying for the first Run Off saw Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) a tenth ahead of Terry Holmes (Lola T90 Tegra). Simon Bainbridge found the mighty SBR Crono V8 well suited to the conditions and qualified third from Miles and Steve Broughton (SBD Dallara) who quite enjoys driving in the wet.

The SBR Crono maintained its strong showing, taking the first Run Off and giving driver, Bainbridge, a well deserved boost after a difficult season and his first ever Run Off victory. He was over a second ahead of Holmes, Goulding and Robert Tonge who took an excellent fourth in the Force TA. Next up were Miles, Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost) and John Loudon, the fastest 1100cc runner in his Force HC.

Carole Torkington (OMS CF08) did well to qualify and went even better in the Run Off, feeling comfortable in the wet conditions and taking ninth, a hundredth ahead of Graham Porrett (Lola T90 Tegra).

As a result of the conditions no fourth run or stand alone Run Off was held so the points for Round 28 were calculated on the third timed run which saw the two Mygale Ecoboosts at the head of the field with Goulding in front of Blackwell. Bainbridge continued to run strongly, taking the final podium spot ahead of the SBD Dallara pair with Broughton over a second in front of Hillam who was, in turn, only a couple of hundredths up on Loudon.

Results:

Anglesey, National Circuit October 2nd 2021

Longton & District MC

SBD Motorsport UK British Sprint Championship Rounds 27 & 28

Run Off 1 (Round 27)
1. Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 56.84secs
2. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 57.78secs
3. Pete Goulding(1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 58.35secs
4. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 58.65secs
5. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 59.09secs
6. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 59.49secs
7. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 59.87secs
8. Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 60.14secs
9. Carole Torkington (1.5 SBD OMS CF08) 61.77secs
10. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 61.78secs
11. Matt Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 62.91secs


Run Off 2 (Round 28)
1. Pete Goulding(1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 57.82secs
2. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 59.39secs
3. Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 59.98secs
4. Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 62.53secs
5. Matt Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 63.72secs
6. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 63.74secs
7. Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 67.76secs
8. Stephen Mallet (1.3 Radical PR6) 69.14secs
9. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 70.28secs
10. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 70.30secs
11. Grahame Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 72.46secs
12. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 72.49secs

Hillam narrows the gap at Blyton

Event 15 at Blyton Park on 26/09/2021
Day two of Nottingham Sports Car Club's Roger Carrington memorial week-end at Blyton Park, was held on the Outer circuit  and saw honours split between season long championship leader, Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) and challenger, Matt Hillam in the SBD Dallara. Although still lying well down the table Hillam was the only competitor in the top nine not dropping scores and, while still possible to win the championship, he couldn't afford many mistakes.

The day began well (if quite cold) for Hillam, qualifying for Run Off one fastest ahead of Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost), Miles and Steve Broughton (SBD Dallara). The first Run Off mirrored qualifying with Hillam taking the win by just over a tenth from Goulding with Miles and Broughton following. Robert Tonge (Force TA) and Steve Brown (Empire Evo 2) repeated their good performance from the previous day by taking fifth and sixth, just two hundredths apart. John Loudon (Force HC) had a rough sounding engine and a lost plug tip was detected. A change of plugs didn't help and he was out for the day.

The same four quickest drivers continued to dominate qualifying for the second Run Off although Broughton and Miles swapped places to lie third and fourth. In the final Run Off of the week-end Miles, running ahead of Hillam, threw down the gauntlet by setting the fastest time of the day so far. Hillam going last, was 0.8s up at the split but then 'overdrove Bunga Bunga'  and was unable to make up the lost time, finishing 0.06s behind Miles!

With the handling of the SBD Dallara now very balanced and to the liking of both drivers, Broughton took the final podium place ahead of Tonge and Simon Wallis (OMS 3000M) while a last corner spin led to a DNF for Goulding.

In the championship table Goulding closed to within 25 points of Miles and Hillam remained a long way (149 points) in arrears although it is still just about possible to win with six rounds (153 points including records) left to go.
 

