Another Wild Weekend 2016
Mildenhall Stadium
Saturday September 10 5pm
BriSCA F2 Stockcars 2016 World Championship (Mildenhall Track Championship rd8),
All Granada
National Bangers (Mildenhall Track Championship rd20 and RDC RWD Series rd8) and
Saloon Stockcars EA Championship QF (Mildenhall Track Championship rd8)
Admission Prices: Adults
£20, OAPs £10, under 14s £6, under 5s free, family ticket (any two adults and up
to three under 14s) £46. Prices include car parking and souvineer 40 page
A4 race programme (subject to availability)
Sunday September 11 1.30pm
BriSCA F2 Stockcars-a tribute to #623 Rob Dobie, '25 years of getting in your
way' (Mildenhall Track Championship rd9),
National Bangers Hot Shots Championship (Mildenhall Track Championship rd21) and
Saloon Stockcars EA Championship(Mildenhall Track Championship rd9)
Admission Prices: Adults £15, OAPs £9, under 14s £6, under 5s free, family ticket (any two adults and up to three under 14s) £36. Prices include car parking and race programme (subject to availability)
Please note there are no weekend tickets for this event
Page updated this week (updated September 9) with our final update to the entry lists
Page Index
Use the quick links below to find the exact information you require or
simply scroll down to read the entire page and its contents.
Entry Lists (updated September 9)
BriSCA F2 Stockcars World Championship Grid
BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Championship driver by driver preview
BriSCA F2 Stockcars World Championship Roll of Honour
BriSCA F2 Stockcars Consolation Semi-Final
Directions to Mildenhall Stadium
Introduction
The stage is now set for the
biggest night of the year for the BriSCA F2 Stockcars and at Mildenhall Stadium
in 2016 with Another Wild Weekend which is set to not only be an historic event
at the Suffolk shaleway as for only the second time in its 50 plus year history,
the BriSCA F2 Stockcar Championship of the World will be contested here
as the highlight of these two huge days of racing.
It is truly set to be a massive weekend of action more than living up to the
bill of Another Wild Weekend as while the BriSCA F2 Stockcars on Saturday,
September 10 (5pm) will truly be the centre piece there is much more to look
forward to over this weekend besides the World Final.
The weekend is set to start in fine fashion with the BriSCA F2 Stockcar
Consolation World Semi-Final and with a star studded grid which is surely as
good as many major events in the sport, this fight for the final six places on
the biggest grid of the year in the formula looks set to be a great way to get
the two days underway.
And the significant BriSCA F2 Stockcar action stretches well beyond the World
Final itself. While Saturday will see the coronation of the sport’s grandest
prize, Sunday’s programme will perhaps see something of the complete opposite
with a special dedication event to one of the formula’s true unsung heroes. 2016
sees 623 Rob Dobie celebrate his 25th season of racing, of ‘25 years of
getting in your way’, a landmark achievement which will be honoured on
Sunday, September 11 (1.30pm) with heat one being for all the white grade
drivers, possibly with a few other lower graded racers who have been white grade
this season, and a chance for the sport’s new, rising and unsung stars to make
their mark on the biggest weekend of 2016
And there is more special silverware to be won with the Alan Benson trophy
up for grabs in Saturday night’s Grand Final while the final F2 race of the
weekend, Sunday’s Grand National will be for the O’er the Border trophy
and while neither race has history quite as rich as the World Final, they do
have history which would be the envy of many races in our sport and there will
be much competitive for these prizes as well.
Adding to the high levels of competition will be the fact that the BriSCA F2
Stockcar prize fund has been greatly enhanced across the weekend thanks to the
fantastic support and generosity of our sponsors so a massive message of thanks
to B&M Autos, The Fortune Family, Impact Signs, JL Signs Motorsport Graphics,
Neil Dunne Welding, Phoenix Improvements,
Randall Motorsport, RS Motorsports, Teng Tools and TMR Motorsport for their
backing of the World Final weekend which has boosted the prize fund for the two
days of racing by almost £1,500 which we are sure will be gratefully appreciated
by the drivers and will hopefully lead to even better action on track across the
two days.
But of course while the weekend is headlined by the BriSCA F2 Stockcars, there
is more to the weekend that the high-octane open wheeled specialists with this
set to be a truly huge weekend of racing from arguably the three premier
formulas which race here regularly.
Continuing the Stockcar theme are the Saloon Stockcars who in all honesty
are rarely upstaged, especially at Mildenhall where the nature of the track
tends to produce some of the most action packed and explosive action seen in the
formula as we saw on their last appearance here with an incredible National
Championship.
There are championship bragging rights up for grabs here with the EA
Championship on the line and it will be their main event of the weekend and
their final race of the two days with the grid set by the points scored by the
previous races across the two days and with an enhanced prize fund thanks to
kind sponsorship from Appcom UK, DK Salvage, S Venni Transport and Turf is
Us, this is likely to be a great conclusion to the Saloon Stockcar programme at
Another Wild Weekend and a race which could very easily be among the best we see
over the two days.
Completing the bill are the National Bangers and it’s also a special
weekend for them with two very different days of Banger action to compliment the
stockcar racing on he programme.
Saturday (September 10, 5pm) evening is the annual all Granada fixture
which is both the original all Granada fixture in the sport but also one
of the highlights of the season for the formula at Mildenhall, the last two
year’s seeing fine grids of Fords’ finest and some great action, the wrecking
train in the Destruction Derby of the 2014 event remaining one of the all time
highlights at the track in the last decade and like everyone else at this
weekend, the Banger brigade will be eager to not be upstaged by anyone and the
all Granada fixture is certainly another quality feature of this huge weekend.
Completing their line-up and the line-up of the weekend as well will be the
National Banger Hot Shots Championship which will be one of the feature
races of the Sunday (September 11, 1.30pm) afternoon programme and
likewise the annual battle of the under 25-year-olds has become a real
underrated highlight of the season at the stadium with the last couple of
editions of this race producing some fantastic action and last year’s Hot Shots
meeting was truly one of the most underrated National Banger meetings of the
season here and hopes are high that similar standards will be enjoyed this year.
It is truly a hugely special occasion with three superb formulas, all battling for big prizes and while none will be as special as the BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Championship we hope the additional races will only enhance the weekend further to make for a quite wonderful package of racing.
BriSCA F2 Stockcars World
Championship
As the BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Championship is our main event here, that
is where will start and much has been said about this year’s World Championship
series which again has been historic as for the first time in the sport’s
history the World Championship Semi-Finals as well as the World Final itself
have been staged on shale which has certainly made for an interesting road to
gold in 2016 as well as creating something of a once in a lifetime opportunity
for some of the sport’s leading shale racers to claim the biggest prize in the
formula and indeed one of the biggest in short oval stockcar racing.
When this news was first heard there was much discussion about it and while
there were concerns over the series and there were fears it would be met with
apathy by some of the sport’s tarmac specialists and while some of these fears
were founded there is no denying this year’s World Championship qualifying
series has been a successful one.
Quite remarkably the combined entries of all 17 world qualifying rounds was
exactly the same this year as it was in 2016 with 656 but as expected the divide
between the shale and tarmac rounds was noticeable as while the best entries for
a tarmac qualifying round was 40 at both Birmingham and Taunton, these entries
were outnumbered by all six shale rounds, the 74 strong entry at the Coventry
qualifier being one of the season’s best turn outs and while the 44 car entry at
the Sheffield round was the smallest of the shale qualifiers it was the best
entry at the venue in over a decade, a statistic made all the more impressive
when you consider Sheffield hosted the World of Shale Championship in 2009.
So while the tarmac side of the World Championship qualifying series may have
suffered somewhat because of this year’s Semi Final and World Final venues there
is no denying the positive impact it has had on the shale scene and it is also
worth pointing out that many of the tarmac rounds did benefit from the
determination shown by the shale aces to qualify for the World Final in 2016.
