BRITISH SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT ARCHIVE

A new champion is crowned after a dramatic Combe finale

Event 19 at Castle Combe on 18/10/2025
Steve Miles reports:

Fresh from the ‘washing machine cycle’ that was Anglesey a fortnight earlier, anticipation was high for the Championship’s final day at Combe. With nearly every position in the top-12 still in flux — and the overall title fight between Pete Goulding’s potent Mygale EcoBoost and Steve Broughton’s featherweight DJ Firehawk still to be settled — the stakes couldn’t have been any higher.

Broughton had finally received a new clutch from America the day before; Goulding had swapped spark plugs and turned up the boost. Meanwhile, Steve Brown, Duncan Barnes, Cathy Sewart and Mike Taylor all faced the challenge of tackling the demanding 3.3-mile Wiltshire circuit for the first time.

Conditions were dry and cloudy, meaning that at least the weather would not play a part in the drama. Goulding suffered early anxiety in practice when the steering refused to respond — only a few power cycles brought the car back to life. Sewart and Taylor found that their 3D-printed diffuser was wearing rapidly, even after raising the car by 12mm, but managed to patch it up. Brown’s plenum chamber detached mid-session and Steve Miles was regularly shedding titanium skid plates — proof that ‘five-minute epoxy’ doesn’t always live up to its promise.

Qualifying passed without major incident, setting the stage for the crucial scoring run-off immediately after lunch. Grahame Harden delivered a stand-out drive, setting a new record and beating several single-seaters, while Barnes, undergeared and hitting the limiter at 175mph up Avon Rise, still claimed second. Outgoing champion Chris Jones failed to finish after a drivetrain component came loose, while Brown broke the 160mph barrier for the first time.

Goulding, hungry for a second title, drove like a man possessed to set a new record and win the run-off. Broughton, quick but cautious, settled for a safe third. That left Goulding one point clear at the top — both drivers dropping third-place scores, and the championship poised on a knife’s edge.

Top 12 Run-off: Castle Combe Rd 37

1.    Pete Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 113.85* (+0.00)
2.    Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 115.06 (+1.21)
3.    Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 115.79 (+1.94)
4.    Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90) 116.23 (+2.38)
5.    Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 116.91 (+3.06)
6.    Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 118.60* (+4.75)
7.    Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 121.13 (+7.28)
8.    John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 121.58 (+7.73)
9.    Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 124.96 (+11.11)
10.    Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 127.98 (+14.13)                
11.    Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 128.45 (+14.60)

There were more records for Barnes and Jones in the final run-off. Miles was well over two seconds up at the split, but lack of fuel in the tank prevented a second lap. Brown confessed to the same forgetful refuelling also. John Loudon PB’d, but all eyes were now on Broughton and Goulding.

Steve really pulled everything out of the bag, carrying 100mph through Camp and nailing each chicane.  He lowered the long-standing record by over five seconds, but more importantly put in a time that was just a tenth behind Goulding’s first run-off time. That was the target to beat and as Broughton had set off ten cars or so earlier, everyone’s eyes were on the live timing as Goulding launched angrily off the line. With full beans up over Avon Rise, he disappeared off to the far end of the circuit. When his split came through, he was half a second faster than his first run and obviously putting everything on the line. He kept flat up Avon Rise but then disaster struck — the left-rear pushrod had collapsed under the immense load and he arrived at Quarry with only three wheels in contact with the ground. It was ‘run over’ and Pete was destined for second overall again, despite taking the fight right to the wire and with the very closest of margins after 38 run-offs.

Champagne was sprayed for the group photo and congratulations flowed freely. Steve Broughton, a long-time British Sprint Championship supporter through SBD, had finally etched his name onto the trophy. It was a victory built not just on speed and precision, but on countless early starts, late nights, and the quiet strength of Kim — whose patience and unwavering support have been every bit as vital as the laps themselves.

Top 12 Run-off: Castle Combe Rd 38

1.   Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 113.96* (+0.00)
2.   Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 114.99* (+1.03)
3.   Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90) 115.21 (+1.25)
4.   Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 117.04* (+3.08)
5.   Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 118.01 (+4.05)
6.   John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 119.41 (+5.45)
7.   Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 119.79 (+5.83)
8.   Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 124.24 (+10.28)
9.   Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 124.65 (+10.69)
10.   Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 125.81 (+11.85)
11.  Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 131.44 (+17.48)
12.  Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 135.73 (+21.77)

2025 British Sprint Championship Top 12 final positions

1. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004)   704 points
2. Pete Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200)              702 points
3. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA)                            653 points
4. Ethan Faulkner (1595 Force TA)                    626 points
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA)                          622 points
6. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm)       621 points
7. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6)              576 points
8. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2)                 567 points
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200)            486 points
10. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC)             454 points
11. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost)              428 points
12. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost)           421 points

Faulkner Dominates at Anglesey

Event 18 at Anglesey on 05/10/2025
Steve Miles reports:

Ethan Faulkner made an immediate impact in his new car — the ex-Nick Scott Force TA — taking victory in both run-offs at Anglesey and storming up the British Sprint Championship standings. After just a single day behind the wheel, the Northern Irish driver’s set-up changes paid off handsomely, with paddle shift, left-foot braking and traction and launch control now tuned to suit his extensive sim racing background, 22-year-old Faulkner was able to translate virtual pace into real-world success.

Sunday dawned brighter, although it was still blustery with 40mph winds. Hopes for dry running were dashed when a sudden downpour hit just as the field lined up in the holding paddock for the qualifying runs. On slick tyres, conditions were treacherous, and survival became the main goal. With 16 drivers fighting for twelve places, mistakes were costly. Terry Holmes, Martin Pickles, and Mike Taylor all spun, while John Loudon narrowly scraped through ahead of a ‘spin and reverse’ Cathy Sewart.

By the time the first run-off began after lunch, the track had dried and sunshine returned. The leading contenders were tightly matched — just over a second separated second through sixth. The title fight remained tense: Peter Goulding had an uncharacteristic sixth place, while Steve Broughton admitted he was “not committed enough” and finished fourth. Steve Brown was delighted with third, a rare second day finish for the ever-popular Empire driver. Despite suffering from flu, Chris Jones delivered a gritty drive to second.
Meanwhile, the Faulkner camp could celebrate again — despite the sleepless ferry crossing from Belfast to Liverpool during Storm Amy, complete with blaring car alarms and a rolling ship. Faulkner’s win made the rough journey worthwhile.

Top 12 run-off – Anglesey International Rd 35

1.          Ethan Faulkner (1.6 Force TA) 77.97
2.          Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 79.26
3.          Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 79.56
4.          Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 79.75
5.          John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 80.22
6.          Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 80.51
7.          Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 82.24
8.          Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 84.45
9.          Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 86.57
10.        Simon Bainbridge (4.2t SBR Crono) 86.79
11.        Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 87.54
12.        Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 88.86
 
The second qualifying session was more settled, although Mike Taylor and Cathy Sewart both had spins in their shared Mygale. Simon Bainbridge returned for an end-of-season outing taking 11th, while Grahame Harden set a new under-1700cc Sports Libre record. Newcomer to Anglesey, Duncan Barnes impressed too, his 550bhp Norma reaching 154mph down the back straight. Holmes’s V8 Lola struggled on old tyres, and Steve Miles was left rueing the five hundredths that separated him from John Loudon.

Brown’s fifth place was a personal best despite floor damage from an off the previous day. Goulding’s fourth was frustrating — he needed a podium to improve his championship tally — while Jones and Broughton swapped positions, the latter wisely keeping one eye on the title decider at Castle Combe.

Faulkner, meanwhile, found another 1.3 seconds to claim FTD and a second win, growing in confidence as he adapted to the car’s stronger braking. The team left Anglesey thrilled — and the paddock left wondering if they’d just seen a preview of the 2026 Championship front-runner.

Top 12 run-off – Anglesey International Rd 36

1.          Ethan Faulkner (1.6 Force TA) 76.65
2.          Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 77.49
3.          Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 77.89
4.          Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 78.41
5.          Steve Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 78.67
6.          John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 79.05
7.          Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 79.09
8.          Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90) 80.16
9.          Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 80.58
10.        Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 81.73*
11.        Simon Bainbridge (4.2t SBR Crono) 83.28
________________________________________

Championship Standings after Anglesey (Rd 36)
1.          Peter Goulding – 698 pts
2.          Steve Broughton – 691 pts
3.          Ethan Faulkner – 626 pts
4.          John Loudon – 622 pts
5.          Stephen Miles – 621 pts
6.          Chris Jones – 617 pts
7.          Grahame Harden – 571 pts
8.          Steve Brown – 525 pts
9.          Graham Porrett – 477 pts
10.        Duncan Barnes – 405 pts
11.        Mike Taylor – 399 pts
12.        Cathy Sewart – 388 pts
 
The championship now heads to Castle Combe for the final showdown on the 18th October. Almost all placings can change but at the sharp end, Broughton needs just eight points to overhaul Goulding — though with both drivers dropping scores, the maths are tight. Broughton can discard a 14 and a 22, while Goulding drops two 22s. With 25 points for a win, a 1–2 result in the opening run-off could leave just a couple of points between them, meaning the whole season of 38 run-offs would come down to a single timed run shoot out to decide the Woodford Trailers HSA MSUK British Sprint Champion.
 

Faulkner flies as Broughton begins his assault

Event 17 at Anglesey on 04/10/2025
John Loudon reports:

The Woodford Trailer British Sprint Championship made the trip to North Wales’ Anglesey Circuit for the Longton and District Motor Club’s Margaret Malcolm Sprint Weekend for rounds 33 and 34, on the National course. The journey for most was horrendous, with Storm Amy in full swing on the Island, which also caused the cancellation of Friday’s trackday part way through, with people having difficulty standing up, never mind blasting around a track for fun.

Overnight gales and rain raised concerns that the event might be cancelled, reducing the number of overall scoring rounds and changing the prospective outcome for overall title contenders, but that fear was put to bed when drivers were able to attend the briefing as usual and no such announcement was made.

Ethan Faulkner was driving his newly acquired Force TA with a Hayabusa 1600, Steve Miles was sporting new and improved traction control settings which he claimed were the best he has ever had, and Chris Jones’s Force TA was shod with new dampers all round. Duncan Barnes withdrew his immaculate Norma M20FC as he did not fancy learning a new track and risking it on a new-to-him circuit in such conditions. The entry list also featured a rare appearance for the year by the popular Simon Bainbridge in his SBR Crono, fresh from winning the Tin Top Challenge on the hills.

Practice was still in wet and very windy conditions, not helped by the insistence that the single seater drivers queue up in the pitlane some 15 minutes prior to the start, getting wet through with no scope for assistants to hold umbrellas due to the strong wind. A newly learned fact at the weekend is that wet race suits are non-effective and are actually dangerous in the event of a fire, so much so that cross country competitors are no longer required to wear them.

Most people survived practice unscathed, except for John Loudon who took to the grass, causing minor damage to his front wing. Terry Holmes was complaining of a lack of brake feel at the first corner, having not driven his Lola Judd V8 for four months, and Martin Pickles had a delayed start to his practice due to clutch failure, but this was later remedied.

After qualifying, the organisers took the brave decision to have lunch early at 11:30. Whilst it may seem strange, it actually turned out to be a masterstroke as upon resuming, the rain had eased, the track was near enough dry and the wind had marginally eased.  This was however, much to Steve Miles’ dismay as his new traction settings were going well in the wet.

The outcome of this was that for the first run-off of the day, the track was near enough dry but the strong winds persisted. As the day went on, track conditions continually improved and the wind eased to a strong breeze rather than a gale.

Championship leader Pete Goulding was complaining of understeer at Peel and that the track was still not giving him the confidence to push hard, but still managed a 2^nd and 4^th place in the day’s run-offs.

Chris Jones was happy that his Force TA’s handling had been restored as a result of new dampers and managed to win the first run-off of the day, and came 3^rd in the second run-off. He was however still bemoaning that his 1000cc engine was light on power — as he had done all season — in his quest to gain points and places in the closing few rounds of the year.

Steve Miles seemed to be struggling in the drier conditions for no apparent reason that he could identify. 6^th and 7^th place were all he could manage, leaving him somewhat perplexed.

John Loudon started the day in second place overall and was getting faster as the event progressed, regaining confidence after having taken to the grass in practice earlier in the day. The result was a 5^th and a 6^th place, relegating him to third overall by the end of play. He pointed out that his times would have been eligible for higher placings in recent years but that the competition has moved on…

Steve Broughton complained of both understeer and oversteer in the first run-off but reported that his car behaved properly come the second, bringing him home in 4^th and 2^nd places respectively to help his challenge to the overall top spot.