Results:

Blyton Park Outer September 26th 2021

NSCC

SBD Motorsport UK British Sprint Championship Rounds 25 & 26

Run Off 1 (Round 25)
1. Matt Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 56.07secs
2. Pete Goulding(1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 56.21secs
3. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 57.16secs
4. Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 57.23secs
5. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 59.08secs
6. Steve Brown (1.3 Empire Evo 2) 59.10secs
7. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 60.62secs
8. Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 61.52secs
9. Tony Beesley (1.0 Jedi MK4) 62.10secs
10. Carole Torkington (1.5 SBD OMS CF08) 64.96secs
11. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) DNS

Run Off 2 (Round 26)
1. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 56.41secs
2. Matt Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 56.47secs
3. Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 57.08secs
4. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 58.78secs
5. Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 59.63secs
6. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 60.39secs
7. Tony Beesley (1.0 Jedi MK4) 61.03secs
8. Steve Brown (1.3 Empire Evo 2) 65.56secs
Pete Goulding(1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) DNF
Carole Torkington (1.5 SBD OMS CF08) DNF

British Sprint Championship standings after Round 26:

1. Miles 445pts
2. Goulding 420 pts
3. Blackwell 417pts
4. Loudon 389pts
5. Tonge 368pts
6. Bainbridge 357pts
7. Wallis 347pts
8. Anson 347pts
9. Hillam 296pts
10. Broughton 256pts
etc.

 

Miles ahead at Blyton Park as records tumble

Event 14 at Blyton Park on 25/09/2021
On Day one of Nottingham Sports Car Club's Roger Carrington memorial week-end at Bltyon Park, held on Blyton Park's Eastern circuit the chase for the 2021 British Sprint Championship, Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) maintained his lead with a Run Off win and a second plus a new record, following a test on the Wednesday prior to bed in new brakes but reverting to the old set up for race day. Matt Hillam (SBD Dallara) has had a restricted season but was still a potential challenger, having only lost one Run Off out of eight he had contested and arriving with some new aero updates. However, like Miles and Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) the Dallara was running new tyres which affected the car's balance and  it took a few runs to dial the handling in resulting in a second and third place result.

With just 12 competitors present, qualification for the Run Offs wasn't as intense as usual with Goulding comfortably heading the times for Run Off 1 (running with hastily repaired/borrowed wishbones following his Northern Ireland mishap) from Miles, Broughton (SBD Dallara) and a rapid Robert Tonge in his Busa powered Force TA.

In the first Run Off timing problems intervened and both Goulding and Miles were required to take re-runs. But by this time heavy drizzle had started and Goulding, going first, couldn't match his earlier times on the damp track and finished sixth. Miles, going a little later on a damp but drying track found enough grip and speed to emerge fastest and win the Run Off about a second ahead of Hillam. In third place, another second further back, with a standout performance, was Simon Wallis in the OMS 3000M.

Broughton was fourth ahead of an encouraging performance from Steve Brown  familiarising himself with his newly acquired, Busa powered, Empire Evo 2.

Qualifying for Run Off 2 saw Miles ahead of Broughton, Hillam, Goulding and John Loudon in his 1100cc Force HC.

By the time Run Off 2 took place the track conditions had improved considerably and five new British Sprint class records were set. Goulding edged out Miles by four hundredths to take the win - both with new class records. Hillam was third just two hundredths behind Miles in a result which could be significant at the end of the year ahead of Tonge (new class record), Broughton and Loudon (new class record). Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono) had been having gearbox issues and swapped to a manual push/pull set up, slowly finding speed to take sixth and another new record.

Goulding, yet to drop scores, closed the gap to Miles (who dropped 13 and 19 points scores) in the Championship.

Results:

Blyton Park Eastern September 25th 2021

NSCC

SBD Motorsport UK British Sprint Championship Rounds 23 & 24

Run Off 1 (Round 23)
1. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 61.88secs
2. Matt Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 62.75secs
3. Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 63.82secs
4. Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 64.85secs
5. Steve Brown (1.3 Empire Evo 2) 65.60secs
6= Pete Goulding(1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 65.69secs
      John Loudon (1.1 Force HC)
8. Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 65.83secs
9. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 65.97secs
10. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 66.75secs
11. Tony Beesley (1.0 Jedi MK4) 67.14secs
12. Carole Torkington (1.5 SBD OMS CF08) 82.46secs


Run Off 2 (Round 24)
1. Pete Goulding(1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 60.88secs
2. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 60.92secs
3. Matt Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 60.94secs
4. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 62.96secs
5. Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 63.36secs
6. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 63.69secs
7. Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 63.95secs
8. Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 65.69secs
9. Steve Brown (1.3 Empire Evo 2) 66.52secs
10. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 67.14secs
11. Tony Beesley (1.0 Jedi MK4) 67.73secs
12. Carole Torkington (1.5 SBD OMS CF08) 73.24secs
 

Porrett & Goulding share the spoils at Kirkistown

Event 13 at Kirkistown on 08/08/2021
Just six competitors were left to contest Rounds 21 and 22 of the SBD Motorsport UK HSA British Sprint championship at Kirkistown on August 8th.