The likes of 431 Andy Gibbs and 449 Mark Dorrill missed a fixture at Mildenhall
to race in the World qualifier at Birmingham and 19 Martin Ford went the extra
mile to not only travel to Cowdenbeath but also to Crimond for their qualifying
round the following day. Dorril failed to qualify for the Semi-Finals while the
efforts of Gibbs and Ford did see them make it to the final 56 but they were
both unsuccessful in achieving top 10 finishes at King’s Lynn on August 13 and
they will try again in the Consolation Semi-Final where few would deny seeing
them make it to the big race in reward for their stellar efforts this season.
It is also worth noting the impressive levels of support at the Semi-Finals
where the two 28 car grid represented 56 of the top 64 drivers in the final
World Qualifying standings which underlined the efforts of those who committed
to the series to see it through, even if the final two, and most important,
stages were not on a surface most comfortable to them. Indeed the two semi-final
races featured several drivers not best know for their shale exploits but
nonetheless many impressed and several were successful in qualifying for this
year’s championship while it has been extremely encouraging to see the vast
majority of those who weren’t be so quick to confirm their intention to race in
the consolation semi-final here.
The Semi-Final races, as always threw up their share of surprises, perhaps the
biggest being the amount of significant names who failed to make it through
thanks to engine issues with a remarkable number of engine failures during the
races which ended the qualification hopes of former World Champions 968 Micky
Brennan and 871 Mark Simpson while 7 Gordon Moodie was the victim of a wild
attack from fellow Scot 854 Robbie Dawson meaning the Consolation Semi-Final
will feature no less than three ex World Champions as well as a host of other
very capable racers.
That race is detailed shortly so instead switch our focus here immediately to
that of the World Final instead where each of the Semi-Finals were won by
the drivers who started on pole position, 606 Andy Palmer and reigning British
and European Champion 647 Chris Burgoyne. Palmer would go on to win the
evening’s Grand Final and with it he secured pole position for himself in the
World Final as well as the inside row for the rest of the successful qualifiers
from the first Semi-Final race and having also topped the World Qualifying
points he will now be looking to complete a clean sweep by claiming his first
World Championship and especially after his incredible form at King’s Lynn on
August 13 there will be few willing to bet against him.
Click here for our interview with former World of Shale Champion and pole position start 606 Andrew Palmer
Click here for our interview with European, British and National Champion 647 Chris Burgoyne
2002 World Champion Burgoyne meanwhile showed incredible determination to win
his Semi-Final race, stuffing 103 Carl Issit to take back the lead as he motored
to the win, showing a ruthless side which he will surely need here if he is to
follow Moodie’s example of 10 years ago and again producing a Scottish World
Champion at Mildenhall.
Issit rallied back to finish third in his semi-Final and will start the World
Final on row four where he remains a favourite for the gold roof in the eyes of
many and as the leader of the track championship it’s easy to see why.
If the form at Mildenhall this season is anything to go by then it is no wonder
why Issit is a lot of people’s pick for success in the World Final as not only
does he head into this weekend with a commanding advantage in the track
championship but he has won more races than any other F2 driver this season. But
this race will be like no other this year, with as many as 37 drivers expected
to compete in the World Final and hopefully circumstances will allow it to be
run over the full 30 lap distance it’s unlikely the previous Mildenhall form
this season will count for much, although Issit will certainly look to prove
otherwise.
Click here for our interview with Mildenhall Track Championship leader 103 Carl Issit
The second row of the grid produces two more drivers who are no strangers to Mildenhall with reigning Grand National Champion 823 Sam Wagner and 2012 World of Shale Champion 905 Rob Mitchell. It’s been unique years for these two as they have both welcomed children into the world, in the case of Mitchell just hours before the semi-final races, and this has limited their commitments to race at Mildenhall this season so they are not as high in the track championship standings as you might normally expect them but that will not restrict their chances to shine here and winning the World title would certainly make 2016 an even more incredible year for both of these racers.
Click
here for our interview with Grand National Champion 823 Sam Wagner
Click here for our interview with former World of Shale Champion 905 Rob
Mitchell
Joining Issit on row four is former eight time F2 World Champion 218 Rob Speak. It’s been 25 years since he won his first World title at Mendips and it’s now been over 15 years since his last win but that makes him no less of a threat and having confirmed this is set to be his last season in the sport he will look to bow out by making history, not only with an incredible 10th F2 World title but also by becoming the first man in history to hold the BriSCA F1 and F2 World Championships at the same time. He came so close to victory in the World Semi-Final the last time he raced at Mildenhall in 2014 so don’t bet against him here.
Click here for our interview with former eight time World Champion 218 Rob Speak
Starting immediately behind him is another driver who is no stranger to using
his front bumper with reigning and three time English Open Champion and former
National Points and British Champion 38 Dave Polley who is among the sports
biggest names yet to wear the coveted gold roof and he starts as another of the
leading contenders, especially having made it clear that anything less than
victory will be something of a disappointment, he’ll take no prisoners.
To his outside is a driver who has gone somewhat under the radar of most with
shale specialist 226 Billy Webster who at time of writing has a 100 per cent
attendance record on shale in 2016 an this has helped him move into third in the
Mildenhall track championship heading into this weekend and despite not yet
having the championship winning pedigree of others he is another who should not
be overlooked.
Click here for our interview with Mildenhall Track Championship front runner 226 Billy Webster
768 Tom Adcorft and 488 Liam Bentham are both experienced shale racers but less so at Mildenhall, the former making his track debut here so it will be interesting to see how that impacts their performances while row eight sees two drivers with much Mildenhall experience to call upon. Had it not been for engine failure 298 Jake Walker could have potentially been starting on the second row but from the middle of the pack he remains a dark horse for the top 10 as does 124 Ollie Skeels who, like 662 Steve Wycherly, qualified from his semi-final having started dead last on the grid. While Wycherly battled his way to ninth, Skeels was even more impressive finishing in sixth and he will now look to continue that excellent work here.
Click here for our interview with World Final debutante 298 Jake Walker
Click here for our interview with World Cup
runner up 768 Tom Adcroft
Click here for our interview with young gun 124 Ollie Skeels
Walker is one of a handful of drivers to capitalise on the all shale conclusion to the World Final series and makes his debut in the big race this year and there are others doing the same as well as some who have made the most of this year’s venues to qualify for the big race. The likes of the aforementioned Wycherly, 441 Micky Branston, 26 Gary Ford and 464 Matt Linfield certainly fall into that bracket and having now made it to the big stage will be eager to make the most of the opportunity.
Click
here for our interview with World Final rookie 26 Gary Ford
Click here for our interview with 441 Micky
Branston who makes his World Final debut
Click here for our interview with 464 Matt Linfield ahead of his second consecutive World Final appearance
With less shale experience 578 Mark Gibbs and 41 Dennis Middler were perhaps surprise qualifiers from the Semi-Final races but again both worked very hard to get here and will now look to work even harder to make sure it was not in vein. Like everyone else in the race they are not here to make the numbers up.
Click here for our interview with Scottish Champion 41 Dennis Middler
Click here for our interview with reigning Ben Fund trophy holder 578 Mark Gibbs
Finally we have two more shale aces in the shape of former World of Shale Champion 13 Andy Ford former Mildenhall Track Champion 377 Daz Shaw, the latter lucky to make the grid after engine failure hit him as well in the Semi-Final but both are in and more than capable of making a mark and it’s almost guaranteed they will.
Click here for our interview with former World of Shale, UK Open and Challenge Trophy winner 13 Andy Ford
Click here for our interview with former Mildenhall Track Champion 377 Daz Shaw
One driver we have yet to mention is of course the defending champion 101 Kelvyn Marshall who also failed to qualify in the Semi-Finals, another victim of engine failure but prior to that he was looking on course for a top 10 finish. He has already confirmed he will not start the Consolation Semi-Final and instead start his defence from the back of the 38 car grid, simply saying ‘it’s just more cars for me to wreck’ and his progress promises to make for fascinating viewing.