Grahame Harden seemed to be enjoying himself and remarked that he recorded a time of 55.55s in one qualifying run, which was fitting as his car is number 5! 7^th and 9^th place finished were his overall rewards.

Steve Brown was having a bittersweet day. An off in run-off one at Peel saw him take to the grass and end up within millimetres of the barriers, causing alarm to a spectator standing above. However, with patched-up bodywork, he made amends and netted a fine 5^th in the second run-off of the day.

Mike Taylor and Cathy Sewart were trading places with each other for most of the day, but spins for each saw only one of the Mygale double drivers representing the team in each of the run-offs, Mike scoring a 9^th in run-off one and Cathy a 12^th in run-off two. The pairing continue to make improvements at each event as seat time increases.

Graham Porrett was annoyed with himself for spinning at the finish hairpin in run-off one as data showed that he was on course for his best ever time for the layout, yet he still managed to score 11^th in both run-offs to show consistency.

Simon Bainbridge had a slight issue with his battery getting drained from too many engine starts without his usual jump battery, but once charged, was able to join in. An 8^th and 10^th placed finish were his rewards, but some way off his previous PBs as he was just out to enjoy himself with old friends.

Terry Holmes was also making a rare appearance for the season in his Lola Judd V8. He was gradually finding more grip as the day progressed on his elderly tyres, but he failed to qualify for run-off one but made up for it in run-off two by finishing 8^th.

Given the weather, Carole Torkington had been undecided about whether to start the day, but did so in the end. Taking things steadily until conditions improved, she scored a 10^th in the first run-off but didn’t make the cut for the second as times began to tumble.

Now for the star of the show. Young gun Ethan Faulkner made the trip from Northern Ireland to compete in his newly-acquired Force TA, having only briefly driven it for the first time the previous day. With father Kenny having taken the car to Daytuner for engine mapping the weekend before, word had got out that it was a ‘goer’ and this proved to be the case. A small electrical issue which was resolved with help from members of the BSC fraternity did not deter 22-year-old race simulator expert Ethan from managing a fine 3^rd place in run-off one and taking a fine first and FTD with an incredible time in run-off two. All eyes are now on Ethan for the future as he gets more used to the car.

Top 12 Run-off: Anglesey National Rd 33

1. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 49.27 (+0.00)
2. Pete Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF200) 49.41 (+0.14)
3. Ethan Faulkner (1585 Force TA) 49.74 (+0.47)
4. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 49.75 (+0.48)
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 50.00 (+0.73)
6. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 50.66 (+1.39)
7. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 52.06 (+2.79)
8. Simon Bainbridge (4.2t SBR Crono) 53.10 (+3.83)
9. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 55.58 (+6.31)
10. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 55.86 (+6.59)
11. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF200) 73.62 (+24.35)
12. N/A

Top 12 Run-off: Anglesey National Rd 34

1. Ethan Faulkner (1.6 Force TA) 46.58 (+0.00)
2. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 47.38 (+0.80)
3. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 47.62 (+1.04)
4. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF200) 47.73 (+1.15)
5. Steve Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 47.92 (+1.34)
6. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 48.54 (+1.96)
7. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 49.33 (+2.75)
8. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90) 50.35 (+3.77)
9. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 50.79 (+4.21)
10. Simon Bainbridge (4.2t SBR Crono) 51.18 (+4.60)
11. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF200) 51.65 (+5.07)
12. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 53.06 (+6.48)

BSC Positions after Anglesey National Rd 34 4/10/25

1. Peter Goulding (6t Mygale FF200) 697 points
2. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 645 points
3. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 619 points
4. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 614 points
5. Ethan Faulkner (1595 Force TA) 576 points
6. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 570 points
7. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 569 points
8. Steve Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 481 points
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF200) 459 points
10. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 386 points
11. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 371 points
12. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 362 points

Testing Times at Torrential Pembrey

Event 16 at Pembrey on 07/09/2025
Report by Steve Miles:

The Pembrey weekend proved to be a real test of adaptability, with weather conditions keeping drivers and teams guessing, right up to each run. Cars were garaged overnight on wet tyres in anticipation of Sunday’s forecast, but after the race when the sprint runners finally took to the track, tyre choice became a lottery — with slicks, wets and intermediates all in use.

Morning practice took place on a damp surface, although conditions did improve for the first qualifying runs. Challenge Cup contender Philip Montgomery-Smith set the pace with a superb run to claim fastest time of the day. Among his rivals, Dave Mockford put together a strong weekend to head the Cup standings, although with dropped scores still to play a part, the title fight remains unresolved.

Drama struck when Mike Froggett spun at Brooklands after clipping a wet kerb, damaging the floor of his car. Alongside teammate Gary Buckingham, they were forced to withdraw and to head home early.

Run-off 1 – Torrential Conditions

The Mygale of Mike Taylor and Cathy Sewart was retired as the electronics were not weatherproofed. As the all-important scoring run-off approached, the heavens opened. A sudden downpour of biblical proportions grew just as cars queued in the holding paddock. Fortunately, everyone was already on full wets.

First away was Championship leader Chris Jones, who survived a 360° spin on the back straight, but still set a time that was good enough for second. Pete Goulding proved supreme in the treacherous conditions, taking the win, while John Loudon was a further eleven seconds back in third. Steve Broughton brought his Firehawk home steadily for fourth, with Steve Miles taking fifth after battling extreme aquaplaning: “At times I had no steering at all — just hanging on while the car skipped left and right. Points were less important than survival in that one” he reported.
Further down the order, Duncan Barnes still clocked 130mph despite the standing water, while Steve Brown did well even to register a time after a day that was plagued by ignition and fuel pressure problems.

Run-off 1 Results — Rd 31

1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) – 129.08
2. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) – 140.86 (+11.78)
3. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) – 150.94 (+21.86)
4. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) – 157.32 (+28.24)
5. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) – 161.17 (+32.09)
6. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) – 163.90 (+34.82)
7. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) – 170.99 (+41.91)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) – 172.37 (+43.29)
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) – 181.07 (+51.99)
10. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) – 192.80 (+63.72)

Run-off 2 — Drier but Tighter

With wet tyres remaining the default choice, the second run-off was less dramatic but no less competitive. A common
theme afterwards was that drivers had been “too cautious,” with far smaller gaps than earlier. Whereas the first run-off saw ten-second spreads, this time just 0.15 seconds covered positions three to five after two minutes of running. Miles again found himself propping up that trio, just behind Jones and Goulding.

On the drying line, Duncan Barnes unleashed his potent Norma at full pace, topping 150mph to claim second. But Steve Broughton made the most of the drying track and capitalised on a rerun (triggered by Carole Torkington’s ignition failure) to take his second win of the weekend — a potentially decisive result in the championship fight.

Run-off 2 Results – Rd 32

1. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) – 114.42
2. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) – 118.73 (+4.31)
3. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) – 120.03 (+5.61)
4. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) – 120.14 (+5.72)
5. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) – 120.17 (+5.75)
6. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) – 124.50 (+10.08)
7. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) – 126.44 (+12.02)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) – 128.07 (+13.65)
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) – 138.59 (+24.17)

Championship Standings after Rd 32 (Best 29 rounds to count – 6 remaining)

1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200)             – 691 pts (31 rounds)
2. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA)                           – 616 pts (30 rounds)
3. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004)    – 599 pts (25 rounds)
4. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm)    – 575 pts (27 rounds)
5. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6)              – 565 pts (32 rounds)
6. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT)                       – 528 pts (25 rounds)
7. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA)                             – 522 pts (22 rounds)
8. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2)                  – 447 pts (22 rounds)
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200)             – 429 pts (26 rounds)
10. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC)              – 376 pts (18 rounds)
11. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost)               – 358 pts (23 rounds)
12. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost)            – 335 pts (23 rounds)

Goulding retains Championship lead as dropped scores start to kick in

Event 15 at Pembrey on 06/09/2025
Steve Miles reports

Anticipation was high as competitors converged along the M4 for the second visit to this testing Welsh circuit. New Tarmac at Brooklands caught a few out when it got moist, but a good weekend was had by all. BARC Wales did a fantastic job organising the sprint meeting that was combined with a race meeting to share circuit costs, and it worked out well for all.

Steve Broughton used his practice run to bed in new brakes — causing alarm when he couldn’t stop when rolling forward to the start box. Newly-serviced dampers on Carole Torkington’s OMS gave it a new lease of life and several of the SBD/MBE runners had been issued with updated launch control. The shared Mygale of Mike Taylor and Cathy Sewart was sporting a significant number of new 3D printed parts — including a full-size multi-channel rear diffuser — allowing them to be over seven seconds faster than when there earlier this year.

Practice was uneventful apart from John Loudon having to deploy the oil mop-up kit again when the new breathing system didn’t perform as anticipated.

The first retirement of the weekend was the ever-enthusiastic Ethan Faulkner team — garage cooked  sausages anyone? — from the young Northern Irish prodigy spinning at Brooklands, damaging the floor and holing a radiator. Qualifying was straightforward for all, apart from current leader Pete Goulding who understeered off the track at Paddock Bend, but avoided the tyre wall.

During interviews after the dry run-off, drivers seemed to fall into two camps — either really happy or annoyed with their performance. Obviously, the winner Steve Broughton now had the car working and was pleased, while Chris — just 0.34 secs behind after a minute-and-a-half of driving — was in the opposite camp, at a loss to understand why. Next up was an elated Steve Brown, who having cured the air/gearbox issues that meant he was stuck in fifth for practice and qualifying, put in an impressive time. In fourth, John Loudon was pleased, and Duncan Barnes — pulling 160mph and breaking the existing Simon Bainbridge record by a significant amount, was equally chuffed.

Top 12 Run-off: Pembrey Nat Rd 29

1. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 94.14 (+0.00)
2. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 94.46 (+0.32)
3. Steve Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 95.07 (+0.93)
4. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 95.65 (+1.51)
5. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 96.28* (+2.14)
6. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 98.58 (+4.44)
7. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 102.65 (+8.51)
8. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 104.92 (+10.78)
9. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 105.77 (+11.63)
10. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 107.52 (+13.38)
11. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 107.69 (+13.55)

The day stayed dry and warm and qualifying went without any major incidents, with the addition of racing to entertain both the sprinters and public.

Jones topped the timesheets this time, albeit slower than the morning run-off, and Goulding kept it tidy for second. Loudon delivered another commendable drive. Broughton was unable to explain his time that was over three secs slower on the second lap, despite no mistakes. Brown had a decent fifth and the car was in one piece — a first for a Pembrey weekend for him! Other runners and riders slotted into typical positions with the only drama during the run off being a 100mph understeer-induced ‘off’ at Honda for Sewart, resulting in a lot of cleaning up of the car but no significant damage.

Top 12 Run-off: Pembrey Nat Rd 30
1. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 94.59 (+0.00)
2. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 95.32 (+0.73)
3. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 96.08 (+1.49)
4. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 96.18 (+1.59)
5. Steve Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 97.21 (+2.62)
6. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 97.80 (+3.21)
7. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 98.64 (+4.05)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 102.53 (+7.94)
9. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 103.27 (+8.68)
10. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 105.40 (+10.81)
11. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 111.56 (+16.97)
12. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 121.69 (+27.10)

The final run-off of the event marked the first occasion of the year in which dropped scores affected the standings. Significant changes are anticipated in the overall rankings as competitors head into the last four days and eight rounds of competition leading up to Castle Combe in October.

BSC Positions after Pembrey Nat Rd 30 6/9/25
1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200)              675 points
2. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA)                           592 points
3. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6)               560 points
4. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004)     552 points
5. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm)     533 points
6. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT)                        528 points
7. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA)                              476 points
8. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2)                   409 points
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200)              395 points
10. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost)               358 points
11. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost)            335 points
12. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC)              332 points
 

Broughton and Jones share the honours amongst more Snetterton records

Event 14 at Snetterton on 24/08/2025
John Loudon reports:

Day two of the Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship rounds at Snetterton got underway with no overnight casualties, so all of the previous day’s contenders were to begin the day ‘bright-eyed and bushy-tailed’ despite suffering a little tinnitus from the constant overnight noise from the 24-hour Citroën 2CV race on the outer circuit.

Steve Broughton started where he left off the previous day and was immediately piloting his DJ Firehawk to yet another new class record and run-off win. Having made some camber adjustments, he reported that his rear end felt lovely (don’t go there!) However, drama partially ruined his day when a stone got caught between a rear brake calliper and wheel, slicing the wheel and deflating his rear tyre mid run, causing a DNF on run-off two.

Chris Jones was continuing to make minor adjustments to his 1.0 Force TA which were reaping dividends. He scored second in the first run-off and took first in the final run-off thanks to the unfortunate termination of Steve Broughton’s run.