Fresh from his maiden victory the day before, Graham Porrett (Lola T90 Tegra) set the pace in qualifying for Run Off 1  by over four seconds ahead of the two Mygale Ecoboosts of Pete Goulding (with repaired rear suspension from the Saturday) and Graham Blackwell, who were separated by half a second. In Run Off 1 Porrett matched his qualifying time to take the win while, of the two Mygales, it was Blackwell who improved the most to take second ahead of Goulding. 

Blackwell continued to improve his times and led qualifying (and took an extra point for a new class record) for Run Off 2 ahead of Goulding and Mark Anson (Jedi MK6). Porrett's standout week-end took a downward course as gearbox problems intervened, not for the first time this year. The final Run Off of the week-end saw the closest finish with Goulding just pipping Balckwell by a hundredth of a second. John Loudon (Force HC) took his second podium of the week-end in third (with a new class record) ahead of Anson who went for it on his last run, Grahame Harden (his Radical PR6 having an issue free week-end) and a struggling Porrett .

The week-end's results had a profound effect on the championship positions. After taking into account dropped scores, Blackwell moved to within eight points of leader, Steve Miles, and Goulding jumped up to third ahead of the improving Loudon and Anson.

As is customary at Kirkistown, the British Sprint contingent were joined by a variety of unusual and very rapid local competitors for the event. Among them were Alan Cassells OMS 25 who was fasrtest on the Saturday and Gerard O'Connell's Dallara WS who was second fastest on both days.

Results:

Kirkistown 8th August 2021

500 MRCI

SBD Motorsport UK British Sprint Championship Rounds 21 & 22

Run Off 1 (Round 21)
1. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola Tegra) 112.13secs
2. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 113.27secs
3. Pete Goulding (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 115.27secs
4. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 120.57secs
5. Graham Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 121.51secs
6. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 126.83secs

Run Off 2 (Round 22)
1. Pete Goulding (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 113.45secs
2. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 113.46secs
3. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 118.36secs
4. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 119.75secs
5. Graham Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 121.54secs
6. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola Tegra) 151.00secs

British Sprint Championship standings after Knockhill:

1. Miles 425pts
2. Blackwell 417pts
3. Goulding 384 pts
4. Loudon 349 pts
5. Anson 340 pts
6. Bainbridge 331pts
etc.

 

Blackwell and Porrett take maiden wins at Kirkistown

Event 12 at Kirkistown on 07/08/2021
Eight British Sprint competitors made the trip to Northern Ireland for the 500 MRCI's traditional summer sprint at the fast Kirkistown circuit located in County Down south east of Belfast. With championship leader, Steve Miles, absent due to a family medical emergency, other championship contenders were looking to make up ground, notably Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost) who managed a sighting lap on Friday in his camper van!

The week-end failed to get off to a good start for Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono) who broke a rod end in practice and and then breaking a prop shaft in qualifying. An early ferry home was the result.  Blackwell's practice run was red flagged due to the preceding runner dropping a glove half way round the track (?). Nick Houston (OMS Hornet) set a slow time in qualifying, which was a little damp for some competitors, and failed to start the Run Off. Pete Goulding in the other Mygale Ecoboost led the qualifiers from Graham Porrett, on his own this week-end in the Lola T90 Tegra.

Run Off 1 saw Blackwell make the biggest improvement in times to take his first ever win from the similar car of Goulding by half a second with Porrett just behind in third. The remaining places were taken by Mark Anson with his best result in fourth in the Jedi MK6, Grahame Harden (Radical PR6) and John Loudon (Force HC) who was still struggling with the oil/water and gearchange issues that have dogged him recently.

Qualifying for the second Run Off saw the field lose another runner as Goulding sheared a rear suspension clevis pin, spin and bend a wishbone while Porrett set the pace from Blackwell. In Run Off 2 Porrett scored his maiden victory, with the best British Sprint time of the day, ahead of Blackwell and Loudon who scored his first ever podium despite his ongoing problems. 
 