Click here for our interview with defending BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Champion 101 Kelvyn Marshall
BriSCA F2 Stockcars World
Championship Consolation Semi-Final
As already detailed the weekend is set to get underway in grand fashion with a
race which could very easily steal the show at the weekend and the World
Championship Consolation Semi-Final which will see the remaining six places
on the World Championship grid on rows 16, 17 and 18 contested.
The race is open to all those who competed in one of the Semi-Final races at
King’s Lynn on Saturday, August 13 but were unsuccessful in achieving a top 10
result and a qualification place in the World Final as well as the three reserve
drivers who were present at the Semi-Final meeting who also get one final shot
at qualifying for the biggest race of the year.
It has been hugely encouraging that immediately after the Semi-Final meeting the
vast majority of those who ended that evening disappointed confirmed their
intention to take part in the Consolation Semi-Final which means the first race
of Another Wild Weekend promises to be not only a star studded affair but a very
well populated affair with over 30 cars expected for this race.
Trying to narrow the field down to six to advance to the championship is
impossible, especially when you add in the unpredictable nature of Mildenhall
Raceway which with such a big field of cars means that anything could be around
the corner and even the best of form books is likely to go out the window the
minute the green flag flies but it does mean that whoever does advance from this
race to the main event of the weekend will have more than deserved it.
And of course the six successful drivers cannot be ruled out of impressing in
the big race itself and it has been done before where the World Champion has
come from this race and while there is no denying it would require a herculean
effort to achieve that it cannot be ruled out, especially if the expected 37 car
World Final is the chaotic affair many predict to be.
One driver who is no stranger to this race is 289 James Waterfall who qualified
for the last World Final at Mildenhall in 2006 and went on to finish an
incredible fourth place in the main event from near the back of the grid, all
without the aid of a race stoppage. With the Consolation Semi-Final grid set by
drivers World Championship qualifying points Waterfall again has much work to do
as he is set to start very near the back but he has done it before.
Ahead of him though is some of the biggest names in the formula with no less
than three former World Champions with 7 Gordon Moodie and 968 Micky Brennan
filling the front row while 871 Mark Simpson is set to start on the third row
and they will surely start as hot favourites.
Simpson is currently sixth in the Mildenhall track championship and Moodie’s
surprise visit here on August 6 saw him finish second in the last race of the
evening while Brennan was in the points on both days at One Wild Weekend in July
to underline their chances here.
Simpson is also the reigning World of Shale champion, a title previously held by
977 Dave Massey who won the event the last time it was staged at Mildenhall and
he too will fancy his chances from the middle of the pack.
Other star names include Shootout Champion 817 Tim Bailey and UK Open Champion
560 Luke Wrench and while neither are familiar faces at Mildenhall, both were on
the pace at King’s Lynn in the semi-finals and neither will be looking to miss
being a part of the season’s biggest race.
The race, as you may expect is littered with Mildenhall and shale regulars who
have identified this season as a golden opportunity to compete in the biggest
race of the year and this is especially the case with the likes 19 Martin Ford
and 431 Andy Gibbs in particular making some special efforts in the World
Qualifying series, the former even travelling as far afield as Crimond in search
of qualifying points. Their efforts were not rewarded in the Semi-Final races
but few would deny seeing them make the top six here and get the reward they
surely deserve for their efforts in 2016.
And there are many others in a similar situation, albeit set to start this race
from further down the order. Drivers like 376 Daz Seneschall, 417 Allan Weston,
887 Neil Brigg, 177 Glenn Scott, 597 Barry Clow, 452 Mark Armitage and 524
Michael Wallbank are among the more underrated stars of the shale scene and this
will present a perfect chance for them to experience simply being a part of the
World Final and they will throw everything at this to make it happen.
Throw in a wealth of shale stars whose success is better known, including many
who perform well at Mildenhall and the competitiveness of this race is set to be
just as high as the World Final itself. 225 Tony Blackburn, 5 Josh Coleman, 788
Stephen Mallinson and 136 Kyle Taylor are all inside the current top 10 in
points at Mildenhall and will look to put their form this year at the raceway to
good effect while 741 Luke Branston isn’t far behind and from row six could be
one to watch.
Another is 55 Courtney Finnikin, the Ministox graduate part of a short oval
racing wide surge of lady racers in recent times mixing it with their male
counterparts with great results and one of only a handful of lady racers to
compete in a BriSCA F2 World Semi-Final and she’ll be looking to become the
first lady racer to compete in the big race since Sarah Bowden in 1993 and she
will surely have the support of many for this.
BriSCA F2 Stockcars support
races
Unfortunately with just one support heat scheduled on the Saturday evening,
places are limited and it would appear that demand would exceed availability
meaning some were left disappointed but it is hoped some of them at least will
join us on the Sunday afternoon where bookings are unrestricted for the Rob
Dobie tribute meeting and we especially hope to see some extra lower graded
drivers join us for the white grade based heat at the start of Sunday.
In fact the support heat on Saturday night is another race which should not be
overlooked as it contains a unique mix of some of the formula’s underrated
racers as well as an encouraging number of overseas drivers visiting us once
again despite not being a part of the main event.
And that is not to say those underrated stars are not capable racers as among
them is 81 Mark Clayton who is currently fourth in the Mildenhall Track
Championship. Admittedly his nearest rival in the points race in the support
heat is someway behind but 235 Bradley Blyth has now collected a pair of race
wins here this year and 715 Scott Aldridge has proved useful while the likes of
Dutch stars H29 Cor Schutter, H103 Chris van de Elst and
H305 Ron van Wamalen are likely to be contenders while Irish young gun NI747
Bradley McKinstry was the sole visiting driver to qualify for the Ministox ORCi
Championship here in 2014 and will look to repeat that form here.
This weekend is flush with big races for the BriSCA F2 Stockcars as a part of
their most significant weekend of the year with much more to look forward to
besides the World Championship itself.
With significantly enhanced prize funds the qualifiers only Grand Finals on each
day should be races everyone will want to be a part of, the Saturday evening
Grand Final having the added incentive of being for the Alan Benson Trophy while
the final race of the Grand National will be for the O’the Border Trophy and
again carries a significant prize fund boost and with Sunday afternoon’s meeting
being dedicated to the 25 year career of 623 Rob Dobie it is hoped the opening
heat which will primarily a white grade affair will be a great start to the
afternoon and brilliant chance for the sport’s new, rising and underrated stars
to shine with further awards for the white graded drivers during the remainder
of Sunday's programme.
All Granada National Bangers
(Saturday) and National Bangers Hot Shots Championship (Sunday)
Another Wild Weekend isn’t all about stockcar racing because as it traditional
with our race events at Mildenhall Stadium, there is a National Banger
presence on both days with two meetings which are being paired together for the
first time in 2016 but each being events which are typically among our season
highlights and hopes are high for that to be the case again in which case the
National Bangers would not only be a quality feature of the weekend but, much
like the Saloon Stockcars, just as capable of stealing the show over the course
of the two days.
The weekend kicks off with the annual all Granada meeting on the
Saturday (September 10, 5pm) evening and culminates on Sunday (September
11, 1.30pm) afternoon with the National Banger Hot Shots Championship
and not only have both of these events produced some excellent National Banger
action at Mildenhall in recent years but they both offer two very different
types of National Banger action as well.
There is no denying that for many banger fans, the highlight of the weekend will
come on the Saturday night, even though the formula’s championship race is in
fact on the Sunday, as the prospect of a meeting where all the drivers will be
at the wheel of a Ford Granada is one of the best prospects in the sport and it
is most pleasing to see a very encouraging among of interest being shown in this
year’s fixture with around 50 drivers already booked in with the sharp end of
three weeks still to go before race day.
