Press Release From RacewayOne:
www.racewayone.com
It is difficult to imagine that we are actually on the midway stage of the 2024 BRCA National Series. So far, after two rounds we now have had wins from Neil Cragg and Ben Smith in 2wd and Tommy Hall has secured two wins from two in 4WD. RHR and Herts though fairly completely different of their nature may be attacked in an analogous approach because the consistency for need of a greater phrase of each the circuits is comparable. The third spherical of the collection is held at Stotfold and it’s fairly completely different – fully inconsistent!
The drivers within the collection gathered on Saturday eighth June in contemporary and vivid situations and climate forecast for the day was unsure. Patchy rain approaching from the Northwest was a fear and a possible swing to due North might imply decrease temperatures and a change in grip.
Many take into account Stotfold to be one of many final remaining “old-skool” tracks not as a result of it’s below geared up or primary, however as a result of the floor is laid in a approach the place you get what you get, and also you don’t get upset! It may be very bumpy. Transitions within the synthetic grass are unapologetically mislaid and marker hoses are kinked and retained with small boulders. A bit like me it’s not fairly, nevertheless it works more often than not. The membership has not too long ago gone to a lot effort and put in a brand new rostrum which does the job, however I can’t assist considering {that a} 12m rostrum as a substitute of 10m would future proof the observe and permit ample house for the referee and cameraman. That apart, it have to be mentioned that the majority drivers accepted the problem and located attaining a transparent run within the circuit to be very rewarding.
Practice initially received underway in heat sunshine which later clouded over as temperatures dipped. Tommy Hall went quickest over two consecutive laps in Round 1. Neil Cragg appeared snug in spherical 2 to go seconds and Josh Holdsworth rounded out the highest three. Abe Lyons coming from left discipline to go fourth – all of us watched on with curiosity to see if he may work some magic in qualifying.
Some drivers had been blisteringly fast on one lap however couldn’t string two collectively as they had been caught out by the hidden lumps and bumps on the observe.
In qualifying, initially Tommy Hall couldn’t convert his good tempo in apply right into a stable five-minute run as he struggled over the bumpy floor. Neil Cragg additionally made some errors in Round 1 however made up for it with uncooked tempo and went quickest with a 15/309.04. Hall responded in qualifying spherical 2 by going quicker with a virtually clear run 15/308.33 – Cragg placing in a really constant 15/309.11 and Jamie Hall going third. Locals Kit Jones and Alex Carter going fifth and sixth in spherical respectively. Mistakes began to creep in spherical 3 because the observe cooled and traction peaked. Again, Tommy Hall went quickest on a 309.86. Cragg was second quickest however a good distance again on a 314.56. Cragg would want a TQ run in spherical 4 on a quick 308 cut up to take pole place, nevertheless it wasn’t to be as Tommy Hall registered his third quickest time from 4 makes an attempt – 15/310.01. This time Ben Smith going second and Lee Martin third. Tommy secures pole positions for the A Finals.
2wd A Final Leg 1 received off to a clean begin with a prepare of automobiles making their approach across the circuit. Tommy Hall’s automotive appeared somewhat free on the rear, however he was getting a lot of tempo out of the automotive and Neil Cragg in second wasn’t being supplied any good overtaking alternatives.
90 seconds into the race the lead group of Tommy Hall, Neil Cragg and Ben Smith began to interrupt away from the pack. The three automobiles all ran for a number of laps in shut proximity, with all having little errors and bobbles as they pushed to try to eek out a bonus. There was stress within the air and the spectators had been eagle eyed for a big sufficient error from any of the racers to have an effect on the working order. At the four-minute mark a few dangerous bounces for Hall allowed Neil Cragg to attract proper as much as his again bumper. Coming onto the straight, Hall simply ran barely large on energy and Cragg was ready to attract up his inside – the 2 automobiles now drag racing for the racing line into the primary nook. Amazingly, the 2 rounded flip one aspect by aspect after which jumped by way of the tabletop chicane aspect by aspect – Hall being compelled to decide on between going below a leaping Cragg or hit the hose. Cragg’s automotive landed on high of Tommy Hall’s and spun, permitting Hall to proceed within the lead with Cragg now aggressively pushing him to power an error earlier than issues settled down once more. As the battling duo got here again onto the straight, Hall tagged the within marker and momentarily slowed, sadly Cragg was immediately behind him and had no likelihood of getting round Hall in time – once more the 2 coming into the primary nook virtually aspect by aspect. As talked about, Tommy Hall’s automotive appeared free on the rear, and he might have recognized it as he tended to understeer simply earlier than the apex of the corners – the automotive kicking out below energy. As the battle continued with solely seconds to enter the infield, Neil Cragg made an try to rise up the within of Hall as he managed his understeer/oversteer state of affairs. The two automobiles ran aspect by aspect over the big mount and each aimed for the one lane entry level into the next hairpin. Tommy was first in, however sadly, he put a wheel up on the hose on the apex, unsettling the automotive, and was then collected by Cragg. The pair required marshalling and the marshal was particularly reasonable putting the 2 automobiles draw back by aspect. The battle resumed onto the final lap, Cragg now main, Hall chasing laborious. Tommy Hall did all the pieces he may, together with a leap of religion on the final leap nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient and Cragg took the Leg. Race order: Cragg, T. Hall, Smith.