Results:

Kirkistown 7th August 2021

500 MRCI

SBD Motorsport UK British Sprint Championship Rounds 19 & 20

Run Off 1 (Round 19)
1. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 115.51secs
2. Pete Goulding (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 116.10secs
3. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola Tegra) 116.47secs
4. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 122.28secs
5. Grahame Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 122.59secs
6. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 123.62secs
Nick Houston (1.0 OMS Hornet) DNS
Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) DNS

Run Off 2 (Round 20)
1. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola Tegra) 114.38secs
2. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 116.03secs
3. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 121.72secs
4. Grahame Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 122.47secs
5. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 122.82secs



 

Miles bounces back at Knockhill

Event 11 at Knockhill on 25/07/2021
Following a disappointing first day of Knockhill Motorsports Club's summer Sprint week-end, Championship leader, Steve Miles bounced back on day two on the clockwise running of the track to take a pair of Run Off wins and a new class record to recover some of the championship points lost the day before.

Reigning champion, John Graham, had been hoping to return with a repaired wishbone but this proved not to be possible so the entry remained as on the previous day. Terry Holmes (Lola T90 Tegra), fresh from a pair of wins on the Saturday, qualifying for Run Off 1 from Miles (Van Diemen RF96) by about half a second and Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) in third.

 In Run Off 1 Miles and Holmes pretty much reversed their qualifying times giving Miles the win. Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost) fouind over three seconds to move ahead of Goulding's similar car and collect a bonus point for a new class record. Next up was Simon Bainbridge in the SBR Crono which had damage to the ducting and radiator reapired overnight. He was also taking part in the Super Lap Scotland event and putting the extra laps (60 over the week-end!) track time to good use. Graham Porrett showed that the big Lola he shares with Holmes was working well by taking sixth.

Qualifying for Run Off 2 saw Goulding put in a quick run to go fastest just ahead of Miles and Blackwell. Holmes stripped a couple of gears on his run although he set a time so just qualified for the Run Off although his good fortune came at the cost of co-driver, Porrett, missing out.

Miles had everything running right for the final Run Off and set the only sub 92s run of the day to take the win and an extra point for a new record. This helped him claw back four championship points from the ten he had lost the previous day to Blackwell who remained second in the table with a third in the Run Off.

The Holmes/Porrett team executed a well rehearsed gear ratio change very quickly before final run off and although sounding a little noisy Holmes managed to put in a good run to take second. Goulding took a slightly wrong line into Clerks and found himself going backwards into the gravel and losing all his gears at the same time for a non finish.

Mark Anson (Jedi MK6) was suffering from cooling issues but still managed a PB and took seventh in the final Run Off just behind Robert Tonge's Force TA. Despite still having gearchange problems John Loudon (Force HC) finished ninth behind Stephen Mallett's Radical PR6.

Results:

Knockhill clockwise July 25 2021

Knockhill Motorsport Club

SBD Motorsport UK British Sprint Championship Rounds 17 & 18

Run Off 1 (Round 17)
1. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 92.12secs
2. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 92.56secs
3. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 92.64secs
4. Pete Goulding (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 94.73secs
5. Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 96.17secs
6. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola Tegra) 98.46secs
7. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 96.36secs
8 Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 100.72secs
9. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 103.73secs
10. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 105.32secs
11 Graham Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 107.19secs
12. Stephen Mallett DNF

Run Off 2 (Round 18)
1. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 91.85secs
2. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 92.13secs
3. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 94.55secs
4. Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 96.787secs
5. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 98.25secs
6. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 100.10secs
7. Stephen Mallett (1.3 Radical PR6) 104.17secs
8. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 104.59secs
9. Graham Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 106.29secs
10. Richard Mallett (1.3 Radical PR6) 109.18secs
11. Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 125.25secs
12. Pete Goulding DNF

British Sprint Championship standings after Knockhill:

Miles 425pts
Blackwell 383pts
Bainbridge 331pts
Wallis 320pts
Goulding 312pts
Tonge 305pts
etc.
 

Holmes back with a bang at Knockhill

Event 10 at Knockhill on 24/07/2021
After missing the last round at Lydden Hill, Terry Holmes returned to the British Sprint Championship at Knockhill in the Lola T90 Tegra, which he shares with Graham Porrett, to take a pair of Run Off wins in fine style.

Running in the anti-clockwise direction on the challenging Knockhill circuit qualifying for Run Off 1 saw the two championship leaders Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) and Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost) at the top of the time sheet. Miles had an alternator bolt work loose on the way to the line and needed to cable tie it in place and run on battery power alone. The pair were ahead of Holmes who had replaced a part of the Lola's inner CV joint on Friday evening.

Grahame Harden recovered from a trip into the gravel in practice to qualify tenth in his Radical PR6 while current champion, John Graham (Gould GR55B), didn't get out on to the track having discovered a broken wishbone.