The all Granada format is a popular one in the sport today but originated
at Mildenhall Stadium with the first such event held back in 2010 which also was
the first staging of the RDC RWD Championship. That event was somewhat different
to this one as the more modern Ford Scorpio/Ultima (or ‘Frog Eye’ to many
involved in the sport) was permitted and this remained the case in 2011 at which
point a very special event was announced for 2012 to help celebrate the 20th
season of racing at Mildenhall Stadium with the sport’s first ever all Mk1 and
Mk2 Granada meeting and while the near 90 strong entry of cars was somewhat
lower than what was expected it was still a highly memorable event.
And it proved the trigger for many similar events to be held elsewhere with the
Olly Moran Memorial at Arena Essex in 2013 and the all Mk1 and Mk2 Granada
session at Ringwood earlier this year ranked among many banger racing fans as
being two of the best National Banger meetings held anywhere in the sport in
recent years, if not ever.
While the 20th anniversary all Mk1 and Mk2 Granada meeting at Mildenhall in 2012
was intended to be a one off, it returned one year later and while the entry was
much more modest it was still a fine evening of entertainment which helped
establish the meeting on the annual fixtures although the most recent affairs
have also seen the Mk3 and Mk4 Granada permitted on the night and that will
remain the case this weekend.
The last two year’s have seen the event prove better subscribed than the 2013
affair but it doesn’t seem it is largely down to the allowance of the more
modern makes of Granada as the older Mk1 and Mk2 versions have more than made up
the bulk of the entry and it goes without saying that many will hope that will
be the case again this year, the Mk1 and Mk2 Granada regarded by many to be the
all time greatest car for National Banger racing and we hope that once again the
numbers on the night will allow us to run an all Mk1 and Mk2 Granada heat which
would make for one of the coolest sights you are likely to see at Mildenhall all
season.
The last two all Granada meetings have not only been well attended affairs but
also very entertaining and action packed affairs although the general consensus
was that the 2014 meeting had the edge over he 2015 meeting which was in no
small part due to how the evening ended with one of the truly greatest memories
ever seen at the stadium.
What made it all the more special is that the moment came from nowhere as with
the Accumulator qualifier winding down there were precious few cars left in the
running and with several looking more than good enough to be raced again it
looked increasingly likely that only a few would contest the Destruction Derby
and the night may not end on a high note.
How wrong that thought would be.
The catalyst for the conclusion involved two of the drivers you would have been
forgiven for thinking would have saved their cars for another evenings racing as
having taken the chequered flag to win the Accumulator race 898 Andy Battle, in
a barely scratched Mk3 Granada lunged at and buried 206 Dave King on the top
bend of the circuit with 328 Dan Lathan, whose car was in equally pristine
condition homed in for an absolutely colossal blitz on Battle.
The next man to arrive was the Mk2 Granada limo powered 388 Taylor Sowter who
surprised no one by decimating Lathan and he was leathered himself by 632 Callum
Reed and while the subsequent hits from 960 Ross Winsor and the recovered 206
Kingy were not as fierce some they were as hard as the drivers could manage with
what their cars had left and were still met with titanic roars of approval from
the crowd on hand and despite the majority being at the other end of the
circuit, most of the drivers involved admitted they could still hear the cheers
as each hit went in.
That is no to say last year’s meeting didn’t have big memories, the biggest
being 116 Nat Cohn destroying the Granada hearse of 218 John Carr in the
evening’s concluding race and with a couple of hearses being pledged by drivers
expected in action this year could we see similar scenes again this time?
It’s also interesting to note that the majority of those who played a starring
role in the legendary wrecking train at the 2014 event are among those expected
in action again this time while all of those who took a share of the evening’s
race wins 12 months ago are also expected to compete and are likely to be among
the leading contenders for the spoils this time.
There was no denying the most successful driver of the night as one month after
being presented with the Steamer Memorial trophy as the most entertaining driver
of the night at the Unlimited Suffolk Open, 617 Jack Overy took victory in the
evening’s Grand Final (where he also received the entertainer trophy for his
full contact drive) and then celebrated that by winning the Accumulator
qualifier and Destruction Derby.
A month later and he would prove a hugely popular winner of the Spedeworth World
Final and while he has kept his on track appearances with the gold roof somewhat
limited, the majority have been special, including on August 6 where he retained
the Steamer Memorial trophy with another superb performance in a Toyota Crown at
the Suffolk Open, which was all the more special because of the state of the
Crown for most of the evening.
The evening’s other race winners included former Unlimited World of Shale, BBA World
Cup and Suffolk Open Champion 148 Ian Redden who would go on to finish second in
the evening’s Grand Final and many would say he is among the sports best in RWD
machinery on shale and will look to show that again with 326 Shane Lynn taking
the evening’s other race win and he is in the midst of his best season to date
and will look to continue that excellent form here.
But these guys will not have it easy looking for success with a wealth of other
impressive National Banger racers set for action at this one with the likes of
recently crowned British Champion and track championship leader 328 Dan Lathan
among them as well as the likes of former TSR World and British Champions 673
Darren Fendley and 811 Pete Winter, former Supreme and RDC points champion 188
John Reeves, 2015 Shamwreck and Terminator winner 209 Tom Waller and 2016 points
championship front runner 327 Mick Maskall Jnr to name just a few.
But what perhaps makes the evening all the more exciting is the number of proven
entertainers set to make the trip to Suffolk for the night whose presence is
only likely to inject plenty of action into the evening. The majority of those
already named could well do the same depending on their mind-set but throw in
the likes of 21 Jason Colbert, 148 Dean Jackson (whose entertaining nature has
really helped him stand out in 2016), always entertaining brother 317 Callum and 817 Kurt Jacobs (who
provided a highlight at One Wild Weekend when they encouraged the rest of the
field to wreck each other in the DD after Kurt had stuffed Callum by the pit
gate in enthusiastic and entertaining fashion), 378 Jordan Leonard, former World
Champion 390 Dave Gibson, 449 Mark Thomas, 551 Brett Jackson, TPL duo 620 Guy
Whitehead and 622 Jack Baker, 704 Kevin Chandler, 705 Ant Turner and 757 Tom
Farren and the chances of this being a dull evening of National Banger action
are a lot less likely.
Sunday afternoon’s programme is very different with a National Banger format
meeting which is likely to produce a largely Mondeo based format and while there
are many who do not enjoy this kind of racing there is no denying that several
Mondeo meetings already seen at Mildenhall in 2016 have been crackers, the Inter
Counties team challenge and British Championship really standing out.
And this one has been the same as well, the last two years in particular being
stormers, perhaps helped by the numbers on the day making the Hot Shots
Championship (for any driver under the age of 25) being first and open to
all available drivers with the remaining drivers on hand then joining the
programme for the rest of the meeting.
This was certainly the case at last year’s meeting where just three of the near
30 starters were the distance in the tile race which was a quite superb affair.
Initially 511 Jack Licquorice was named the winner but a subsequent check of the
results confirmed 313 Craig Osborne as the true winner in a highly destructive
affair and the latter is back again this year looking to retain the title.
Some tremendous work in the pits from the 50 plus strong entry of drivers
competing at the meeting meant the remaining three National Banger races on the
day were not only well subscribed but also action packed ones with the best
saved for last with a quite superb Accumulator qualifier and Destruction Derby,
the DD eventually won by 82 Tom Foster, who was crowned the TSR World Champion
on August 20, after he finally managed to silence the incredibly determined
Lathan who refused to surrender despite the warped and mangled state of his
Mondeo which continued to run in spite of the incredible amount of punishment it
had received.
At time of writing the entry for this meeting is not quite as large as the
Saturday evening but it still has much potential and it is interesting at the
moment the lack of drivers who have confirmed plans to race both days (although
of course, those whose cars survive the Saturday may race again Sunday) and it
does show the different racing preferences of many in 2016 it is also hugely
encouraging that the best part of 80 drivers are booked in for the weekend with
plenty of time for more to join.