Despite securing a new class record in his Mygale, to Pete Goulding’s dismay, he could only manage third overall in run-off one. Slight amends were made in run-off two with an improvement to second place, but this was largely down to Steve Broughton’s misfortune.

Duncan Barnes was causing a stir in his nicely turned out and rather rapid Norma M20FC. Not only was he reportedly hitting 170mph on the straights, but his fully-bodied Sports Libre car was setting times faster than single seaters.  He lowered the class record yet again by almost four seconds and in the process, scored a rather impressive pair of third and fourth place finishes.

John Loudon was having a trouble-free weekend with his 1.0 Force TA car which was behaving well having had several areas of improvement since the previous rounds in Northern Ireland. Any misfortune appeared to have transferred to his trailer and motorhome however. The former had lost a wheel en-route to the circuit, while the latter suffered a flat battery and a leak under the kitchen sink into the cutlery drawer. A seventh in run-off one and a fourth in run-off two offered some small recompense.

Radical PR6 driver Grahame Harden was unable to stop smiling. He was having an absolute ball of a weekend, setting new class records nearly every run and into single seater time territory, whilst earning himself an eighth and a sixth place finish.

Long-distance-travelling Northern Irish competitor Ethan Faulkner was having a good weekend in his trusty Force PT. Having mastered the circuit almost immediately, the young Irishman was continuing to impress and scored a pair of fifth place finishes, one of which was less than he had been hoping for, but a re-run caused his tyres to overheat and develop a tendency to slide.

Steve Brown was having one of his not uncommon days and his somewhat petulant supercharged Empire was again seemingly fighting him. The rapid swapping out of a seized supercharger avoided his blushes and missing any runs, finishing the day with sixth and seventh places.

Graham Porrett was again having a battle with fellow Mygale drivers Mike Taylor and Cathy Sewart. Paddle shifting had become more reliable since he discovered that it liked full throttle more than not. A momentary hint of fuel surge had him doubting if he had put enough fuel in the car, but nonetheless, he scored a pair of tenth-place finishes.

Cathy Sewart was steadily improving and getting closer to double drive partner Mike Taylor’s times in their shared Mygale. Steady car development and seat time are paying dividends for them and the pair of long-time rally drivers are now gaining the confidence to be able to push their car further in their first year of single-seaters. Mike scored an eighth and ninth place whilst Cathy was hot on his heels and scored a ninth and eleventh place finish.

Carole Torkington was lacking in confidence due to a few spins at intimidating parts of the circuit. Damper adjustments seemingly made little difference, and she struggled to trust her OMS’s handling.  She rounded off the first run-off in twelfth and went one higher in run-off two, out-finishing ex-boss Steve Broughton.

The Championship top three remain unchanged, but Steve Miles dropped further down the table to sixth whilst he was absent enjoying himself at Carfest, organised by DJ Chris Evans. Ethan Faulkner and Steve Broughton are starting to climb the table and are now ahead of Miles.

Top 12 Run-off: Snetterton Rd 27
1. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 76.23* (+0.00)
2. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 77.52 (+1.29)
3. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 77.87* (+1.64)
4. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 78.18 (+1.95)
5. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 78.38 (+2.15)
6. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 79.39 (+3.16)
7. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 79.45 (+3.22)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 82.49 (+6.26)
9. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 86.94 (+10.71)
10. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 87.90 (+11.67)
11. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 89.56 (+13.33)
12. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 103.65 (+27.42)

Top 12 Run-off: Snetterton Rd 28
1. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 77.38 (+0.00)
2. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 78.06 (+0.68)
3. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 78.13* (+0.75)
4. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 78.80 (+1.42)
5. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 80.52 (+3.14)
6. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 81.45* (+4.07)
7. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 81.70 (+4.32)
8. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 85.77 (+8.39)
9. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 86.13 (+8.75)
10. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 87.55 (+10.17)
11. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 98.00 (+20.62)
12. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 132.88 (+55.50)

BSC Positions after Snetterton Rd 28 24/8/25
1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 651 points
2. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 547 points
3. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 538 points
4. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 515 points
5. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 504 points
6. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 493 points
7. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 427 points
8. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 365 points
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 364 points
10. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 324 points
11. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 303 points
12. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 290 points













 

Goulding and Broughton to the fore, with records galore

Event 13 at Snetterton on 23/08/2025
John Loudon reports:

The usual August bank holiday outing to the BARC Midlands-organised Snetterton 100 sprint weekend did not disappoint the contingent of Woodford Trailers British Sprint competitors that made the trip. Sharing the venue with a Citroën 2CV 24-hour race, the paddock was densely populated, amid the drone of 2CVs on track around the outer circuit.

Championship leader Pete Goulding piloted his Mygale to the first run-off win of the day, breaking his class record in the process. However, this was not without some drama during practice when his paddle shift failed to play ball, a problem that was only cured by some frantic covers-off remedial work. On run-off two, the Essex-based Mygale driver confessed to having messed up the first lap which hindered his time and relegated him to 3^rd on the podium.

Steve Broughton, whilst currently further down the championship table, has an excellent chance to move rapidly up the rankings as he is scoring highly each time he appears. Steve was another one to fall victim to gremlins during practice, when his DJ Firehawk became too hot on the start line and had to take some time out to recover before commencing. However, once underway, the SBD consultant strung together some impressive times, almost all below his current class record, other than when it mattered most in the first run-off of the day, placing him fourth overall. He made amends in run-off two however with an impressive time, later describing himself to the interviewer as a canine with two genitalia…

Young gun Ethan Faulkner who made the long trip from Northern Ireland to compete in his Force PT did himself justice and was straight on the pace despite never having visited the circuit before.  He bagged himself a third and fourth place in the two-run offs of the day, much to the delight of his accompanying family and entourage.

Chris Jones was making gradual setup changes to his Force TA which he says seems to have lost its handling from his previous championship-winning year. Gradual improvements saw his times start to fall, and the result was two second places and a new class record.

John Loudon was lucky to make the event at all; not far from home, his trailer cried ‘enough’ and parted with a wheel. Thankfully, fellow local competitor Mike Taylor had a spare trailer and kindly helped John out by loaning it for the weekend. Having made it to the circuit, John was hoping that recent cooling and braking modifications would prove successful — which they were. Gradual improvement through the day rewarded him with a fifth and sixth place in his 1.0 litre Force TA.

Grahame Harden was experimenting with tyre selection on his rapid Radical PR6, flipping between Pirellis and Hoosiers. His times gradually started to reduce and he also grabbed a new class record and a seventh and eighth place in the process.

Another first-time visitor to the circuit in his rapid NormaM20FC was Duncan Barnes. Luckily for him, Duncan seems to be a quick learner and mastered the circuit in no time to finish fifth and sixth respectively taking a new unlimited Sports Libre class record at his first attempt. Impressive speed figures of 170mph had the interviewer questioning the units of measure, but the smiling Barnes assured him that they were correct.

Steve Brown’s Empire was having one of its gremlin days and started to leak air from its paddle shift regulator prior to practice. After several attempts at repair, Steve finally had it sorted and play commenced. However, more bad luck saw Steve spin at the hairpin in run-off one, but he made amends and secured himself seventh in run-off two.

Graham Porrett, another Mygale driver, was having gear shift issues which were hampering his progression. Thankfully, fellow competitor and SBD consultant Steve Broughton made some adjustments which seemed to do the trick to have Graham reporting that the shifts were the best that they had been, so he could resume battle with fellow Mygale drivers Mike Taylor and Cathy Sewart and secure himself a ninth and tenth place in the run-offs.

Yet more newcomers to the circuit, Mike Taylor and Cathy Sewart were double-driving their Mygale for the first time at the circuit, with impressive looking aero modifications. Unfortunately, Cathy took a little too much exit kerb in practice at Palmers and damaged the front wing which consumed their only spare for the weekend. Luckily, this was a one off and both Mike and Cathy were gradually learning the circuit and improving their times as the day went on.  Mike secured an eighth and ninth place finish, while Cathy took a tenth and an eleventh place finish.

Carole Torkington was not having a great day, her OMS made it to the queue for the start of practice only to have an EGAS safety shutdown, which required computer resuscitation. Once underway, unlucky Carole spun on the approach to the hairpin and did not score in run-off one. Spooked by the spin, she then erred on the side of caution and only managed twelfth in run-off two.

Scores overnight had John Loudon and Grahame Harden move up to second and third overall in the Championship, relegating the absent Steve Miles (performing at Carfest held at Jody Scheckter’s farm circuit) to fourth whilst Pete Goulding maintained his runaway lead at the top.

Top 12 Run-off: Snetterton Rd 25
1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 78.47* (+0.00)
2. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 78.69 (+0.22)
3. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 79.07 (+0.60)
4. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 79.14 (+0.67)
5. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 80.32* (+1.85)
6. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 81.12 (+2.65)
7. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 83.01 (+4.54)
8. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 85.94 (+7.47)
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 87.08 (+8.61)
10. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 91.24 (+12.77)

Top 12 Run-off: Snetterton Rd 26
1. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 76.96* (+0.00)
2. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 78.22* (+1.26)
3. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 79.15 (+2.19)
4. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 79.16 (+2.20)
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 79.54 (+2.58)
6. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 80.48 (+3.52)
7. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 80.56 (+3.60)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 82.05* (+5.09)
9. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 86.03 (+9.07)
10. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 86.85 (+9.89)
11. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 87.70 (+10.74)
12. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 95.81 (+18.85)

BSC Positions after Snetterton Rd 26 23/8/25
1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 603 points
2. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 506 points
3. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 499 points
4. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 493 points
5. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 473 points
6. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 464 points
7. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 377 points
8. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 332 points
9. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 326 points
10. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 289 points
11. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 271 points
12. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 243 points

Faulkner and Goulding share the honours again

Event 12 at Kirkistown on 03/08/2025
John Loudon reports:

Day two of the annual trip to Northern Ireland for the Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship had the customary lunchtime start. Competitors spent the morning fettling their cars for the afternoon’s battles and repairing what was needed from the previous day. Kirkistown is renowned for being hard on cars and usually claims a scalp or two, but all survived to make the start of practice for day two. Light overnight rain soon dried up in time for the prompt start time, and leaf blowers were deployed to blow a small puddle of standing water into oblivion, just beyond the start line.

Local championship challenger, Ethan Faulkner, had the pleasure of his own comfy bed and a lie in with no car fettling needed — or so he thought. Fresh from his maiden run-off win the day before, he was greeted by a flat battery on the Force PT from accidentally having been left powered up overnight. Heated words and frantic battery charging ensued, and all was sorted.  This allowed the local track specialist to take his second run-off win of the weekend and with it, yet another 1600cc racing car class record for the venue, ahead of John Loudon in his Force TA in second and Pete Goulding in third.

Pete Goulding spent the morning repairing his damaged floor from the previous day’s suspension failure. In his haste though, he forgot to turn on the air supply to his paddle shift, which saw him stranded on circuit in practice, unable to change gear. Subsequent runs improved and he took his second run-off of the weekend in run-off two, edging out local Faulkner to second place.  He got frustratingly close to his class record, but no cigar today…

In a bid to find performance improvements, Steve Miles had spent the previous evening and morning corresponding with SBD consultant Steve Broughton. Success was had in practice and in the first qualifying run, where he posted vastly improved times compared to the previous day. However, his Van Diemen then had other ideas and failed to start on the start line and a disappointed Miles was unable to continue competing. Later diagnosis identified a faulty fuel pump, but with the quick turnaround between runs, there was not enough time to change it.

John Loudon had been unusually off the pace the day before, having had a soft brake pedal and a car which seemed to lack ‘oomph’, leading the driver to wonder whether it might be time to hang up his boots. Brakes well and truly bled, he took to the start line in his Force TA for practice, but was red flagged due to the aforementioned stranded Goulding. However, one lap was enough to determine that the car felt worse than the previous day in terms of performance, so the logs were examined which determined that the injectors were at fault.  With these swapped for spares, subsequent runs had Loudon exclaiming that the car was transformed and going like a proverbial scalded cat.  The result was that he broke his 1100cc racing car class record immediately and in subsequent runs, claiming pleasing second and third place podiums in the process.

Graham Porrett was very relaxed and only had his tyres to clean on his Mygale EcoBoost. Watching his technique was very therapeutic whilst he offered snippets of mechanical advice to those who needed it. A spin on run-off one ruined his scoring expectations, and fellow Mygale driver Pete Goulding spotted a missing bolt holding the rear of his floor whilst queuing behind him for the start of run-off two. Hasty running around by Ethan Faulkner’s father and mechanic Kenny soon had a replacement fitted in time for him to score on the subsequent outing.