Holmes got the big Lola really motoring in Run Off 1, taking two seconds off his qualifying time, to take the win from the two Mygale Ecoboosts of Blackwell and Pete Goulding who were both slightly down on their qualifying times with Goulding wondering if his recently fitted larger turbo was causing more throttle lag and slowing him down. Next up was Simon Bainbridge in the SBR Crono (who was also taking part in the Super Lap Scotland event - which he won! - making for a busy week-end) from Robert Tonge continuing his run of good form in the Force TA Busa.

But what of Miles? His run was aborted at the first corner with the handling feeling decidedly odd. Further inspection revealed a rear wheel and tyre on the front axle and a front wheel and tyre on the rear axle! The problem was quickly resolved but vital championship points had been lost.

Qualifying for the second Run Off followed a similar pattern to the first with Porrett showing well to place in the mid order (equal sixth with Tonge) ahead of the other qualifiers, Simon Wallis (OMS 3000M), Mark Anson (Jedi MK6), John Loudon (Force HC) and Stephen Mallett (Radical PR6). The Loudon Force was suffering from a number of problems including gearchange consistency and coolant and fuel coming together where they shouldn't.

The second Run Off was a close affair with Holmes edging out Miles by 0.14s with both drivers on the ragged edge. The battle for third was between the two Mygales with Blackwell finishing ahead of Goulding by 1.03s, followed by Bainbridge, Porrett and Tonge.

The Bainbridge SBR Crono visited the gravel after the finish (?) needing overnight repairs by John Hansell and Andy Pybus.

The results moved Blackwell ten points closer to Miles in the championship.

Finally, former British Sprint Champion, Stewart Robb Snr, was taking part in the Modsports races in a TVR Turscan and by the look of the fine action photo taken by John Stewart, he has lost none of his driving enthusiasm! He started both races from pole and finished third on both occasions.

Results:

Knockhill anti clockwise July 24 2021

Knockhill Motorsport Club

SBD Motorsport UK British Sprint Championship Rounds 15 & 16

Run Off 1 (Round 15)
1. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 90.17secs
2. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 91.39secs
3. Pete Goulding (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 92.29secs
4. Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 94.10secs
5. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 96.36secs
6. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola Tegra) 92.24secs
7 Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 99.34secs
8. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 99.55secs
9. Stephen Mallett (1.3 Radical PR6) 100.76secs
10 Graham Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 105.50secs
11. Richard Mallett (1.3 Radical PR6) 112.21secs
12. Steve Miles DNF

Run Off 2 (Round 16)
1. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90 Tegra) 90.31secs
2. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 90.45secs
3. Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 91.26secs
4. Pete Goulding (1.6t Mygale Ecoboost) 92.29secs
5. Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 92.82secs
6. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola Tegra) 93.58secs
7. Robert Tonge (1.4 Force TA) 95.53secs
8. Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 99.32secs
9. Stephen Mallett (1.3 Radical PR6) 100.52secs
10. John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 100.78secs
11. Graham Harden (1.3 Radical PR6) 102.74secs
12. Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 116.34secs

Miles thwarted as Hillam charges on

Event 9 at Lydden Hill on 17/07/2021
The SBD Motorsport UK HSA British Sprint championship made their annual trip to the far South East for Borough 19's Ray Heal Memorial sprint at  a very hot Lydden Hill on July17th. Championship leader, Steve Miles, suffered a frustrating day but remained at the top of the standings while Matt Hillam is emerging as a 2021 title favourite after taking his fifth and sixth Run Off victories in a row.

The first timed run (and qualification for the first Run Off) saw Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) set a time of 66.51s which was to remain the fastest of the day - something to do with the heat and tyres perhaps? Matt Hillam (SBD Dallara F399) was a couple of tenths behind, with the pair two seconds ahead of the rest of the field led by Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost) and Hillam's co-driver, Steve Broughton. Reigning Champion, John Graham, was fifth in the Gould GR55B but was already suffering from electrical problems and was unable to continue further.
Carole Torkington in the SBD OMS CF08 went well to qualify ninth ahead of Tony Beesley and Mark Anson in their Jedis with the latter on the back foot after a trip into the gravel in practice.