And again it’s an impressive line-up which underlines the wealth of young talent
in the sport in 2016 and it makes it difficult to pick a potential winner.
Based on his
superb form this season so far, 326 Ratty is likely to be another leading
contender while the incredibly dedicated 339 Jack Garrod will be another top tip
on paper, especially as he is having his best season to date at Mildenhall while
brother 338 Terry, who currently leads the TSR points championship is guaranteed
to be one to watch in the later races.
Fresh from a superb third place in the TSR World Final, 599 Matty Butcher is
surely closing in on his first big win and the aforementioned 327 Little Legs is
another pre race favourite alongside former 2Litre UK Open Champion 103 Jack
Deacon who is set to make a welcome return from his injury at the Inter Counties
team meeting back in June.
This one has created some surprises to the form book in the past and with a
graded order start it’s a great chance for some lower graded drivers to
challenge and thus the likes of 10 Ben Collins, 36 Ricky Lewis, 220 Tom Pavitt,
former White and Yellow Grade Series Final winner 517 Sid Cooper, and former
champion 527 Michael Norman cannot be overlooked.
Meanwhile the afternoon and the Hot Shots race itself is again set to be flush
with several lively customers so keep an eye on the likes of 267 Richard
Butcher, 269 Tom Morris, 317 Stress, 444 Charlie Jackson, 619 Mike Knight, 817
Stig and 841 Stu Carmen as their presence is again likely to ensure the
afternoon is far from a dull one and it’s also great to see some new faces being
added into the mix with the likes of 359 Lee Moat and 911 Rob Lowman both
looking to make an impact on their first appearances at Mildenhall Stadium in
the National Bangers.
Saloon Stockcars EA
Championship
Providing the rest of the stockcar action at Another Wild Weekend will be the
highly rated Saloon Stockcars and while they might not be the headline
attraction for this weekend there is no chance the drivers will be looking for
another less than stealing the show as they compete for their EA Championship.
Stealing the show is something this formula has become almost accustomed to in
recent times, especially on the shale venues in East Anglia where they
consistently produce some of the hardest and most action packed stockcar racing
seen in the sport and it is a feature which has certainly made them immensely
popular among race fans in 2016 and their presence on these two days will only
add to the quality of race action this weekend.
While the EA Championship is not among the sports most prestigious events, it is
one which has a rich history in the sport and many welcomed it’s return to
Mildenhall a few years back where it has quickly become a highlight of the
season at the Suffolk shaleway although in truth this has usually come in spite
of the event not attracting the biggest entry of cars and it is most likely that
will be the case again this year as the weekend falls just one week before the
World Championship weekend at Skegness Stadium which will no doubt be the focus
of many at this year.
However we are fortunate that it has been proven time and time again that the
nature of the raceway at Mildenhall means that sometimes large grids of cars are
not always essential for exciting and action packed racing, and that is
especially the case with this formula and one of the many examples came last
year where despite less than 20 cars taking to the grid for the title race and
the drivers being fans with the most miserable of conditions they still
impressed with a hugely lively affair which was ultimately won by 304 Martyn
Parker who would go on to end the season by winning the Mildenhall Track
Championship.
And again it was the Saloon Stockcars who stole the show at One Wild Weekend
2015, in particular on the Saturday night with their initial qualifying heats
with three superb races, made all the better by the ideal racing and track
conditions with the highlight without question being the stunning second heat
which culminated in now UK Champion 158 Shane Davies perfectly telegraphing the
last bend attack from current National Points Championship leader 730 Deane
Mayes to claim his first Saloon win on shale and if the racing this weekend is
of a similar standard to last year this could be something very special.
Hopefully adding to the significance of the weekend’s racing is the generous
sponsorship from S.Venni Transport, DK Salvage, Appcom UK. PSH Environmental
Ltd, and Turf is Us who
together have helped boost the prize fund for the championship race, which will
be one of the highlights of the Sunday afternoon programme and the last Saloon
race of the weekend and we suspect the increased prize fund will encourage an
even more action packed encounter from these drivers.
We last saw the Saloon Stockcars at Mildenhall at the end of July, again at a
weekend meeting where they competed in their National Championship and once
again the on track action was simply second to none and left all those watching
from the side lines thirsty for more.
The 28 car championship race itself was an absolute blood bath, so much so that
it was completed restarted not once but twice. The first stoppage came when
promising newcomer and Ministox graduate 399 Cole Atkins was fenced heavily, for
the second time on the weekend, on the exit of the pit bend and unable to get
out of harm’s way and it was perhaps surprising that he was the only driver
absent for the first complete restart.
The second stoppage was for 190 John Wagstaff who had been fenced heavily at the
end of the home straight but this time there were more casualties and just over
20 cars remained for the second complete restart and while this time we were
able to complete enough laps before the race was halted again, this time
sufficient circuits of the track had been completed that a lap sheet order
restart was ordered when the caution flags few with concern for the
aforementioned Parker and 360 Carl Waterfield who had both had hard encounters
with the fence at opposite ends of the track.
Despite just 17 cars remaining in the fight at this stage, remarkably 16 of them
were still on the lead lap so there was still very much a fight for the title to
be contested and emerging from the frantic chaos at the start was 157 Max Stott
who led the race when the green flag fell for the fourth, and ultimately last,
time.
It was 730 Deano who would become the latest driver to lead the fray as a wild
lunge at 157 Stotty saw him elbow his way into the top spot but it was short
lived as 220 Casey Englestone immediately attacked the former and muscled his
way into the lead as part of a thrilling start to the restart of the race.
However the man on the move was former champion 428 Lee Sampson who raced his
way into fourth and then barged past English Champion 217 Sid Magewick and Deano
to take second before he raced into a lead he would not lose and he motored to a
second National Championship which was followed by some very emotional
celebrations with his family, Lee later detailing that the win was dedicated to
his late Nan and it was very clear just how much the victory meant to him.
Magewick went on to finish second while 600 Barry Russell narrowly beat 349
Michael Allard on the line for third place, the latter still chasing a first
championship in the sport and given the amount of first time champions this year
has produced in the formula it would be a brave man to bet against Allard here
especially as he went on to win the afternoon’s Grand Final which was another
stormer and saw Waterfield bounce back from his disappointment in the title race
to take second.
Also bouncing back from disappointment from earlier in the day was World
Champion 6 Simon Welton who having failed to qualify for the championship in the
heats on the Saturday night, along with defending champion 499 Dave Aldous,
European Champion 641 Willie Skoyles Jnr and Mildenhall Track Championship
leader 306 Daniel Parker, crashed out of the last chance qualifier with a
spectacular rollover forcing him to watch the main event from the sidelines.
But he rallied back in style, finishing third in both the heat race and Grand
Final after the championship to underline his impressive form and in the
twilight of his year as World Champion he will look to end it on a high note.
Aside from Sampson, arguably the most successful driver of the Sunday of One
Wild Weekend was young gun 733 Kyle Picton who won the last chance race,
finished an impressive seventh in the championship and better yet then won the
blockbusting 31 car heat race which followed before netting a fourth place in
the Grand Final to end a superb day’s work.
570 Simon Venni took the honours in the final Saloon Stockcar race of the
weekend and the winner of the Steve Newman Memorial in June is without doubt
back to his best form at present and is another leading contender for the spoils
this weekend.
He was also a race winner among the qualifying heats on the Saturday night, the
only driver to win a race on both days of the weekend with the Saturday
programme again proving the fact that big grids aren’t always essential for
great racing from this formula at Mildenhall as with 43 cars in action, each
heat had between 23 and 25 cars and all five were fine affairs, a couple being
absolute stormers again.
First blood went to 124 Ollie Skeels who then went on to also take victory in
his heat in the BriSCA F2 Stockcars and the versatile young gun has already
confirmed he is considering racing both his stockcars at this weekend which
would be no mean feat but as he proved at One Wild Weekend he is more than
capable of impressing in both divisions.