Grahame Harden rarely has issues with his immaculately-prepared Radical PR6, but he did not escape the clutches of Kirkistown as his starter motor failed, which meant that the car needed bump starting for the last run-off of the day.  It was a worthwhile exercise though, as he claimed a new up to 1700cc Sports Libre class record.

News of the impending arrival of Storm Floris was looming, and competitors from England were keen to get away and off the ferry before it hit Scotland, which they just about achieved.

At the end of the weekend, Pete Goulding remains at the top of the championship charts while John Loudon, Grahame Harden and Ethan Faulkner moved up to third, fourth and fifth overall respectively. Steve Miles remains in second overall, while Graham Porrett moved up to eighth.

Top 12 Run-off: Kirkistown Rd 23

1. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 112.52* (+0.00)
2. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 113.53* (+1.01)
3. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 113.73 (+1.21)
4. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 118.76 (+6.24)

Top 12 Run-off: Kirkistown Rd 24

1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 111.37 (+0.00)
2. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 112.78 (+1.41)
3. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 113.93 (+2.56)
4. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 118.26* (+6.89)
5. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 124.59 (+13.22)

Championship top-12 after round 24

1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 554 points
2. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 493 points
3. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 465 points
4. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 461 points
5. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 428 points
6. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 416 points
7. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 328 points
8. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 299 points
9. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 294 points
10. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 254 points
11. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 240 points
12. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 196 points

The Battle at Kirky

Event 11 at Kirkistown on 02/08/2025
Kenny Faulkner reports:

It was that time on the race calendar for competitors to make the annual trip across the water to Northern Ireland for the Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship’s visit to Kirkistown Race Circuit. This year, the sun was out and temperatures were climbing through the day.

It was a small contingent of drivers that made the trip, for what was to be a day of drama. From “Chariots of Fire” to horror movie for some, then to a Rocky movie, fighting for the wins and points on offer.  The first stroke of bad luck went to the ex-champion Pete Goulding, who snapped a rear push rod in the practice session. This unfortunately triggered a chain of issues which saw the underfloor dropping and being worn through. 

Despite having invested in a fancy new custom race seat, Steve Miles was struggling with his car’s handling. He could be seen plugging his laptop in for high-tech problem solving with remote support from SBD. Once sorted, he was also later spotted giving himself a good ‘talking to’, no doubt trying to get into the driver’s groove that the Kirky circuit demands. Maybe the new seat was just too comfortable?

Grahame Harden was in top form and really enjoying his visit.  He could be seen giving it his all, and possibly a little too much as he out-braked himself and had to take the escape line through the very tight chicane. He then pulled it all together, only to just miss out on the class record by 0.4 seconds.

John Loudon, a self-confessed fan of the Kirkistown weekend also started well, although he too was fighting the challenging circuit and experimented with a few wrong gears through corners. Unfortunately, the aforementioned horror movie was to start during his second qualifying. A brake reservoir issue caused brake fluid to spill everywhere with a resulting loss of brakes, meaning that John unfortunately missed the second run-off.

Graham Porrett in the Mygale had also made the trip from the south coast and reported how much he was just enjoying himself, steadily pulling it all together to improve his times consistently through the day.

The battle for wins was between the highly experienced Pete Goulding and the young newcomer to the championship, Ethan Faulkner.

It was the 22-year-old Faulkner, who has only been racing for 40 months, who set the pace at his home circuit. In fact, this was the only circuit on the Championship calendar that Ethan had previous experience of, and boy, did it show! On the first run-off, Ethan set a new class record and with it, took his first ever run-off win, the youngest winner in the history of the championship. The battle then continued into the second run-off with Pete rising to the occasion and challenge. Young Ethan didn’t let Pete take the run-off win easily however; he smashed his new class track record once again, although Pete had done enough to take a well-deserved win by the tightest margin of only 0.24 seconds over almost two minutes of track time. A fabulous battle, capped off by the group’s customary soaking of the two winners.

The Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship day was completed by the group enjoying dinner in the circuit’s clubhouse that evening, sharing the celebrations and stories of what ‘could have been’...

As for the local Northern Ireland talent, Steven Gault was the man on a charge. Having been absent for a while, he certainly returned in style, winning the overall event on Saturday. Brian Fitzmaurice took fifth overall in his Force, with Ryan and his brother Richard McGimpsey finishing seventh and ninth respectively. The top ten was completed with Alan Cassells who had been amongst the favourites for a win at the event. However, his car was suffering with turbo issues which unfortunately hindered him the whole day.

Top 12 Run-off: Kirkistown Rd 21
1. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 112.78 (+0.00)
2. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 113.24 (+0.46)
3. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 116.29 (+3.51)
4. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 116.63 (+3.85)
5. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 118.85 (+6.07)
6. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 122.84 (+10.06)

Top 12 Run-off: Kirkistown Rd 22
1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 111.96 (+0.00)
2. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 112.20* (+0.24)
3. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 115.31 (+3.35)
4. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 119.07 (+7.11)
5. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 122.60 (+10.64)

Championship top-12 after round 22
1 Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 506 points
2 Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 480 points
3 John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 417 points
4= Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 416 points
4= Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 416 points
6 Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 378 points
7 Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 328 points
8 Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 294 points
9 Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 265 points
10 Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 254 points
11 Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 240 points
12 Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 196 points
 

Broughton to the fore at Lydden

Event 10 at Lydden Hill on 12/07/2025
Steve Miles reports:

Steve Broughton was the class of the field at a sun-soaked Lydden Hill, delivering a dominant performance to claim both run-off victories in the latest rounds of the Woodford Trailers HSA British Sprint Championship. The Borough 19 Motor Club’s event around Lydden’s fast, undulating circuit saw the 1.4 DJ Firehawk pilot make a convincing claim to the championship, along with Pete Goulding and Chris Jones, with calm precision and flawless consistency over the 1¾-lap format.

Broughton’s 65.55s in run-off 19 set the benchmark and FTD and while his run-off 20 time was fractionally slower at 65.88s, it was more than enough to seal a double win. In a field disrupted by noise-triggering complications that forced race cars to alternate with road cars, Broughton stayed cool and focused, underlining why he’s the man to beat in 2025.

Chris Jones, returning to action after a frustrating bout of Covid had kept him out of Mallory Park, made a strong statement with two second-place finishes. Despite arriving with a newly fitted clutch and repaired suspension, the Force TA driver was clearly still chasing an optimal setup. Run-off 19 saw him disappointed with the car’s handling, but a 0.5-second improvement in run-off 20 brought him to within 0.63s of Broughton — an encouraging step in his championship chase.

Third place in the opening run-off went to the ever-consistent Stephen Miles. After cooling system improvements to his Van Diemen RF96mm, Miles delivered an identical time in both qualifying and run-off 19 (68.21s), underscoring his reliability if not headline pace. In run-off 20 however, he slipped to sixth behind the fast-improving Duncan Barnes.

Barnes, based in Southampton and campaigning the most powerful car in the BSC this year, a Norma M20FC, enjoyed his strongest BSC outing to date. Swapping to a third set of Avon tyres for run-off 20 proved to be inspired, delivering him a superb third place — his best BSC finish so far. His 66.76s run not only pushed him ahead of Miles, but also bumped Pete Goulding down to fourth.

Goulding’s weekend was a case of ‘what might have been’. A rare ‘off’ at Paddock Bend during run-off 19 saw him beach his Mygale in the gravel, missing the chance to score. But he bounced back in style in run-off 20 with a rapid 67.16s to secure fourth. Championship hopes remain alive, but the DNF may yet prove costly.

John Loudon also found more pace as the day went on. With a newly-installed engine in his Force TA and remembering to adjust his aero settings for run-off 20, Loudon clocked a strong 68.14s to take fifth. He continues to build form after a transitional mid-season.

Further down the order, Steven Brown had a mixed outing. After a supercharger rebuild following his Mallory Park troubles, his Empire Evo2 showed promise, but a spin at Devil’s Elbow in run-off 19 and gearbox issues in run-off 20 (stuck in third gear at the final bend) blunted his charge.

Grahame Harden deserves special mention as the only competitor all weekend to set a new class record. His Radical PR6 responded well to new front dive planes, proving the value of setup tweaks at the slower, more technical Lydden layout. His sixth in Run-Off 19 and eighth in Run-Off 20 reflected strong, clean laps in a highly competitive field.

Graham Porrett, back on form after resolving hydraulic clutch gremlins, overcame early brake issues (fixed by a quick bleed) to make both run-offs. Consistent if not spectacular, he kept the Mygale on track and banked himself useful points. Carole Torkington, meanwhile, knocked an astonishing five seconds off her PB and brought her OMS CF08 home in both run-offs — a quietly impressive performance from the experienced sprinter.
With the championship (best 29 from 38 rounds) heading into its second half, the narrative remains tightly contested — Broughton leads the way, but Jones, Goulding and a number of others are still in the hunt. Lydden Hill may have been serene in the sunshine, but the championship battle is heating up fast.

Top 12 run-off: Lydden Hill Rd 19

1. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 65.55 (+0.00)
2. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 67.02 (+1.47)
3. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 68.21 (+2.66)
4. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 68.85 (+3.30)
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 68.92 (+3.37)
6. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 71.00* (+5.45)
7. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 72.68 (+7.13)
8. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 75.83 (+10.28)
9. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 102.33 (+36.78)

Top 12 run-off: Lydden Hill Rd 20

1. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 65.88 (+0.00)
2. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 66.51 (+0.63)
3. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 66.76 (+0.88)
4. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 67.16 (+1.28)
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 68.14 (+2.26)
6. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 68.62 (+2.74)
7. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 69.58 (+3.70)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 71.91 (+6.03)
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 73.11 (+7.23)
10. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 75.00 (+9.12)

BSC Positions after Lydden Hill Rd 20

1          Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 457 points
2          Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 435 points
3          Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 416 points
4          John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 394 points
5          Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 373 points
6=        Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 328 points
6=        Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 328 points
8          Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 294 points
9          Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 254 points
10        Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 240 points
11        Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 224 points
12         Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 196 points

British Sprint Championship Rounds 17 and 18 - The game continues

Event 9 at Mallory Park on 22/06/2025
John Loudon reports:

With the rearrangement of run-off two from Saturday having already taken place first thing on Sunday, the ‘official’ day two of the weekend’s Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship took place immediately afterwards. The organisers were making great strides to pay back competitors for the lack of track outings from the previous day and were getting through the runs swiftly, ultimately putting on six timed runs for the day with regular announcements about when these were to be expected which was welcome and added to the efficiency.

Qualifying went smoothly apart from some tales of lack of boost on various forced induction steads and varying degrees of driver exhaustion from the fast turnarounds of runs, something that they were not expecting. One notable point is that Steve Broughton set a new up to 1600cc class record with a  time of 63.44 seconds for a bonus point.
Run-off one saw a turn of top dog and Steve Broughton got the better of Pete Goulding for the first time over the weekend, relegating Goulding to second place. Ethan Faulkner was still on form and set his best time of the weekend for third. Steve Miles slotted into fourth, ahead of the still improving Grahame Harden who was ecstatic with his time. John Loudon was still fighting cooling issues and the quick turnaround of runs was not working in his favour, meaning he was having to remove bodywork from his Force TA between runs.  Despite this, he still achieved a new 1100cc racing car class record. Steve Brown was still losing boost despite his best efforts to remedy the situation ‘Blue Peter’ style with cable ties. Mike Taylor got the better of the remaining Mygale drivers to hold off Grahame Porrett and Cathy Sewart, who was pleased to have set a new PB. In Porrett’s defence, his clutch hydraulics were failing and he was employing some creative starting techniques. The Taylor / Sewart shared Mygale was now sporting wool tufts and a camera from the rear to monitor aero tendencies.

Top 12 Run-off: Mallory Park Rd 17
1. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 63.65 (+0.00)
2. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 63.73 (+0.08)
3. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 65.02 (+1.37)
4. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 65.32 (+1.67)
5. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 66.03 (+2.38)
6. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 66.96* (+3.31)
7. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 70.75 (+7.10)
8. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 73.01 (+9.36)
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 73.66 (+10.01)
10. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 75.47 (+11.82)

Run-off two saw Pete Goulding take revenge to regain the top spot in style with a new class record, with Steve Broughton returning to second place. Steve Miles crossed the line in fine style in third with a new 2.0 racing car class record to boot. Steve Brown’s Empire Evo finally held onto its boost and finished with his best time of the weekend and a close fourth place. Grahame Harden brought his Radical PR6 home for the final time of the weekend with yet another new class record, with a huge smile on his face, even though rather exhausted from his efforts. Graham Porrett also got his act together for his best time of the weekend holding off John Loudon for sixth. Cathy Sewart achieved her weekend ambition and finished ahead of double-drive partner Mike Taylor for eighth and reported that her hands were shaking as she exited the car. Mike Taylor rounded off the finishers in ninth as Ethan Faulkner’s Force PT left him stranded at Edwina’s chicane, unable to continue as the clutch pedal was stuck to the floor.