Hillam won the first Run Off by over a second, after a re-run due to timing issues, from Blackwell (having removed 1/2 kilo of water trapped in his rear wing!) and Broughton with Simon Wallis getting under 70secs to take fourth in his OMS 3000M. The OMS was suffering from fuel pump problems which were overcome by routing a direct connection from the battery to the pump but despite this the driver was finding the track much to his liking. Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono) was having 4th gear problems and sixth place was his best result of the day although at least his Avons were holding up well in the heat. But what of Miles? On his first Run Off attempt he caught another runner and was duly offered a re-run but he was sent out immediately, the car overheated and he was only able to finish seventh.

Qualifying for the second Run Off saw Hillam ahead of Broughton and Blackwell but with only half a second covering all three drivers. Then came Miles, Wallis (having found a couple of seconds after fitting new tyres) and Pete Goulding who was having a subdued event in the Mygale Ecoboost although traction control problems didn't help. John Loudon qualified 11th, with the Force HC troubled by a sticking clutch pedal, and ahead of final qualifier, Nick Houston, in his OMS Hornet which was experiencing intermittent power delivery issues all day.

Hillam took Run Off Two from Blackwell who was just over a tenth ahead of a recovering Miles who had a part of his trailer fly out of a sidepod (?) during the run and be recovered by a marshal. Broughton was fourth with the SBD pair finding the larger tyres fitted to the Dallara withstanding the heat better than others. Wallis and Goulding were next up to round out the top six.

In the Championship table, Miles' lead has been cut and he now leads Blackwell by 57 points, but Hillam, who missed a number of early season events and may only be down in ninth place, has won all but one of the Run Offs he has contested. 

Results:

Lydden Hill July 17th 2021

Borough 19

SBD Motorsport UK British Sprint Championship Rounds 13 & 14

Run Off 1 (Round 13)
Matthew Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 67.29secs
Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 68.49secs
Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 69.14secs
Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 69.67secs
Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 70.32secs
Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 71.18secs
Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 71.55secs
Tony Beesley  (1.0 Jedi MK4) 72.54secs
Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 74.32secs
Carole Torkington (1.5 SBD OMS CF08) 74.36secs
John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 75.16secs
John Graham (3.5 Gould GR55B) DNF

Run Off 2 (Round 14)
Matthew Hillam (2.0 SBD Dallara) 66.77secs
Graham Blackwell (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 67.20secs
Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) 67.34secs
Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD Dallara) 68.34secs
Simon Wallis (1.1 OMS 3000M) 69.94secs
Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 70.19secs
Tony Beesley (1.0 Jedi MK4) 71.65secs
Simon Bainbridge (4.2 SBR Crono) 72.07secs
Mark Anson (1.1 Jedi MK6) 73.65secs
Carole Torkington (1.5 SBD OMS CF08) 73.92secs
John Loudon (1.1 Force HC) 75.16secs
Nick Houston (1.0 OMS Hornet) 93.21secs

British Sprint Championship standings after Lydden:

Miles 337pts
Blackwell 289pts
Wallis 254pts
Bainbridge 245pts
Loudon 238pts
Goulding 232pts
etc.
 

Another double for Hillam

Event 8 at Snetterton on 27/06/2021
At Snetterton on Sunday June 27 Matt Hillam repeated his performance from the previous day by taking another pair of Run Off wins and, by winning five out of the last six Run Offs, served notice of his 2021 championship challenge. His SBD Dallara has been the recipient of aero updates from John Hughes and John Hansell and chassis set-up from Triple M Motorsport - to great effect.

After a clear and warm Saturday, competitors arrived to find a misty and slightly damp track following overnight rain but this quickly disappeared leaving another fine day with excellent conditions.

Hillam qualified fastest for Run Off 1 from Pete Goulding's Mygale Ecoboost and Terry Holmes, getting back up to speed in the repaired Lola Tegra Judd. Despite suffering from sickness and an upset stomach, Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost) put in a good preformance to qualify sixth while Simon Wallis (OMS 3000M) maintained his and Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) 2021 100% Run Off qualification record. The Force TAs of Robert Tonge (brakes) and Chris Jones (electrical) continued to have issues and failed to qualify.

Run Off 1 saw Hillam win by over a second (and break Nick Algar's 2 litre record) from Miles with Goulding, Holmes and Blackwell next up. John Loudon (Force HC) took an excellent ninth to hold on to his fifth place in the championship.

Qaulifying for Run Off 2 followed a similar pattern to the first although Robert Tonge had overcome his brake issues and qualified seventh. Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono V8) only just qualified in eleventh after driving the second lap one handed with the other holding the driver's door after the tape repair had broken and he didn't want to risk getting red flagged! Caught on camera by Jane Loudon.....