The remainder of the race wins on the qualifying heats on the Saturday night
went the way of 538 Jake Swann, 181 Sam Mallett and 131 Timmy Barnes, the latter
helping secure him pole position for the championship which was mightily
impressive as his late arrival at the stadium meant he could only compete in the
final two qualifying races!
Mallet was another interesting feature of the weekend, his form certainly the
best we have seen from him at Mildenhall so far and he was another to lead laps
in the National Championship and should not be discounted here.
A fifth place in the National Championship helped 306 Daniel Parker maintain his
advantage in the Mildenhall Track Championship heading into this weekend and the
young gun is currently enjoying a remarkable session which sees him at time of
writing laying fourth in the National Points Championship is a close battle for
second which is currently led by Allard, another having his best season to date
in the Saloons.
Recent seasons have seen some remarkable similarities between Daniel Parker and
his father Martyn. In 2013 Daniel won the English Championship and went on to
win the Mildenhall Track Championship as well and in 2015 Martyn did the same,
winning the English and track championship as well as the EA title and in a
season where Daniel currently appears well on course to reclaiming the
Mildenhall track championship, could history again repeat itself by him winning
the EA Championship here as well.
His nearest rival in the Mildenhall standings heading into the weekend is Allard
and with a 42 point lead the latter will need to make the most of the
opportunity he has here to close the gap because if Daniel is able to extend his
advantage even more by the time this weekend draws to a close it could prove
difficult for Allard, or anyone else to overhaul him.
Allard will have some degree of comfort though as he enjoys a useful gap between
him and his nearest rivals in the standings which is 2014 Mildenhall Champion
499 David Aldous and while he has lost his grip on the World and National titles
at Mildenhall in the last 12 months, we must not forget he won the ORCi
Championship, in dominant fashion as well, here last November and while that may
have been his only win at the Suffolk shaleway last season it was a timely
reminder that he can never ben discounted and this weekend will be no different.
Unlike Daniel Parker and Allard, Aldous heads into this weekend under a bit more
pressure to defend his standing in the track championship at Mildenhall as
things are much close beneath his feet.
Just 16 points comes between Aldous in third and eighth place with Magewick,
rising star 888 Shane Emerson, 6 Welly, Deano and Skoyles Jnr all snapping at
his heels while Sampson is just a few points behind with U25 GB Champion 218
Jacob Downey, Skeels and Venni all only a handful of points behind him and with
potentially 60 points up for grabs to the drivers over the course of this
weekend, these two days could shake things up tremendously.
Defending Mildenhall Champion Martyn Parker has struggled to match his scoring
ability of last year and is currently 16th in the points table but he is in good
company at the foot of the top 20 with the likes of 26 Tommy Barnes, former
World Champion 360 Carl Waterfield and Picton who enjoyed such success at the
National Championship weekend all around him and they are all perfectly capable
of great things here.
This weekend will also mark the conclusion of the White and Yellow Grade series
which is currently led by Skeels who enjoyed a useful 16 point lead here but
should be elect to concentrate on his BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Championship
hopes over the weekend it could easily open the door for others to come in and
snatch the top spot.
His nearest rival is third generation racer 270 Matt Fuller who has frequently
impressed here with strong race results and just six points behind him is 537
Tom Alsop, the ex F2 racer seemingly having now found his stride in the Saloons
and he is currently enjoying his best form to date and will have high hopes for
the White and Yellow Grade series where he is likely to be a leading contender.
One of the beauties of this formula in recent times has been how unpredictable
the racing has been, largely due to the quality of the lower graded racers and
that remains the case here with several from further down the current points
charts with the ability to shine. Current RDC Ministox champion 399 Cole Atkins
has impressed since his switch into the formula in June and is closing in on a
maiden Saloon win at Mildenhall while 386 Daniel Petters has been another young
gun to enjoy some top form in recent weeks and is another to watch for here.
Once again this weekend is offered to fans at great value prices, adult admission on the Saturday (September 10, 5pm) night for the BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Final just £20 for adults and £46 for a family ticket while admission on Sunday (September 11, 1.30pm) is just £15 for adults and £36 for a family ticket, these prices including the special 40 page A4 souvineer race programme (subject to availability) and car parking and with no additional charge for overnight camping why not arrive at the stadium early and enjoy an evening of Greyhound racing on Friday (September 9, 7.45pm) night as well as the late bar and disco in the Fenman bar in the stadium after Saturday evening's racing.
Entry Lists
(updated September 9)
BriSCA F2 Stockcars
Drivers shown in BLACK are World Finalists
Drivers shown in RED are confirmed drivers for the
Consolation Semi Final
Drivers shown in BLUE are drivers for the
support heat on Saturday, September 10
Drivers who are booked in for the Sunday, September 11 programme only are
listed below
World Champion
101 Kelvyn Marshall
(Saturday only) Click here for our interview with
defending BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Champion 101 Kelvyn Marshall
World of Shale Champion
871 Mark Simpson
Dutch Points Champion
H124 Wim Peeters
European, British and
Nationals Champion
647 Chris Burgoyne Click here for our interview with European,
British and Nationals Champion 647 Chris Burgoyn
English Open Champion
38 Dave Polley
Scottish Champion
41 Dennis Middler Click here for
our interview with Scottish Champion 41 Dennis Middler
Irish Open Champion
NI312 Christopher Kincaid
Shootout Champion
817 Tim Bailey
UK Open Champion
560 Luke Wrench
Grand National Champion
823 Sam Wagner
Click here for our interview with Grand
National Champion 823 Sam Wagner
Ben Fund Champion
578 Mark Gibbs
Click here for our interview with reigning
Ben Fund Champion 578 Mark Gibbs
Superstar
7 Gordon Moodie
H24 Willie Peeters
H30 Toon Schut
H116 Barry Bauer
H129 Michael Schutter
NI718 Gavin Fegan
NI925 Craig McConnell (Saturday only)
Red Grade
H29 Cor Schutter
H47 Patrick Tersteeg
218 Rob Speak (Saturday only)
Click here for our interview with former
eight time World Champion 218 Rob Speak
H218 Sjeng Smidt Jnr
226 Billy Webster
Click here for our interview with Mildenhall
Track Championship front runner 226 Billy Webster
298 Jake Walker
Click here for our interview with World Final debutante 298 Jake Walker
377 Daz Shaw
Click here for our interview
with former Mildenhall Track Champion 377 Daz Shaw
H389 Mike Sijbers
527 James Riggall
606 Andy Palmer
Click here for our interview
with former World of Shale Champion and pole position start 606 Andrew Palmer
618 Ben Lockwood
676 Neil Hooper
700 Adam Rubery
NI747 Bradley McKinstry
768 Tom Adcroft (Sunday only) Click here for our interview with World Cup
runner up 768 Tom Adcroft
788 Stephen Mallinson
905 Rob Mitchell Click here for our interview with former World of Shale Champion 905 Rob
Mitchell
NI944 Ryan McCrory
968 Micky Brennan
Blue Grade
5 Josh Coleman
H10 Jelle Tesselaar
13 Andy Ford
Click here
for our interview with former World of Shale, UK Open and Challenge Trophy
winner 13 Andy Ford
26 Gary Ford
Click here
for our interview with World Final rookie 26 Gary Ford
55 Courtney Finnikin
59 Lee Dimmick
H84 Christiaan Smidt
103 Carl Issit
Click here
for our interview with Mildenhall Track Championship leader 103 Carl Issit
124 Ollie Skeels
Click here
for our interview with young gun 124 Ollie Skeels
136 Kyle Taylor
184 Aaron Vaight
219 Chris Mitchell
225 Tony Blackburn
H231 Peter Schut
289 James Waterfall
299 Steve Smith
H305 Ron van Wamelen
488 Liam Bentham
581 Dan Fallows
662 Steve Wycherley
741 Luke Branston
846 Ashley England
977 Dave Massey
995 Michael Lund
Yellow Grade
18 Matt Clayton
19 Martin Ford (Saturday only)
81 Mark Clayton
93 Stu Sculthorpe
H103 Chris van der Elst
177 Glen Scott
H186 Ricardo Schmidt
233 Rob Aldridge
235 Bradley Blyth
259 Simon Farrington
351 Gavin Mason
417 Allan Weston
441 Micky Branston
Click here for our interview with 441 Micky Branston who makes his World Final debut
449 Mark Dorrill
464 Matt Linfield (Saturday only)
Click here for our interview with 464 Matt
Linfield ahead of his second consecutive World Final appearance
524 Michael Wallbank
597 Barry Clow
728 Carl Pilkington
735 Mick Haworth
887 Neil Brigg
White
Grade
H109 Tom Hendriks
150 Mark Thoms
283 Gary Allen
331 James DiGuilio
372 Steve North
376 Daz Seneschall
431 Andy Gibbs
447 Richard Hampshire
452 Mark Armitage (Saturday only)
471 Malcolm Kaye
623 Rob Dobie (Saturday only)
Click here for our interview with 623 Rob
Dobie whose 25 year career will be honoured on Sunday, September 11
715 Scott Aldridge
724 Tom Pell
774 Steve Flatt
Sunday, September 11 (1.30pm) only
Blue Grade
290 Jay Tomkins
Yellow Grade
37 Tony Smith
987 Sam Brigg
White Grade
212 Jak Hall
345 Gary Taylor
369 Mick Ford
413 Richard Rayner
414 Josh Rayner
421 James Trigg
562 Adam Walding
563 Keith Walding
692 Andy Bottomley
941 Jamie Lane
962 Graham East
National Bangers
All Granada National Bangers: Saturday, September 10 (5pm)
This meeting is open to all Mk1, 2, 3 and 4 Granadas but no Scorpios/Ultimas/’Frog
Eyes’ and any Ford engine up to 3litre is permitted. If there are sufficient
cars to allow it, the Mk1 and Mk2 Granadas will be split from the Mk3 and Mk4
Granadas for the heat races.