Top 12 Run-off: Mallory Park Rd 18
1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 63.41* (+0.00)
2. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 63.86 (+0.45)
3. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 64.62* (+1.21)
4. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 64.94 (+1.53)
5. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 65.34* (+1.93)
6. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 66.31 (+2.90)
7. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 67.50 (+4.09)
8. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 71.99 (+8.58)
9. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 72.10 (+8.69)

Championship positions after Mallory Park Rd 18
1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 422 points
2. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 392 points
3. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 366 points
4. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 352 points
5. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 334 points
6. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 328 points
7. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 280 points
8. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 258 points
9. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 254 points
10. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 240 points
11. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 188 points
12. Nicholas Scott (1.6 Force TA) 167 points

The next rounds of the Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship take place at Lydden Hill on Saturday 12^th July
 

Mallory Roaster: a game of two halves

Event 8 at Mallory Park on 21/06/2025
John Loudon reports:

The Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship descended on Mallory Park with high hopes for a good weekend of fun. HSA sponsors Woodford Trailers were in welcome attendance, represented by their dealer StarTruck Trailers Nottingham who were exhibiting one of their fabulous trailers and accessories and putting their name out there to the masses. A few regular competitors were missing due to either illness or family matters, while the rest of the usual suspects arrived in unbearable 30°C heat, which returned for the following day’s competition.

Since the last time out, Pete Goulding had had his tow van’s clutch repaired, Graham Porrett had adjusted his shift strategy within his ECU software, Steve Broughton had holidayed in Malta to acclimatise for the weather, Mike Taylor had changed the clutch and flywheel on his Mygale which he shares with Cathy Sewart, Martin Pickles had made a setup change adding ‘I will tell you if it works’ and John Loudon had fitted  a cooling fan to his Force TA in anticipation of the extreme weather. Ethan Faulkner and his now-familiar team of family and friends made the trip from Northern Ireland to compete, with the luxury of arrive-and-drive, having stored his Force PT with family in Milton Keynes.
Practice saw the circuit grab a few casualties at its first attempt with Steve Broughton breaking his transfer gearbox cogs on the start line and Steve Brown’s supercharger returning to the paddock in seized condition. Graham Porrett’s boost pipe came off his Mygale, the clamp being jettisoned at Edwina’s Chicane, later to be returned by a marshal in a less-than-usable condition. Thankfully, he had spares and was able to continue.

With Steve Brown and Steve Broughton still performing repairs, the rest of the field took to qualifying and the subsequent run-off; Brown and Broughton had missed the cut, but used the run for shakedowns after repairs. To do so, Steve Brown had made the eight-minute trip home (that’s local for you) to attempt salvaging parts from his poorly supercharger and fit to his spare, but had to admit defeat and use smaller spare pullies and a slack belt, consequently producing less boost than usual. Towards the end of qualifying, it bizarrely drizzled with rain for a few minutes, just to spoil things for the later runners, but the track soon dried after the drizzle stopped.

The start line had gripped up and a fair few competitors were bemoaning baulked launches. This probably led to the downfall of Steve Broughton’s gearbox breakage during practice. Pete Goulding took the win, but admitted that there was still room for improvement. Ethan Faulkner, on his first visit to the circuit, set a new up to 1600cc racing car class record ahead of Steve Miles who had achieved a new PB. Grahame Harden was flying in his Radical PR6 and set a new PB and up to 1700cc Sports Libre class record and was loving life as he just outdid John Loudon in his overheating, screaming 1.0 Force TA who had himself lowered the 1100cc racing car class record. Graham Porrett’s run was slower than his previous outing, but he was happy with his position ahead of Mike Taylor, both in Mygale EcoBoosts. Martin Pickles was also slower than his previous run and looked disappointed, but still slotted into eighth, just ahead of Cathy Sewart on her first visit to Mallory in the double-driven Mygale with Mike Taylor.

Top 12 Run-off: Mallory Park Rd 15
1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 64.21 (+0.00)
2. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 65.39 (+1.18)
3. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 65.87 (+1.66)
4. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 66.95 (+2.74)
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 67.03 (+2.82)
6. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 72.24 (+8.03)
7. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 75.57 (+11.36)
8. Martin Pickles (1.0 Jedi Mk1) 75.67 (+11.46)
9. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 76.73 (+12.52)

Whilst the rest of the field took their runs, there was a nasty accident after the finish line which saw a competitor unfortunately hospitalised and occupying the services of the crucial medical teams and ambulance. The rest of the day was therefore curfewed and fellow competitors passed on their best wishes to the affected parties.
Subsequently, the second run-off for Saturday was to take place on Sunday morning. With no practice and straight into qualifying, most had good runs apart from Cathy Sewart who — despite a keen information-seeking track walk the night before — spun at Edwina’s, and the unfortunate Martin Pickles who took Devil’s Elbow a bit too keenly and slithered backwards down the track, eventually colliding with the beckoning Armco in his distinctive Jedi, rendering it wounded beyond trackside repair. The delay had a few of the remaining drivers waiting in the queue for a good while, but thankfully Martin was OK and uninjured. Steve Brown was still down on boost.

Pete Goulding again won the run-off with a new class record and was happy despite confessing to a couple of mistakes. Steve Miles was second and also set a new 2.0 litre class record and talked about being flat through Gerard’s on the first lap which surely helped, and got ahead of Steve Broughton who was relegated to third, despite setting a new 1600cc racing car class record and taking it away from the closely-following Ethan Faulkner who had only managed to hang onto that honour for one run before having it cruelly taken away. John Loudon was in fifth, again lowering his own class record from the previous run-off, just ahead of Steve Brown who was now ‘getting there’ and Grahame Harden who had also improved his class record from the previous run-off. Grahame Porrett was in eighth, finally getting to grips with turbo power and improving his times to sit ahead of Mike Taylor and Cathy Sewart. Mike thought his run felt quicker, but the clock said otherwise. Cathy had a clean run and was gradually getting used to single-seater life outside of her Sunbeam rally car and working on the different lines required.

Top 12 Run-off: Mallory Park Rd 16
1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 63.44* (+0.00)
2. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 64.04* (+0.60)
3. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 64.08* (+0.64)
4. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 65.35 (+1.91)
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 66.66* (+3.22)
6. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 66.82 (+3.38)
7. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 66.88* (+3.44)
8. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 71.30 (+7.86)
9. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 72.89 (+9.45)

Jones and Goulding share the spoils at Pembrey

Event 7 at Pembrey on 08/06/2025
Martin Pickles reports from the Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship Rounds 13 & 14:

As with all good British Sundays, conversations started and ended with the weather. The day opened with blue skies and hopeful commentary from the paddock and sceptics alike.

Practice commenced promptly as ever with BARC Wales, and began with reigning champion Chris Jones who was still suffering with a slight clutch slip during periods of full power, as identified from analysis of the previous day’s data. Steve Brown was lucky to escape with minor damage when the RLM Empire suffered a catastrophic failure of the rear lower wishbone joint on the entry to the very quick Honda bend, but was able to control the three-wheeled car sufficiently for the marshals to recover. Of those currently jostling for the upper echelons of the championship, Goulding, Loudon, Miles, Harden and Faulkner had trouble-free runs with little to report.

In the Challenge Cup, Froggett and Buckingham were making steady progress in their rebuilt OMS CR04 and were encountering few issues with the car. Froggett created issues of his own however by selecting Saturday’s track layout, which made for an interesting recovery line to the Sunday circuit. Montgomery-Smith completed the excitement in practice by making a trip across the grass on the exit from Debeni, coming to rest outside the café — just in time for a late breakfast with a side of adrenaline.

Qualifying started under foreboding skies. Steve Broughton in his heavily-developed 1.4 DJ Firehawk led the pack with the only time in the 104s. Close in attendance was Jones in the 1.0 Force TA, whilst Goulding slotted into third with a time comparable to practice. A further second back was Ethan Faulkner in his Force 1.4T, closely accompanied by Miles and Loudon. Duncan Barnes, driving the 2.1 Norma, the formidable vehicle of the BSC contingent, expertly navigated his laps despite encountering occasional throttle issues. At 170mph into the hairpin, one can only wonder where he chose to lift for braking. Joining the upper echelons of the session were Grahame Harden, peddling the 1.6 Radical to a comfortable 8^th position and content with the car’s neutral handling.
The final four run-off places comprised a two-second group led by Porrett and Taylor, both with 1.6T Mygale and setting identical times, followed by Pickles and Torkington making up the run-off contingent.

There was barely time to tend, fettle and lovingly stroke the cars before competitors were  recalled to the start line. Almost predictably and despite his clutch woes, Jones managed to wring over two seconds from his qualifying slot to claim P1 in the run-off. Goulding was equally keen to improve on earlier runs but tried a little too hard, overdriving the lap and consequently tumbling to an unaccustomed  fifth  place. Moving in the opposite direction however was the revitalised Miles. After a slow start and having made adjustments for oversteer, he vowed to commit to Honda, the fast left-hand bend leading onto the long straight. A smooth, fast entry paid dividends, removing nearly two seconds from his qualification time to elevate him to a lofty second place. Broughton quite literally moved the other way in the timing table after another adrenaline moment at Honda, the car unnervingly heading for the grass and tyre barriers at over 100mph in a fit of understeer. Although recovered, the loss of speed down the straight killed the time for the second lap and he slipped to third.

Ethan Faulkner, whose dedication to travel to each venue in the BSC this year places all others in the shade (bar that of Kirkistown) will require a ferry trip for the Northern Irish team with the exception of Pembrey where car removal and storage had been arranged so that the support team could fly each way! The commitment continued on circuit and in only his third lap of the venue, he posted an error-free run to secure fourth place. Duncan Barnes was next to the line, difficult to ignore in the bulky-but-sleek Norma M20FC. Producing the fastest straight-line speed of the day, he also claimed a new class record. Loudon fumbled his launch control for the start of his run and as the red mist descended to recover lost time, produced two scruffy laps full of effort and determination but ultimately only a small improvement on qualification. Also of note in the timing table was Harden who nudged the class record in qualification and remained delighted with the confidence-inspiring handling of the 1.6 Radical PR6 and consequently produced a near identical time in the run-off. Holmes, a welcome returnee to the paddock with the fabulous Lola Tegra Judd completed practice in the morning without issue but on this occasion was caught out by a damp patch and spun at 140mph on the entry to the hairpin with a short journey across the grass to regain the Tarmac.

At the lower end of the running order, times were equally tight for those who had battled to qualify. Pickles dispatched with any excess weight at the start line, his engine cover performing a theatrical 360° spin before landing close to where it had started. Not to be outdone, Mike Froggett, competing in the OMS CR04 similarly parted company with his engine cover, his second circus trick of the day exuberantly demonstrated at a three-figure speed.

Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship
Top 12 Run-off: Pembrey Club Rd 13
 

1. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 103.97 (+0.00)
2. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 105.59 (+1.62)
3. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 105.81 (+1.84)
4. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 106.32 (+2.35)
5. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 106.60 (+2.63)
6. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 106.66 (+2.69)
7. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 107.02 (+3.05)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 112.85 (+8.88)
9. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 113.66 (+9.69)
10. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 115.93 (+11.96)
11. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 117.53 (+13.56)
12. Martin Pickles (1.0 Jedi Mk1) 118.25 (+14.28)

Afternoon conditions became less reliable, the morning sunshine replaced by grey and threatening clouds which occasionally deposited their contents to add to the coolness and variable track conditions, and several drivers succumbed to the moisture in qualification.

Regardless, Steve Broughton set the target with a time that would have placed him second in the previous run-off but without drama following a few paddock handling adjustments. Jones however was now three seconds slower than the morning, and continuing to nurse the slipping clutch. Loudon correctly initiated launch control this time and produced the third fastest time for qualification. Goulding, Miles, Holmes and Faulkner all allowed for the conditions in their efforts and opted for ‘error free and sensible’, knowing that their inherent speed would be sufficient for qualification. A similarly reserved attempt produced a controlled time to qualify for Barnes, Porrett, Harden, Torkington and Taylor.