Wallis just missed out in 13th place leaving Miles as the only competitor with a 100% qualification record this year. The Run Off saw Hillam maintain his level of performance to complete a perfect week-end from Miles and Goulding. Blackwell, having improved his times throughout the day, moved up to fourth and Simon Bainbridge finished seventh having run consistently on both days in the SBR Crono V8 to sit sixth in the championship, just one point behind Loudon. John Graham was back in ninth place and wondering if the 18 month lay off was contributing to him and the Gould being off their normal pace.

Although not appearing in the Run Offs Stephen and Richard Mallet (Radical PR6) and Carole Torkington (PBs on both days in her OMS CF08) got quicker as the week-end went on and felt that the long trip to Snetterton was very worthwhile. Mark Anson's Jedi was running new brake discs but they  which weren't having the required effect.

Finally, a big thank you to the Borough 19 team (Roger Grimes, Carol Glenn et al) who, as usual, ran an efficient and enjoyable event.
 

Hillam begins Championship charge at Snetterton

Event 7 at Snetterton on 26/06/2021
After missing all but 2 of this year's British Sprint Championship rounds, Matt Hillam made a clear statement of competitive intent by winning rounds 9 to 12 in the SBD Dallara at Snetterton making it 5 wins and a second from 6 rounds.

A strong field assembled for the ever popular and efficiently run Borough 19 Snetterton Sprint on June 26/27. After missing Pembrey a number of competitors re-appeared including Pete Goulding in the Mygale, Terry Holmes and Graham Porrett with a repaired gearbox casing, wing and bodywork on the Lola Tegra Judd, father and son Mallet down from the Stirling area in their Radical PR6. Making their first appearances of the year were Grahame Harden, throughly enjoying his Radical PR6 and the Chris Bennett/Chris Jones Force TA which was still in 'development mode' with its latest gen Suzuki GSXR engine.

In the first timed run (and qualifiying for the first Run Off) Matt Hillam was easily the fastest by nearly four seconds from Steve Broughton sharing the same car. John Graham was happy to qualify the big Gould GR55B fifth with his coolant problems fixed and Chris Jones did well to qualify the recalcitrant Force TA ninth. Graham Blackwell's Mygale went into limp mode due to excess charge air temperature and completed a slow run.

Run Off 1 saw Hillam take a narrow win by 0.13s from Steve Miles' Van Diemen RF96 with Goulding, Broughton and Graham filling the next positions.  Jones improved to seventh but disappointed to be well off his PB and even further away from the potential of the new motor. Tony Beesley (Jedi MK4) and Simon Wallis (OMS 3000M) finished 10th and 11th while Robert Tonge's Force TA Busa non started while he fixed his brake bias issues.

Qualifying for Run Off 2 again saw Hillam out in front, this time from Miles and Goulding (new class record) with Tonge re-appearing to qualify seventh and Harden going well in eleventh. Jones failed to qualify as the car stalled with four wheels across the line - later diagnosed as pinched wheel speed sensor cables sending confusing messages to the ECU.

Hillam won Run Off 2 by over a second from Goulding with Miles a little way behind. Tonge was an impressive sixth from Blackwell and Graham. 

Runaway championship leader (in more ways than one because he kept forgetting to chock his car in the sloping paddock!) Steve Miles had decided to go for outright wins in the belief that at the end of the season they would be likely to determine the final outcome. However, this driving approach didn't necessarily get the most out of the Van Diemen but a second and third were fair rewards and maintained his healthy lead in the championship.

A Miles double at Pembrey

Event 6 at Pembrey on 06/06/2021
The second day of the BARC Wales sprint week-end held on the Club circuit saw Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) strengthen his hold on the 2021 British Sprint championship with a pair of Run Off wins and a new record.

The entry was unchanged from the previous day with one exception. Overnight the SBD team had discovered a damaged cambelt on the Dallara leading to the car's withdrawl. Matt Hillam was left without a drive while Steve Broughton moved across to share the Westfield Ecoboost with Zoe Kingham. In contrast to the day before the weather was hot which casued some concern over tyres.

In Run Off one, drivers were reporting a lack of grip but Miles took the win with a 105.87s, half a second ahead of John Graham's Gould GR55B with Rob Tonge's Force TA a second further back to take a well deserved podium. Graham Blackwell (Mygale M12)  confirmed his strong start to the 2021 season and second place in the championship with fourth place.