The second Leg of the 2wd A Final received below approach with sunny skies and barely hotter temperatures. All ten automobiles received away safely and made their approach by way of lap 1. Hall’s automotive wanting somewhat safer on the rear. He initially gave the impression to be placing a small hole between himself and Neil Cragg in second, however coming onto the straight for the primary time Hall clipped the apex and wheelied out of the nook – fortunate to retain the lead. Over the subsequent few laps he slowly construct a bonus of about half the size of the straight over Cragg in second, Smith third and Lee Martin in fourth. With three minutes down the lead three drivers had damaged away and had been working shut collectively. A group of bobbles and oversteer below energy moments from Hall ought to have offered an enormous alternative for Cragg, however there wasn’t the appropriate time or place to get the manoeuvre made. As the lead two battled laborious, Smith sat in third biding his time. Just because the clock rolled over 4 minutes, Smith pulled a textbook transfer on Cragg selling himself to second. The three automobiles progressed over the mound, all bumping and bouncing over it and Cragg collected Smith by way of no fault of his personal. After a second off observe, the 2 rejoined the race in nonetheless the identical positions – Hall now with a considerable lead. Smith occupation of second place was cancelled a lap later when Cragg received up his inside over the finger jumps within the high left aspect of the observe and Smith had no alternative however to offer him room. A lap later, Hall takes the leg with Cragg seconds, Smith third and Martin a detailed fourth. Its going to Leg 3!
The general win can be determined in 2wd A Final Leg 3. The shadows grew lengthy in the summertime sundown on the race began. All ten automobiles away with out incident and Tommy Hall out entrance wanting clean and managed. With a couple of laps down, Hall had gapped the sphere led by Cragg who was below strain from Smith. Coming as much as the 2 minute mark, Cragg tagged a hose by way of the tabletop chicane after the straight and have become caught. Smith managed to keep away from the accident, however Martin was not so fortunate. This gave Tommy Hall an enormous lead and likewise put Smith in a really snug second, Luke Holdsworth working third. The race continued in very subdued style till the clock struck 4 minutes. Tommy Hall with an enormous lead put his automotive onto its roof while traversing the fingers. Quickly marshalled he maintained the lead, however his benefit over smith is halved. Another bobble on the ultimate lap decreased the lead additional, however Hall had carried out sufficient to take the Leg win and the 2wd assembly. Leg end result – Hall, Smith, J. Holdsworth.
Overall 2wd outcomes.
An excellent end result for Tommy Hall which moved him a step nearer to claiming an early 2wd championship.
2wd Podium: Tommy Hall 1st, Neil Cragg 2nd, Ben Smith third.
Sunday morning received off to a sunny begin and temperatures had been somewhat increased. The Stotfold observe crew had been very fast on Saturday night to put a brand new crack design and it appeared quicker than the 2wd observe.
In 4WD apply Lee Martin was quickest and his automotive appeared actually good. His 2wd had appeared good too, however proved to be a pinch wanting tempo, not the case along with his 4WD – it appeared absolutely dialled. Tommy Hall fortified his 2wd tempo by going second quickest in 4WD apply with Jamie Hall wanting harmful in third. Jamie’s automotive appeared completely different to all of the others – it appeared planted! Neil Cragg was additionally on the races as was Thomas Phipps in fifth.
4WD qualifying received underway and Tommy Hall continued his profitable streak by taking rounds one and two. There was nothing between the tempo of the highest 6 automobiles, it simply got here right down to who may have the least of errors, bobbles and dangerous bounces. Tommy appeared a superb guess for Pole Position, however Jamie Hall had completely different concepts. The technical whiz took spherical three and 4 and went quicker than his brother to take Pole Position for the 4WD A Finals.
Behind the Halls, Lee Martin led the cost. Lee was on a TQ run in spherical 4 earlier than his automotive surprisingly ran sluggish for a couple of seconds and he solely managed fourth. Thomas Phipps capitalised on Martin’s misfortune put in a P2 in spherical 4 – a superb efficiency for a younger man not used to working because the very sharp finish of Nationals. Josh Holdsworth was working quick however a number of small errors on each run set him again. Neil Cragg had extra tempo than his factors recommend – very quick however some errors stopping him from working on the entrance of the sphere.