There was a rush now to prepare for the final attempt of the day before the track dampened. Broughton, despite overheating on the line waiting for track clearance, pushed on and cooled during the lap but was two tenths down on his Q time to land him third overall and pleased with the weekend’s haul as he jetted off to Malta for a break before the next round at Mallory Park Next up was Jones who, battling through the slipping clutch issue, locked up into the chicane and ran wide on several bends, the resulting less-than-precise lap netting only fourth for the current champion. Loudon produced a new PB for the final attempt, despite momentarily selecting third gear instead of fifth on an otherwise precise run to take sixth place. Goulding then produced the run of the day with his fastest ever speed into Honda and a resultant PB but more importantly, propelled him to the top of the time sheet. The consistency of Miles was sufficient for a comfortable fifth, whilst Faulkner removed five seconds from his qualifying time to snatch second place from Broughton. Ethan was naturally excited and pleased with his performance, whilst dad was further up the exuberance scale, circling like an excited puppy with exclamations of joy and jumping up and down. I suspect it was validation of his faith in the young talent. Undoubtedly, Faulkner will impact the lofty placings this year if he continues with his current commitment.

Holmes kept the best for last and removed some of the dust of retirement to produce his best time of the weekend despite a steering wheel sawing episode exiting the hairpin. Down on his earlier times, Barnes eased into eighth place, whilst in the circle of delight sat Harden with a new class record, leaning on his confidence of Saturday and clipping a further two seconds  from his best time. Torkington also completed the day with a PB, Porrett and Taylor making up the final points-scoring places.

Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship
Top 12 Run-off: Pembrey Club Rd 14
 

1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 104.43 (+0.00)
2. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 105.10 (+0.67)
3. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 105.13 (+0.70)
4. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 105.22 (+0.79)
5. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 105.63 (+1.20)
6. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 106.07 (+1.64)
7. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90) 106.54 (+2.11)
8. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 108.11 (+3.68)
9. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 110.89* (+6.46) - record
10. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 115.14 (+10.71)
11. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 116.13 (+11.70)
12. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 116.71 (+12.28)

Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship Rounds 13 & 14

1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 321 points
2. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 298 points
3. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 292 points
4. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 280 points
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 269 points
6. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 249 points
7. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 246 points
8. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 197 points
9. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 189 points
10. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 183 points
11. Nicholas Scott (1.6 Force TA) 167 points
12. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 157 points

An exciting but unpredictable day’s racing at Pembrey

Event 6 at Pembrey on 07/06/2025
Steve Miles reports:

Round 11 of the Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship brought competitors to the Pembrey Circuit in Wales, which offered an exciting and unpredictable day of racing. With three weeks having passed since the previous meeting at Blyton Park, anticipation was high and this provided ample time for adjustments and tuning. The turnout was excellent, with 80 drivers participating, including 21 British Championship contenders across the main Championship and the Challenge Cup categories, attracting not only seasoned competitors but also new faces eager to make their mark. The event proved to be a thrilling mix of skill, strategy and resilience under challenging conditions.

The weather played a significant challenge to the day’s events. Overnight rain rendered the track damp, necessitating wet tyres for practice sessions. Showers were forecast to persist throughout the day, and while the track began to dry, puddles remained, challenging drivers to adapt their tyre strategies accordingly. Most drivers transitioned from wets to slicks after practice, balancing the need for speed with the risks posed by the unpredictable surface.

The qualifying sessions proved to be as dramatic as they were competitive. Pete Goulding faced an early setback when his floor stay bracket broke, forcing him to undertake repairs before continuing. Goulding ultimately chose to qualify on wet tyres, a decision that paid off. Meanwhile, Carole Torkington expressed her excitement at securing the 12th qualifying place, describing the experience as “whizzing!” Duncan Barnes showcased the sheer power of his Norma M20FC, hitting speeds of 165mph thanks to its impressive 550bhp. On the other hand, some top contenders faced difficulties —Steve Brown spun at Hatchets Hairpin and failed to make the cut, while Mike Taylor’s spin also thwarted his qualification efforts. These incidents highlighted the razor-thin margins that define sprinting, and the ever-present risk of pushing too hard.
Top 12 run-off Round 11
The run-off delivered action and jeopardy, as drizzle started mid-way and affected most runners to a varying degree. Chris Jones emerged victorious in his 1.0 Force TA. His winning time of 94.60 seconds highlighted his mastery of the circuit and conditions, despite nearly spinning off at Brooklands. Steve Broughton secured second place in his 1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004 with a time of 96.33, while a re-run after Mike Froggett’s spin benefited Pete Goulding who, despite early challenges, claimed third in his 1.6t Mygale FF 200 with a time of 96.80s.

Ethan Faulkner had the whole family/support team from the UK and Northern Ireland for the weekend and despite having never driven the circuit before, the 22-year-old nailed it for 4^th place. Martin Pickles was running well, qualifying 10^th in the 1.0 Jedi but in the run-off a wheel came loose, prompting him to retire and prioritise safety over competition.

Top 12 Run off results Round 11

1. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 94.60 (+0.00)
2. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 96.33 (+1.73)
3. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 96.80 (+2.20)
4. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 97.74 (+3.14)
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 98.89 (+4.29)
6. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 100.50 (+5.90)
7. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 102.37 (+7.77)
8. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90) 105.15 (+10.55)
9. Nicholas Scott (1.6 Force TA) 108.30 (+13.70)
10. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 108.96 (+14.36)
11. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 122.28 (+27.68)

The next qualifying session provided its own set of challenges for the drivers. Current British Sprint Champion Chris Jones had an uncharacteristic ‘moment’ at the Senna Esses, spinning out and failing to qualify. Meanwhile, Terry Holmes — piloting the formidable F1-powered Judd — also spun 360° during qualifying. Despite this setback, Holmes managed to secure a spot in the top 12, qualifying in 10th place. This wasn’t the end of his self-declared ‘shaking the rust off’, as Holmes would later spin again at a different corner during the run-off itself.

Top 12 run-off Round 12
The run-off was packed with exciting moments and notable achievements. Steve Broughton emerged victorious, clinching the win with a time of 94.08 seconds. His performance, while slightly slower than his qualifying time, left him delighted with the handling of his car. Peter Goulding followed closely behind in second place, delivering the fastest run of the day and coming tantalizingly close to his personal best.

Sustain Fuels-supported Miles, who finished fourth, had a tidy run, missing third place by just five hundredths of a second to John Loudon. And the emerging Northern Irish top-3 challenger Ethan chased hard on the heels of the regulars. Steve Brown got some points on the board on this run-off for 6^th and Barnes achieved impressive speeds well into the 160mph bracket, even though he faced intermittent engine cut-outs. Harden battled mechanical issues as his car struggled with a loose drive chain, but he was able to rectify the problem overnight ready for the next day’s event.

Top 12 Run off results Round 12

1. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) – 94.08 (+0.00)
2. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) – 94.46 (+0.38)
3. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) – 95.65 (+1.57)
4. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) – 95.70 (+1.62)
5. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) – 95.98 (+1.90)
6. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) – 97.32 (+3.24)
7. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) – 99.24 (+5.16)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) – 102.27 (+8.19)
9. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola T90) – 102.29 (+8.21)
10. Graham Porrett (1.6t Mygale FF 200) – 105.47 (+11.39)
11. Martin Pickles (1.0 Jedi Mk1) – 106.58 (+12.50)
12. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) – 124.88 (+30.80)

As the run-off concluded, the weather took a dramatic turn. The heavens opened and a torrential downpour hit the paddock, creating a stark contrast to the dry conditions all afternoon.

This left the Woodford Trailers HSA British Sprint Championship with the following standings, heading into the following day’s Pembrey Clubman’s layout

BSC Positions after Pembrey Nat Round 12 7/6/25

1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 275 points
2. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 253 points
3. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 246 points
4. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 233 points
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 230 points
6. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 213 points
7. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 200 points
8. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 197 points
9. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 165 points
10. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 153 points
11. Nicholas Scott (1.6 Force TA) 143 points
12. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 126 points

 

Goulding Tops the Tables at Blyton Park Outer

Event 5 at Blyton Park on 18/05/2025
Steve Miles reports from BSC rounds 9 and 10

The ninth round of the Woodford Trailers HSA British Sprint Championship unfolded in dramatic fashion at Blyton Race Circuit, where competitors tackled the outer track configuration in Lincolnshire. Organised by the Longton and District Motor Club, the event was praised for its slick organisation, providing competitors with a seamless racing experience despite the cold and cloudy weather that was a stark contrast to the previous day's conditions. With fifteen cars vying for a spot in the top twelve during qualifying, the stakes were high as drivers battled mechanical issues, challenging corners and split-second margins.

The day began with a high sense of anticipation as drivers prepared to secure their places in the first run-off. The qualifying session was not without its share of incidents, which set the tone for the day. Steve Brown retired after an exhaust header failed, so it was home for ‘engine out time’ again! Chris Jones, proudly sporting new sponsor ‘Jigsaw.net’, sought to gain an edge by altering the setup of his Force TA, in an attempt to shave off precious tenths. Unfortunately, his adjustments would later prove to have been counterproductive. Meanwhile, Nick Scott returned to the fray, his diffuser having been repaired overnight after a mishap the previous day with the timing beam. Ethan Faulkner faced an unexpected hurdle when his car’s battery went flat at startup — a direct result of forgetting to turn off the fan overnight — but managed to resolve the issue. Martin Pickles added to the early drama, spinning at the first corner, "Jochen," during practice.

With the top twelve cars determined, the first run-off of the day promised to be an intense contest. As the cars lined up, the clouds hung heavy over Blyton Race Circuit, adding an air of suspense to the proceedings. TimeTeamTiming, as always, provided a great service with live app and displays for the paddock and drivers.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the run-off was the razor-thin margin between the top three drivers — just 0.15 seconds separated them after nearly a minute of running. Essex-based Peter Goulding emerged victorious, piloting his 1.6t Mygale FF 200 to a stunning win with a time of 55.37 seconds. Goulding had recently fitted lightweight bodywork to his car after last year’s Combe incident, a modification that undoubtedly contributed to his success.

Steve Broughton, driving the 1.4 SBD DJ Firehawk CT004, followed closely behind with a time of 55.48 seconds, just 0.11 seconds shy of Goulding’s mark. Despite delivering a strong performance, Broughton was left reflecting on several corners where he felt he “should have, could have” done better. Chris Jones rounded out the top three in his 1.0 Force TA, clocking in at 55.51 seconds. However, his earlier setup changes appeared to have led him in the wrong direction, leaving the current British Sprint Champion slightly off the pace.

Ethan Faulkner offered one of the feel-good stories of the day. Following his battery issue and the long journey from Northern Ireland for the weekend, Faulkner managed an impressive fourth-place finish in his 1.4 Force PT with a time of 55.94 seconds. His wide grin at the finish line and remark, “Fourth has exceeded my expectations,” encapsulated the spirit of the event.

Duncan Barnes, a newcomer to the BSC and Blyton Race Circuit, showcased remarkable adaptability in his 450bhp Norma M20FC. Despite his unfamiliarity with the track, Barnes performed admirably, securing seventh place with a time of 59.77 seconds. His effort highlighted the steep learning curve presented by the circuit's demanding layout.
The day wasn’t without its misfortunes. Mike Taylor endured a challenging run-off, spinning at the ‘Wiggler’ chicane and finishing in twelfth place as a result. In a nice twist, Taylor’s partner, Cathy Sewart, beat him in the same Mygale EcoBoost car, to finish eleventh with a time of 66.09 seconds. Sewart’s achievement added a touch of light-hearted rivalry to the day’s events.

Round 9 run-off results

1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 55.37 (+0.00)
2. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 55.48 (+0.11)
3. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 55.51* (+0.14)
4. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 55.94 (+0.57)
5. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 56.65 (+1.28)
6. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 57.63 (+2.26)
7. Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 59.77 (+4.40)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 59.96 (+4.59)
9. Nicholas Scott (1.6 Force TA) 63.47 (+8.10)
10. Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 65.13 (+9.76)
11. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 66.09 (+10.72)
12. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 72.32 (+16.95)

Qualifying for the Round 10 run-off was not without its drama either... Determined competitors vied for one of the coveted top 12 spots, but not all managed to overcome the hurdles presented by the day.
Carole Torkington’s team demonstrated remarkable ingenuity during the break, fabricating a new throttle stop over lunch to address issues with her 1.5-litre OMS CF08. This swift and resourceful work, reflecting the resilience and dedication of her support team, ensured that she was ready to compete in the qualifying session.
Taylor, unfortunately, experienced a major setback when his car's ECU cut the engine. This occurred due to the simultaneous application of full brakes and a heavy throttle — a rare but significant issue. Goulding managed to equal his current record, but not to beat it for a bonus point.