Despite (or because of) hot tyres the Miles Van Diemen stormed to an easy win in Run Off two with a 104.27s run and a new record. He was nearly three seconds clear of the surprised and delighted second place competitior, Rob Tonge in the Force TA, with John Graham (after experiencing gear selection problems earlier in the day) and Graham Blackwell filling the next two positions.

Having run well in the first Run Off the SBD Westfield had an off in the second. With Steve Broughton at the wheel, the rear stepped out on the entry to Woodlands and a small correction which the car slightly wide, causing it to head towards the edge of the circuit and touch the grass causing a spin. Simon Bainbridge had a door work loose mid run but this was fixed with some gaffer tape.

Championship positions after Pembrey were Steve Miles (200pts), Graham Blackwell (172pts) and Rob Tonge (167pts).

Hillam and Miles share the spoils at Pembrey

Event 5 at Pembrey on 05/06/2021
Matt Hillam (SBD Dallara) and Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) shared the British Sprint Run Off wins at Pembrey for the first day of BARC Wales Pembrey Sprint on June 5th held on the National circuit. The day saw intermittent drizzle and dry spells making conditions tricky for competitors.

Hillam's Dallara F399, making its first British Sprint appearance of the year, was benefiting from recent aero updates and won the first Run Off comfortably by two seconds from Miles with a 93.91s run. The Dallara's other driver, Steve Broughton took third from John Graham (Gould GR55B). The Forces of John Loudon and Rob Tonge again showed well to claim 6th and 7th respectively.

In the second Run Off Miles and Hillam reversed their positions with Miles narrowly taking the win with a 103.07s while Simon Bainbridge hustled the mighty V8 powered SBR Chrono (with a new diff following the Blyton breakage) round to take an encouraging third place, a mere tenth of a second behind Hillam. Steve Broughton aborted his T3 run with a throttle issue and didn't qualify for the Run Off. John Loudon (Force HC) took an excellent fourth ahead of Markn Anson's Jedi MK6 and Tob Tonge's Force TA. Notable Run Off appearances included Carole Torkington (OMS CF08 in ninth) and Zoe Kingham (SBD Westfield in tenth).

Miles' performance was all the more creditable having damaged a rear wing on his trailer, left his air bottle at home and set fire to his camper van.....
 

Miles repeats to extend Championship lead

Event 2 at Blyton Park on 16/05/2021
Rounds three and four of the 2021 British Sprint Championship took place on Blyton's Outer circuit on May 16th with Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) and Pete Goulding (Mygale M12) repeating their indentical performances from the previous day. Not that it wasn't close though. In the first Run Off, Miles' time of 56.57s was only 0.03s quicker than Goulding while in Run Off 2 Miles' time of 56.29s was 0.40s clear of Goulding.

John Loudon in the 998cc Force TA took third in the first Run Off from Graham Blackwell's Mygale, positions they were to reverse in Run Off 2. Other notable performances included Mark Anson (Jedi Mk6) and Simon Wallis (OMS 3000M) who each managed a fifth place.

Chris Fulke-Greville (HMA Turner) and Tony Beesley (Jedi Mk4 and despite dicovering a crack in the chassis) also made Run Off appearances.

Competitors were pleasantly surprised to finish the week-end without seeing any significant rain but Steve Miles was even happier with his 4 point lead at the top of the Championship standings - and with a largely trouble free week-end apart from having to swap out a cracked brake disc.

 

Miles double at Blyton

Event 1 at Blyton Park on 15/05/2021
The first two scoring rounds of the 2021 SBD Motorsport UK HSA British Sprint Championship took place at Longton's Blyton Sprint week-end (15/16 May) on the Eastern circuit.

Qualifying for the first round took place in T1 and the twelve fastest competitors had their T2 times taken as the first 'Run Off' with Steve Miles' heavily modified Van Diemen RF96 putting in a cracking time of 61.96s to take maximum points from Pete Goulding's Mygale and Terry Holmes' Lola Tegra. Robert Tonge's Busa engined Force TA went well to take sixth followed by John Loudon's 1100cc Class Force HC Suzuki.

Qualifying for Round 2 took place in T3 and saw Richard and Stephen Mallet in their shared Radical PR6 both make the Run Off which was again won by Steve Miles with a 62.79s run and again from Pete Goulding while Rob Tonge improved to fourth. Terry Holmes put a right rear on the dirt and got a tank slapper on into Curva Grande and went backwards into the wall, putting him and Graham Porrett out for the week-end. Simon Bainbridge (fourth in Round 1) blew a diff and was also out for the week-end.