Overall 4WD Qualifying Positions
Jamie Hall began 4WD A Final Leg 1 by immediately gapping the chasing pack led by Tommy Hall. By mid-lap three he had a 5 second lead. Jamie’s will get out of form as a lot as all the others; nevertheless, his automotive appears to be excellent and really fast at pulling itself again into line. It seems that the entrance of the automotive is planted and tracks properly while the rear skips and hops because it catches the bumps. As Jamie pushed on, there was a pile up behind him and when it was sorted out if was Josh Holdsworth in second place with a minute down. Over the subsequent minute, Tommy Hall managed to get by Josh Holdsworth and he had the hammer down attempting to reel in his brother. A few sluggish laps from Jamie coupled with some fast ones kind Tommy dropped the deficit to a few seconds on the race midpoint. Then on the stroke of three minutes as Tommy was solely 2 seconds behind, Jamie had a nasty touchdown, flipping his automotive right into a roll and letting Tommy by way of and barely defending Josh Holdsworth nonetheless in third. With Tommy by way of, Jamie’s tempo appear to be renewed and the 2 ran very intently for the rest of the race. Jamie had a lunge on the final nook nevertheless it was not fruitful. Leg 1 end result: T. Hall, J. Hall, Phipps.
Before the beginning of Leg 2 the chat within the crowd was all about whether or not Jamie would come again combating or was Tommy going to place in one other nice efficiency and take 4WD – opinions had been cut up 50/50 – both approach, all bets had been on a Hall. 2wd A Final Leg 2 began with all 10 automobiles working as a close-knit prepare for the primary lap. Tommy Hall in second was the primary to faulter when his automotive exited stage left on the finish of the straight permitting Lee Martin by way of and dropping Tommy to tenth. It took Lee Martin a few laps to aggressively reel in Jamie Hall and battle commenced. With two minutes down and Martin beginning to get inside placing distance of Jamie Hall, we noticed a return of the problem he suffered in qualifying; the automotive slowed dramatically and he had no rpm from the motor. He dribbled down the straight after which the automotive appeared to recuperate and he was in a position to proceed. Hall initially had a 3 second lead, however that double when Martin’s technical challenge returned later within the lap however he nonetheless managed to retain second place for now. Martin’s challenge appeared to subside over the center a part of the race and he was biting chunks out of Jamie Hall’s lead. With thirty seconds to go, as soon as once more the gremlins had been taking part in with Lee Martin’s nerves, the automotive intermittently powering up – Jamie Hall gone like a canine off the lead. Behind the lead two, Neil Cragg lead the chasing pack with Josh Holdsworth in fourth and Tommy Hall had recovered to fifth. Tommy Hall went up the within of Holdsworth coming onto the straight and received by, however the transfer was reversed as Holdsworth had considerably extra ponies than Hall. Holdsworth was virtually again previous Tommy half approach down the straight when he pulled throughout Hall and wiped the pair out with an enormous barrel roll off into the primary nook. Hall unfortunate to get trapped in behind a desk which was a number of ft of the observe. Tommy Hall deciding to retire at that time. As the end tone rang out, Jamie Hall crossed the road to take the leg. As Lee Martin in second rounded the final nook his automotive misplaced all energy which was later found to be a motor sensor failure – his automotive left stranded on the exit of the ultimate nook aimed on the end line as all of the automobiles handed him. Neil Cragg took benefit and claimed second, Luke Holdsworth third. A gutting conclusion for Lee Martin and the battle for the win goes to Leg 3.
The last race of the weekend was the 4WD A Final Leg 3. The race began late as a delay was allowed for Lee Martin who had been flat out changing his electrics since Leg 2 half and hour earlier than. The race began with the rear half of the sphere very bunched and the way all of them averted one another over the fingers is a minor miracle. Over the subsequent couple of laps, the lead three automobiles of Jamie Hall, Tommy Hall and Lee Martin began to hole the chasing pack led by Neil Cragg. Tommy Hall in second began to use strain to his brother within the lead. Jamie was making his automotive very large, however there have been alternatives obtainable by way of the bumpy second if Jamie might be pressurised off line. With a minute and a half down, Jamie ran large on the hairpin within the later finish of the lap and Tommy wasn’t lengthy passing by way of the door and into the lead. There was now a prepare of 5 automobiles working on the entrance – 2 x Halls, Martin, Cragg and Phipps. The procession circulated until the third minute when Jamie Hall went badly off line coming off the mound and Lee Martin pinched handed him on the continuing hairpin. Jamie tried to retake the place by working excessive on the wall experience however this performed into Neil Cragg’s arms as he snook handed Martin as properly. A subsequent unforced error from Martin on the subsequent lap let Thomson Phipps by way of to fourth and it dropped him out of the lead group. Next to faulter was Jamie Hall from second. Jamie caught a nasty bump on is approach right down to the final nook and he cart-wheeled throughout the straight ending up on his roof selling Cragg to second and Phipps to 3rd. Over the ultimate minute, Phipps drew as much as the again of Cragg and was in search of a approach by way of. Cragg made an excessive amount of of a line compromise to defend the place and got here involved with a observe marker rolling his automotive and permitting Phipps by way of. Tommy Hall maintained his result in the end with Phipps second and Cragg third. The win secured the double for Hall.
Overall 4WD A Final outcomes:
4WD podium: 1st Tommy Hall, 2nd Jamie Hall, third Thomson Phipps.
Congratulations to Tommy Hall on doing the double at Stotfold. He now leads each 2wd and 4WD Championships. His 4WD marketing campaign seems to be very sturdy with a 9 level lead. 2wd is a little more open with 4 or 5 drivers within the hunt.