Please note that any Ford Granada which races Saturday can be raced again on
Sunday in the National Bangers regardless of the engine being used.
17 Kyle Overy
21 Jason Colbert
21 Jamie McAngus
22 Dave Vincent
27 Terry King
37 Dave Lewis
51 James Licquorice
67 Rickie Beasley
78 Lee Macey
88 Lyndon Stark
90 Adrian Harboard
96 Amber Daniels
103 Jack Deacon
108 Lewis Jefcote
129 Jon Brooks
148 Dean Jackson
148 Ian Redden
188 John Reeves
206 Dave King
209 Tom Waller
210 Callum McKee
224 James Burrows
235 Danny Williams
249 Ryan Guppy
281 Lewis Tingle
317 Callum Jacobs
326 Shane Lynn
327 Mick Maskall Jnr
328 Dan Lathan
329 Michael Carter
349 James Guppy
378 Jordan Leonard
388 Steve McGrath
390 David Gibson
473 Mark Nichols
508 Harry Bradbury
617 Jack Overy
620 Guy Whitehead
622 Jack Baker
622 Garry Webb
661 Shaun Smith
662 Dalton Smith
673 Darren Fendley
746 Tony Jarvis
757 Tom Farren
787 Steve Simmons
800 Tom Hannah
811 Pete Winter
817 Kurt Jacobs
887 Liam Stark
888 Lloyd Stark
898 Andy Battle
913 Brett Osborne
957 Gary Jackson
National Bangers Under 25 Hot Shots Championship: Sunday, September 11
(1.30pm)
The championship race will be the first National Banger race of the
afternoon and is open to any driver under the age of 25 but places are limited
and are offered on a first come, first served basis. The meeting is open to all
drivers of all ages and all drivers are asked to book in. The number of cars
racing will determine the format of the afternoon but all drivers will have the
chance of three races. Below is the list of all drivers booked in to race and
not all are eligible for the Hot Shots Championship
9 Tom Jordan
9 Bruno Norman
10 Ben Collins
11 James Spriggs
26 Dan Holmes
27 Terry King
36 Ricky Lewis
51 James Licquorice
87 Damien Matthews
103 Jack Deacon
108 Lewis Jefcote
142 Jack Lower
144 Jordan Godfrey
192 Terry Nightingale
212 Jack Maryon
220 Tom Pavitt
233 James Carter
267 Richard Butcher
269 Tom Morris
303 Jacob Bromley
316 Sam Dace
317 Callum Jacobs
326 Shane Lynn
327 Mick Maskell Jnr
330 Karl Jones
338 Terry Garrod
339 Jack Garrod
352 Ben Mynott
359 Lee Moat
370 John Cobbold
428 Ben Airey
444 Charlie Jackson
459 Todd Archer
517 Sid Cooper
587 Adam Rolfe
599 Matty Butcher
619 Mike Knight
622 Jack Baker
659 Stu Bird
785 Dom Ambrose
817 Kurt Jacobs
841 Stu Carmen
911 Rob Lowman
913 Brett Osborne
Saloon Stockcars
6 Simon Welton World Champion (Saturday only)
19 Darren Mansi White
22 Karl Petters White
26 Tommy Barnes Yellow
28 Ian Govier Blue
111 Jamie Read White
126 Harry Barnes White
131 Timmy Barnes Yellow
157 Max Stott Yellow
192 Robert Heanes White
217 Sid Madgwick English Champion
248 Will Makins White
270 Matthew Fuller Yellow
304 Martyn Parker Blue
306 Daniel Parker Red
327 Clayton Mallett Yellow
349 Michael Allard Red
350 Thomas Parrin Yellow
360 Carl Waterfield Blue
386 Daniel Petters Yellow
389 Ryan Santry Yellow
399 Cole Atkins Yellow
425 Tom Balls White
428 Lee Sampson National Champion
448 Martin Kibble White
499 David Aldous ORCi Champion
502 Tyler Bloomfield White (Saturday only)
525 Wes Starmer Yellow (Sunday only)
537 Thomas Alsop White
570 Simon Venni Red (Provisional Sunday only)
573 Sam Bloomfield (Sunday only)
610 Trent Arthurton Yellow
682 Paul Sparrow Blue
730 Deane Mayes Red
800 Scott Greenslade Yellow
888 Shane Emerson Yellow
993 Robert Steward White
BriSCA F2 Stockcars World Championship Grid (updated August 31)
A look at how the BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Championship grid is set to look
Inside | Outside | |
606 Andrew Palmer Age: 35 Home Town: Peterborough Best WF result: 6th (2010) Previous WF appearances: 7 Debut Year: 2004
Click here for our interview with
former |
Row 1 |
647 Chris Burgoyne Age: 32 Home Town: Falkirk Best WF result: 1st (2002) Previous WF appearances: 11 Debut Year: 2002 Click here for our interview with European, British and National Champion 647 Chris Burgoyne |
823 Sam Wagner Age: 27 Home Town: Darlington Best WF result: 3rd (2012) Previous WF appearances: 6 Debut Year: 2010
Click here for our interview with
Grand |
Row 2 |
905 Rob Mitchell Age: 32 Home Town: Colne Best WF result: 2nd (2011) Previous WF appearances: 5 Debut Year: 2004 Click here for our interview with former World of Shale Champion 905 Rob Mitchell |
International Driver | Row 3 | International Driver |
218 Rob Speak Age: 44 Home Town: Manchester Grid Position: Row 4 inside Best WF result: 1st (1991-2, 1994-9) Previous WF appearances: 17 Debut Year: 1990 Click here for our interview with former eight time BriSCA F2 World Champion 218 Rob Speak |
Row 4 |
103 Carl Issit Age: 46 Home Town: Spalding Best WF result: 5th (2003) Previous WF appearances: 13 Debut Year: 1995 Click here for our interview with Mildenhall Track Championship leader 103 Carl Issit |
38 Dave Polley Age: 30 Home Town: Manea Best WF result: 3rd (2009 & 2010) Previous WF appearances: 8 Debut Year: 2005 |
Row 5 |
226 Billy Webster Age: 23 Home Town: Leeds Best WF result: No top 10s Previous WF appearances: 1 Debut Year: 2010 Click here for our interview with Mildenhall Track Championship front runner 226 Billy Webster |
International Driver | Row 6 | International Driver |
768 Tom Adcroft Age: 24 Home Town: Nr Burnley Best WF result: No top 10s Previous WF appearances: 1 Debut Year: 2015 Click here for our interview with World Cup runner up 768 Tom Adcroft |
Row 7 |
488 Liam Bentham Age: 28 Home Town: Nr Ormskirk Best WF result: No top 10s Previous WF appearances: 2 Debut Year: 2014 |
298 Jake Walker Age: 22 Home Town: Chesterfield Best WF result: N/A Previous WF appearances: 0 Debut Year: 2016 Click here for our interview with World Final rookie 298 Jake Walker |
Row 8 |
124 Ollie Skeels Age: 21 Home Town: Wisbech Best WF result: No top 10s Previous WF appearances: 2 Debut Year: 2012 Click here for our interview with young gun 124 Ollie Skeels |
International Driver | Row 9 | International Driver |
441 Micky Branston Age: 33 Home Town: Leicester Best WF result: N/A Previous WF appearances: 0 Debut Year: 2016 Click here for our interview with 441 Micky Branston who makes his World Final debut |
Row 10 |
578 Mark Gibbs Age: 49 Home Town: Leek Best WF result: 8th (2012) Previous WF appearances: 2 Debut Year: 2016 Click here for our interview with reigning Ben Fund trophy holder 578 Mark Gibbs |