The final run-off of the weekend highlighted a trend: most runners posted slightly slower times than their qualifying lap despite the strategic use of brand-new Pirelli Ultrasoft tyres that most competitors had been waiting for after a nearly three-year production delay.

Goulding emerged triumphant again in the Round 10 run-off with a time of 55.42 seconds. Despite the slightly slower times across the board, Goulding put this down to his better start.

Steve Broughton and Chris Jones completed the podium positions. Broughton finished just 0.36 seconds behind Goulding. His controlled yet aggressive style delivered an admirable result. Meanwhile, Jones posted a time of 56.16, 0.74 seconds adrift of Goulding — and now perhaps a change back to last season’s winning set-up?
Duncan Barnes, driving the powerful 2.1-litre Norma M20FC, claimed an impressive fourth place. Barnes, known for his understated approach, expressed his satisfaction with the performance, stating, “The run felt no quicker — I’m very pleased with the time.”

Just two hundredths put Faulkner ahead of Miles. Loudon found, post event, his gearing was wrong and Harden was happy with his run and gained a bonus point for a new class record while Pickles didn’t spin in the Jedi to secure ninth place. Scott also kept it clean — earning another PB after a good Saturday. Torkington’s throttle behaved and Sewart rounded out the Top 12

 Round 10 run-off results
1.         Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 55.42 (+0.00)
2.         Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 55.78 (+0.36)
3.         Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 56.16 (+0.74)
4.         Duncan Barnes (2.1 Norma M20FC) 57.71 (+2.29)
5.         Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 58.06 (+2.64)
6.         Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 58.08 (+2.66)
7.         John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 58.25 (+2.83)
8.         Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 59.16* (+3.74)
9.         Martin Pickles (1.0 Jedi Mk1) 64.03 (+8.61)
10.        Nicholas Scott (1.6 Force TA) 65.66 (+10.24)
11.        Carole Torkington (1.5 OMS CF08) 65.78 (+10.36)
12.        Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 69.24 (+13.82)

As the dust settled on the outer circuit and awards were handed out, the next three weeks before Pembrey will be eagerly awaited. Overall in the championship Brown drops down the field allowing Miles to move up to second with fast-charging Broughton and Jones — who have competed in two fewer rounds than others — begin the serious battle for the 2025 championship.

Championship positions after round 10 of 38 — best 29 to count

1. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 228 points
2. Stephen Miles (0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 212 points
3. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 197 points
4. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 196 points
5. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 186 points
6. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 178 points
7. Steven Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 177 points
8. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT) 157 points
9. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 143 points
10. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 139 points
11. Nicholas Scott (1.6 Force TA) 113 points
12. Simon Bainbridge (4.2t SBR Crono) 102 points

Jones and Broughton take a top spot apiece at Blyton Park Eastern

Event 4 at Blyton Park on 17/05/2025
John Loudon reports from British Sprint Championship rounds 7 and 8 

After what seemed like an age since the previous round of the Woodford Trailers British Sprint Championship at Anglesey, the long-awaited next rounds at Blyton Park were upon us, organised as usual by the ever-efficient Longton and District Motor Club. Some circuit paddock improvements were in the process of being implemented and despite some temporary facilities being in place, they were already an upgrade on what had been there previously.
New championship competitor Duncan Barnes in his Norma M20FC joined us for the weekend, after his season start had suffered an unscheduled delay due to a gearbox failure in early testing. Also seen for the first time this season were Martin Pickles driving a Jedi, and Challenge Cup driver Chris Price double-driving with Chris Jones in the CCC Force TA for the first time in a while.
Practice saw most competitors scrubbing in their newly-acquired Pirelli Ultrasoft tyres. Steve Broughton went one step further by running in his newly installed engine and Steve Brown was bedding in new brakes. Cathy Sewart and Mike Taylor were also using launch control for the first time and liked what they experienced... Ethan Faulkner and Duncan Barnes, both new to the venue, were learning the circuit and reported themselves pleased to be making it round and not being the slowest. Steve Miles nearly let himself down by only just remembering to connect his gear-change air compressor at the last minute. Nick Scott was overjoyed to report that he saw shift lights for the first time ever!
Practice out of the way, qualifying run one saw most people making big improvements after slowly shaking off the rust and gaining confidence, although Mike Taylor ran out of fuel and consequently limped around, but just about made it back. Ethan Faulkner had a close encounter of the feathered kind, narrowly avoiding a bird strike at the chicane, while Duncan Barnes nearly overshot the first corner but lived to tell the tale.
Run-off one saw Chris Jones set a new class record to take top spot, albeit with a kamikaze finish. Pete Goulding had a good run but was struggling to hear his engine due to an ear infection. Steve Broughton was quicker everywhere and rounded off the top three who were all within 0.1 of a second! Steve Brown was making steady improvements and set a new PB, despite still bedding in brakes and running a mismatch of old Avon and Pirelli tyres, just in case of accidental flat-spotting. Steve Miles slotted home in fifth on a time slower than qualification, as did John Loudon in sixth. Ethan Faulkner was getting to grips with the circuit and steadily improving his time to grab seventh. Grahame Harden was happy to have set a new PB in eighth, just ahead of Nick Scott who had also set a new PB and was similarly happy. Duncan Barnes confessed to having been flustered as he was rushed to the line and wasn’t happy with his track performance but he still scored BSC points by finishing tenth. Martin Pickles finished eleventh and was happy to have scored, despite having shaky hands. Cathy Sewart came home in twelfth, having qualified ahead of partner Mike Taylor, and could now also see her dashboard having adjusted her hybrid harness to suit.
Round 7 run-off results

1. Chris Jones (0 Force TA) 59.96 (+0.00)
2. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 60.04 (+0.08)
3. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 60.06 (+0.10)
4. Steve Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 61.54 (+1.58)
5. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 61.85 (+1.89)
6. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 62.06 (+2.06)
7. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Fore PT) 62.35 (+2.39)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 64.71 (+4.75)
9. Nicholas Scott (1.6 Force TA) 64.90 (+4.94)
10. Duncan Barnes (2.1t Norma M20FC) 65.82 (+5.86)
11. Martin Pickles (1.0 Jedi Mk1) 69.01 (+9.05)
12. Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 71.39 (+11.43)

Notable points from the qualifying for run-off two included Steve Broughton setting a new 1100-1600cc single-seater class record while not to be outdone, Stephen Miles took Matt Hillam’s 1600-2000cc single-seater class record by executing a top-secret six-point plan. I did ask, but he wouldn’t say! Most likely it was the lucky smearing of Coronation chicken that John Loudon dropped over one of his rear tyres over lunch.
Run-off two saw Steve Broughton take the top spot, demoting Chris Jones to second this time around. Steve Miles put in another good time to take third ahead of Pete Goulding who slipped to fourth. Ethan Faulkner again improved to elevate himself to fifth. Steve Brown bogged down on the start line to spoil an otherwise good run but still came sixth, narrowly ahead of John Loudon who was disappointed not to have got near his last year’s times, despite new tyres. Grahame Harden came eighth and set a sub-1700cc Sports Libre new class record in his Radical PR6. Duncan Barnes again improved to take ninth, but the self-confessed ‘non smiler’ almost let slip with raised corners of his mouth, which apparently doesn’t count. Mike Taylor made up for not qualifying for the previous run-off and took tenth ahead of Martin Pickles who had made a huge improvement to take eleventh. Nick Scott had a whoopsie by entering the finish line gravel, but still finished to round off in twelfth.
Round 8 run-off results

1. Steve Broughton (4 DJ Firehawk CT004) 60.03 (+0.00)
2. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 60.23 (+0.20)
3. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm) 60.38 (+0.35)
4. Peter Goulding (1.6t Mygale FF 200) 60.75 (+0.72)
5. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Fore PT) 61.57 (+1.54)
6. Steve Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2) 61.71 (+1.68)
7. John Loudon (1.0 Force TA) 61.81 (+1.78)
8. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6) 63.24 (+3.21)
9. Duncan Barnes (2.1t Norma M20FC) 64.14 (+4.11)
10. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost) 66.05 (+6.02)
11. Martin Pickles (1.0 Jedi Mk1) 66.78 (+6.75)
12. Nicholas Scott (1.6 Force TA) 67.85 (+7.82)

Championship positions after round 8

1. Peter Goulding (6t Mygale FF 200)
2. Steve Brown (1.3s Empire Evo2)
3. Stephen Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm)
4. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA)
5. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk CT004)

5=  John Loudon (1.0 Force TA)

7. Grahame Harden (1.6 Radical PR6)
8. Mike Taylor (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost)
9. Ethan Faulkner (1.4 Force PT)

9= Cathy Sewart (1.6t Mygale EcoBoost)

11. Simon Bainbridge (4.2t SBR Crono)
12. Nicholas Scott (1.6 Force TA)

FTD went to Steve Broughton in a time of 59.72 seconds




 

Broughton to the fore at Anglesey International

Event 3 at Anglesey on 06/04/2025
John Loudon reports:

Following on from the previous day’s fine weather, the breeze dropped and the weather gods rewarded competitors with an even nicer day for Sunday’s sprint around the longer Anglesey International course, the meeting again run by Longton and District Motor Club.

Reigning champion Chris Jones confessed to having enjoyed a comfy night in his Premier Inn following his previous day’s successes, whilst Steve Miles had made yet more damper changes overnight in attempt to perfect his handing woes, but then in contrary to Mr Jones, had encountered a disturbed night’s sleep due to his camper kettle inexplicably switching itself on and off overnight, having forgotten to unplug it. Meanwhile, the Mygale EcoBoost driver pairing of Mike Taylor and Cathy Sewart had concerns of water loss from their engine, suspecting an impending head gasket failure. Grahame Harden was overjoyed to see his old Westfield competing, which he built in 2002. Moving on from car matters, paddock medical concerns included Pete Goulding’s foot injury from Friday night’s trailer door mouse trap impersonation, while Ethan Faulkner’s father and mechanic Kenny was sporting bruised forearms from having wrestled with multiple removals and refittings of the Force PT’s brake master cylinder via the small tub top opening the previous day.

In qualifying run one, John Loudon was towed back to the paddock after having an injector failure on his methanol-powered Force TA and so didn’t make the subsequent run-off. Carole Torkington was having charging issues due to a faulty rectifier and also didn’t make the cut. Meanwhile,  Steve Broughton and Chris Jones were having a tussle at the sharp end of the times and breaking the 1100-1600cc and up to 1100cc class records respectively. Chris was enjoying his new engine but was now struggling with tyre set mismatch and balance, although his times didn’t seem to indicate any problems! Steve Miles had also found some time, having identified the cause of one of his car’s problems — a faulty wheel speed sensor that was causing traction issues. Ethan Faulkner had raised his rear wing for more rear end stability; it worked and he was setting superb times on his maiden visit to the venue in his Force PT, although the front of his floor came adrift and had partially ground away at speed. Pete Goulding was complaining of stiff steering and having to arm wrestle in corners while struggling with a bruised throttle pedal foot. Lloyd Bettinson was happy with his winter upgrades as he was repeatedly setting new PBs in his Jedi. Grahame Harden was a little perplexed by his selection of tyres. Simon Bainbridge was reporting that his ABS didn’t feel right, which disagreed with his data logs.

Run-off one (Round 5)

1^st Steve Broughton (DJ Firehawk 1.4) 76.43s
2^nd  Chris Jones (Force TA 1.0) 77.40s
3^rd Terry Holmes (Lola Judd 3.5) 78.90s
4^th Pete Goulding (Mygale FF2001.6t) 79.08s
5^th Steve Brown (Empire Evo 1.3s) 79.34s
6^th Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96MM  2.0) 79.46s
7^th Ethan Faulkner (Force PT 1.4) 80.23s
8^th Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono 4.2) 83.07s
9^th Lloyd Bettinson (Jedi Mk4 1.0) 85.04s
10^th Grahame Harden (Radical PR6 1.6) 85.91s
11^th Graham Porrett (Mygale FF200 1.6t) 86.05s
12^th Nick Scott (Force TA 1.6) 86.71s

Steve Broughton continued where he left off and again took the run-off honours, with Chris Jones again in second spot on a near identical time to his previous run-off result. Now with fully working injectors, John Loudon’s Force TA was firing on all four cylinders and back in the game.  Getting fully back up to speed, he set a new PB inside the previous 1100cc class record, but that had already fallen to Chris Jones with an even lower time! Ethan Faulkner continued to display his talent and posted a fine time for fourth place. Steve Miles, Pete Goulding and Steve Brown all went inexplicably slower, while Lloyd Bettinson was having a fine day in his Jedi and set yet another PB to finish 8^th. Simon Bainbridge in his SBR Crono broke a driveshaft joint at the final hairpin, but still crossed the line in 9^th. Grahame Harden posted his best time of the day to finish 10^th whilst newcome Cathy Sewart was overjoyed to gain her first top-12 finish in 11^th place, despite an engine that was in less-than-perfect condition and a time sapping half-spin in the first corner, the Mygale having developed a misfire part way through the day. Terry Holmes rounded off the field in 12^th after visiting the scenery at 130mph on the exit of Church.  He thankfully avoided any collision, but lost the floor of his Lola Judd in the process and had to be recovered. Graham Porrett lost boost in qualifying and limped around as best he could, but didn’t qualify as a result.

Run-off two (Round 6)

1^st Steve Broughton (DJ Firehawk 1.4) 76.94s
2^nd  Chris Jones (Force TA 1.0) 77.39s
3^rd John Loudon (Force TA 1.0) 78.27s
4^th Ethan Faulkner (Force PT 1.4) 78.60s
5^th Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96MM  2.0) 80.19s
6^th Pete Goulding (Mygale FF2001.6t) 80.93s
7^th Steve Brown (Empire Evo 1.3s) 80.96s
8^th Lloyd Bettinson (Jedi Mk4 1.0) 83.78s
9^th Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono 4.2) 84.20s
10^th Grahame Harden (Radical PR6 1.6) 84.86s
11^th Cathy Sewart (Mygale M14 1.6t) 100.69s
12^th Terry Holmes (Lola Judd 3.5) DNF

FTD went to Steve Broughton is his DJ Firehawk on a time of 76.43s

The next rounds of the championship are at Blyton Park over the weekend of 17^th and 18^th May

The returning champ stakes his mark in the sun

Event 2 at Anglesey on 05/04/2025
Steve Miles reports from Anglesey National Circuit, 5^th April 2025

Only six days since the Cadwell park opener, the 2025 Woodford Trailers HSA MSUK British Sprint Championship reconvened in Anglesey for the first of the Welsh rounds, the meeting excellently run by Longton & District MC. A track day on the Friday also organised by them proved to be a great opportunity for practice and sorting out early season niggles, and was enjoyed by a number of competitors.

One of the takers for the track day was the recently-voted ‘Northern Ireland Motorsport Champion’ Ethan Faulkner who arrived on the overnight Belfast to Liverpool ferry, but after issues, he sadly failed to take a run all day. All the Faulkner family got called into play, with dad Kenny’s sister diverted to Demon Tweaks for a new master cylinder purchase, while Kenny drove to the Force factory in Birmingham to purchase new brake callipers.  He returned at 02:00 and the parts were fitted in the early hours. Despite a few issues in practice, Ethan qualified for his first run-off.
An excellent contingent saw 19 runners trying to qualify for the top 12. This was the first event of the season for current BSC champion Chris Jones; after an engine upgrade and some damper and aero mods over the winter, he was in fine form. A ‘lightweight’ Steve Broughton, also sporting new dampers and many smaller tweaks also made the run-off, despite having been in hospital overnight a few days earlier. After a few years off, retiree Terry Holmes decided that he missed the fun and camaraderie, and brought the big V8 Lola out again. Lloyd Bettinson emerged after the winter with a very tidy red Jedi and looked good. The Mygale of Graham Porret was sporting a new floor compared to last year and Carole Torkington was pleased to be back to defend her Patsy Burt trophy.
The weather was most ‘un-Anglesey like’ and not a cloud was seen in the sky from sunrise to sunset.
There were no real dramas in qualifying, although Nick Scott in his Force was disappointed to be 13^th each time and Simon Bainbridge in the Crono broke a push rod and didn’t make the first cut. Steve Brown in the Empire Evo almost thought his weekend was over when his car cut out after the line — but this turned out to be the coolant temperature sender plug which had fallen off.

Chris Jones posted his 2025 ambitions with a first run-off win by a couple of tenths from Steve Broughton. Amazingly, Steve Brown was less than a second behind and had been hoping for more, but his visor shattered on his run at 130mph and he had to hold it in place to compete the run! Terry stroked the 500bhp V8 Lola home a few tenths behind and was very pleased to be back in the mix. Pete Goulding managed to squeeze into his driving boots in the morning after the strut had failed on the trailer door and crushed his foot during unloading the day before. He was deploying new Michelin tyres — as was John Loudon — but thought the stiff sidewall and inherent struggle with steering may have contributed to his lack of traditional pace in 5^th. Loudon in the Force was in 6^th with an identical time to Pete — qualifying times deciding the tie. Ethan was rewarded with a fine 7^th on only his second proper lap of the track while Steve Miles — getting to grips with new dampers that had been re-valved since Cadwell, was a few tenths behind. Lloyd Bettinson had a steady run for 9^th in the Jedi and Mike Taylor, sharing the car with Cathy Sewart had some issues with his 3D printed new wing for 10^th. Grahame Harden got the circuit Radical home on new Michelins for 11^th, followed by Graham Porrett.

Run off 1 – Anglesey National – round 3
Chris Jones                  1.0 Force TA                           46.53
Steve Broughton          1.4 DJ Firehawk                     46.86
Steve Brown                 1.3S RLM Empire Evo           47.60
Terry Holmes               3.5 Lola Judd                          48.20
Pete Goulding              1.6T MygaleFF200                 49.06
John Loudon                1.0 Force TA                           49.06
Ethan Faulkner             1.4 Force PT                          49.44
Steve Miles                   2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm25 49.63
Lloyd Bettinson            1.0 Jedi                                   51.27
Mike Taylor                   1.6T Mygale M14                    53.06
Grahame Harden         1.6 Radical PR6                      53.37
Graham Porrett            1.6T SJ12 FF200 Mygale        54.72

For the second run-off, Chris Jones slipped back a touch but was still inside the record for the win while Brown improved both in a place and time to take a delighted 2^nd. Broughton lost a second and slotted in third, while a delighted Miles took 4^th with his best time of the day. Loudon was a tenth behind and Holmes dropped back after a late brake at Rocket saw him overshoot on the flat top. Goulding was in an uncharacteristic 7^th and Bainbridge repaired the snapped rod end in the push rod to record the green beast in 8^th. Bettinson moved up a place for 9^th, with Taylor finding a whole second for 10th. Harden dropped a serious amount of time somewhere for 11^th and Faulkner had a spectacular double twitch though Rocket with the back end stepping out twice, but having kept his foot in throughout, the third twitch caused a full 180° spin, demolishing the polystyrene braking boards, but he recorded a time for 12^th.

Run off 2 – Anglesey National – round 4

Chris Jones                  1.0 Force TA                            47.02
Steve Brown                 1.3S RLM Empire Evo            47.23
Steve Broughton          1.4 DJ Firehawk                      47.68
Steve Miles                   2.0 Van Diemen RF96mm25  48.62
John Loudon                1.0 Force TA                            48.74
Terry Holmes               3.5 Lola Judd                           48.82
Pete Goulding              1.6T MygaleFF200                  49.34
Simon Bainbridge        4.2T SBR Crono                      50.85
Lloyd Bettinson            1.0 Jedi                                    50.87
Mike Taylor                   1.6T Mygale M14                    52.38
Grahame Harden         1.6 Radical PR6                      63.64
 Ethan Faulkner             1.4 Force PT                          67.80

 

Competitors convene at Cadwell for the BSC season-opener

Event 1 at Cadwell Park on 29/03/2025
Matthew Bainbridge reports:

The 2025 Woodford Trailers HSA MSUK British Sprint Championship’s opening event kicked into action at Cadwell Park, marking the start of our long-awaited season. Over the winter break, many drivers had worked tirelessly to refine their cars, making crucial upgrades in search of every possible advantage. With a mix of mechanical enhancements, aerodynamic improvements and tyre changes, the opening round was going to be as much a test of preparation as it was of driving skill.

Steve Brown arrived at Cadwell Park with a new engine in his RLM Empire Evo2, including a power upgrade, along with reduced gearing and fresh front wing endplates. Pete Goulding had made a more subtle change, fitting a new oil cooler to his Mygale FF 200. Newcomers to the series Cathy Sewart and Mike Taylor, sharing their Mygale M14, have also invested in a power upgrade and were driving on Michelin tyres for the first time, having previously used Avons. Their preparations for the season have extended beyond the garage, as they spent time testing at Blyton Park the week before the event, alongside a trackday at Anglesey Circuit.

Grahame Harden took to the track with new Michelin tyres on his Radical PR6, while Simon Bainbridge’s SBR Crono remained largely untouched over the winter break — with only a spark plug change to differentiate it from last season. John Loudon had been busy over the winter making several aerodynamic and mechanical adjustments, including a new aero screen, longer gearing, a new front wing element and a brake pressure sensor.

Steve Miles arrived at Cadwell Park with one of the most extensive upgrade lists, boasting increased power, new dampers, a new titanium exhaust system, driveshafts and a reworked front end with improved floor aero. He is running with new sponsors Rowe Oil and Sustain Fuels, and was making adjustments that he hoped would provide an edge throughout the season.

Duncan Barnes in a Norma M20FC sadly didn’t make the event after suffering gearbox issues while testing at Llandow a few days earlier.

A dry sunny but cold day meant the wets stayed in the trailers. The first practice times were useful for the drivers to get their eye in, and the qualifying runs were viewed by many as a second practice session to continue building momentum. Steve Brown posted what he described as an encouraging practice time, however Pete Goulding and John Loudon both encountered setbacks; Pete struggling with the very narrow gateway onto the startline, and John suffering a lock-up at the first hairpin.

Practice was the first time that Cathy and Mike had driven their car at Cadwell Park, so these laps were hugely beneficial to help them get up to speed. Mike was the quicker of the two, with Cathy building confidence for the blind late-braking into Park.

As there were fewer than 12 BSC competitors, qualifying meant that all the drivers had to do was set a lap time in order to participate in the first run-off. Steve Miles tried his best not to achieve this by running over his jack in the paddock on the way to the startline. Luckily, there was no damage found to his Van Diemen during his timed run, however that didn’t last long as he hit his own trailer coming back into the paddock, knocking off the front wing endplate. This led to some damage repairs taking place over the lunch break. The good news for Steve was that he felt the car was handling well, except for some damper issues in the high speed sections, which is something he hopes to be able to fix before the next event at Anglesey.

Pete Goulding may have been slightly slower than his qualifying time during the first run-off, but it was enough to remain on top — just two tenths of a second ahead of Steve Brown. Simon Bainbridge was happy with 3rd place, while Steve Miles showed steady progression in 4th after John Hansell deployed some rapid-set Araldite and tape to repair his damaged front wing.

John Loudon wasn’t far behind in 5th place, having fitted better tyres, although he admitted he was hesitant into the first hairpin following his earlier lock-up. Grahame Harden was next in 6th, with Mike Taylor in 7th — having already gone three seconds quicker than his best time last year. Cathy Sewart rounded out the first run-off in 8th, however she had gained a huge five seconds from her qualifying time, with every lap getting much quicker.

Run-off 1 – Cadwell Park

Pete Goulding              Mygale FF200                      79.71
Steve Brown                RLM Empire Evo                  79.97
Simon Bainbridge        SBR Crono                           81.90
Steve Miles                  Van Diemen RF96mm25      83.23
John Loudon                Force TA                               84.13
Grahame Harden         Radical PR6                         84.59
Mike Taylor                  Mygale M14                          88.62
Cathy Sewart              Mygale M14                           91.48

During the second run-offs, Pete Goulding confirmed his FTD as he eked out a win over Steve Brown, with a mere tenth between the two. Simon Bainbridge and Steve Miles remained consistent with 3rd and 4th, Steve very happy to have gained 2.5 seconds on his previous time.

John Loudon set an impressive 83.00 for a new class record. Even despite a lock-up on his final attempt, going flat up the hill for the first time was enough to recover his lost time. Grahame Harden was happy to be so close to John in 6th — his new Michelin tyres improving with each run.

Mike Taylor was 7th, having lost time due to a small technical issue on his final run, and it was Cathy Sewart only one second behind Mike in 8th — by far the most improved driver throughout the day’s running. Between her first practice time and run-off 2, she had gained over ten seconds — a truly fantastic effort.

All eyes now turn to the following weekend’s action at Anglesey Circuit, where our drivers look forward to another action packed weekend in the north of Wales.

Run-off 2 – Cadwell Park

Pete Goulding             Mygale FF200                       78.95
Steve Brown                RLM Empire Evo                   79.06
Simon Bainbridge        SBR Crono                            80.36
Steve Miles                  Van Diemen RF96mm25      81.82
John Loudon                Force TA                                83.00
Grahame Harden         Radical PR6                          83.88
Mike Taylor                  Mygale M14                           89.21
Cathy Sewart              Mygale M14                           90.64