13 Andy Ford Age: 48 Home Town: Sheffield Best WF result: 12th (1999) Previous WF appearances: 10 Debut Year: 1994 Click here for our interview with former World of Shale and UK Open Champion 13 Andy Ford |
Row 11 |
464 Matt Linfield Age: 37 Home Town: Billingshurst Best WF result: No top 10s Previous WF appearances: 1 Debut Year: 2015 Click here for our interview with 464 Matt Linfield ahead of his second consecutive World Final appearance |
International Driver | Row 12 | International Driver |
662 Steve Wycherly Age: 50 Home Town: Spalding Best WF result: No top 10s Previous WF appearances: 1 Debut Year: 2011 |
Row 13 |
41 Dennis Middler Age: 30 Home Town: Carnoustie Best WF result: No top 10s Previous WF appearances: 2 Debut Year: 2008
Click here for our interview with
|
26 Gary Ford Age: 25 Home Town: Sheffield Best WF result: N/A Previous WF appearances: 0 Debut Year: 2016
Click here for our interview with |
Row 14 |
377 Daz Shaw Age: 35 Home Town: Castleford Best WF result: No top 10s Previous WF appearances: 2 Debut Year: 2007
Click here for our interview with
former |
International Driver | Row 15 | International Driver |
Consolation Semi Final 1st | Row 16 | Consolation Semi Final 2nd |
Consolation Semi Final 3rd | Row 17 | Consolation Semi Final 3rd |
Consolation Semi Final 5th | Row 18 | Consolation Semi Final 6th |
101 Kelvyn Marshall Age: 35 Home Town: Macclesfield Best WF result: 1st (2015) Previous WF appearances: 8 Debut Year: 2005 Click here for our interview with defending BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Champion 101 Kelvyn Marshall |
Row 19 |
International Entries
H24 Willie Peeters
H30 Toon Schut
H47 Patrick Tersteeg
H116 Barry Bauer
H124 Wim Peeters
H129 Michael Schutter
NI312 Christopher Kincaid
NI718 Gavin Fegan
NI925 Craig McConnell
NI944 Ryan McCrory
BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Championship driver by driver preview (added August 31)
13 Andy Ford
Age: 48
Home Town: Sheffield
Grid Position: Row 11 inside
Best WF result: 12th (1999)
Previous WF appearances: 10
Debut Year: 1994
Click here
for our interview with former World of Shale, UK Open and Challenge Trophy
winner 13 Andy Ford
Making a welcome return to the World Final grid is 13 Andy Ford who has a deep
association with the race but less than a successful one. This will mark his
11th appearance in the race and his first time in the event since 2007 when he
started on the front row at Arena Essex after triumphing in the semi-final at
King’s Lynn and it may surprise you that it was also his last appearance in a
Semi-Final until this year where he was again successful in finishing 8th to
place him on the 11th row here meaning there are about 20 people who will start
this race a bit warier when they look in their mirror. While the World Final has
yet to be kind to this veteran races, a 12th place at Buxton in 1999 his only
recorded result, he has had success elsewhere as the 2002 UK Open winner, a two
time World of Shale Champ in 2006 and 2002 and in 2012 he lifted the Grand
National title at King’s Lynn and perhaps more interestingly the Challenge
Trophy the one and only time it was held at Mildenhall. His presence will
certainly make this a more exciting race and at this stage in his career this is
likely his last best chance to make a mark in the biggest race of the year and
he won’t let it slip by.
26 Gary Ford
Age: 25
Home Town: Sheffield
Grid Position: Row 14 inside
Best WF result: N/A
Previous WF appearances: 0
Debut Year: 2016
Click here
for our interview with World Final rookie 26 Gary Ford
The first driver on our preview making his World Final debut is also the second
member of the Ford family with young gun 26 Gary Ford who will be looking to put
his shale skill and experience to good effect to make an impact here. Battled
hard in the semi-final to just make it into the top 10 and given how hard he
worked for that place you can only imagine how hard he will fight to get a
similar result here and try and overcome the difficult run of form his family
have had in this race over the years. Despite scoring all his points on shale
this season he was just outside the top 50 on the latest National Points chart
which is no mean feat but his Mildenhall form has not been the strongest thus
far in 2016 from the two visits he has made. While he did secure a race win at
the World of Shale qualifier here in May that remains his only result at the
Suffolk shaleway so far in 2016 which will not carry the confidence he would
have hoped for. However like many other World Final rookies he is likely to be
pleased enough just to be a part of the big race itself and will treat anything
else as a massive bonus and if the race is a chaotic one, he could be well
positioned to leave a mark.
38 Dave Polley
Age: 30
Home Town: Manea
Grid Position: Row 5 inside
Best WF result: 3rd (2009 & 2010)
Previous WF appearances: 8
Debut Year: 2005
Having made six appearances in the World Final in as many years from his debut
in 2005 to 2010 it’s been a harder road to this race for 38 Dave Polley in more
recent years with just two outings in the last five and last year’s
qualification only came via victory in the consolation semi-final. One of the
sports most decorated stars with the National Points (2009), British (2010),
European (2010), English Open (2016, 2015, 2013), UK Open (2010), Irish Open
(2010) and Scottish (2009) titles all on his impressive CV but the big one
remains noted by its absence a pair of thirds in 2010 and 2009 being his best
results while he was also sixth in 2013 and 2008 and likely to settle for
nothing less than the top spot here. A hard fought fourth place where he clearly
lacked a little pace in his semi-final keeps him well in the mix starting on row
five where he is guaranteed to be one to watch as the race unfolds. Has also
been solid on his appearances at Mildenhall this season as while without any
race wins on the Suffolk shaleway his four visits so far have produced a hat
trick of third place finishes and his recent English Open success at Coventry
will boost his confidence even further.
41 Dennis Middler
Age: 30
Home Town: Carnoustie
Grid Position: Row 13 outside
Best WF result: No top 10s
Previous WF appearances: 2
Debut Year: 2008
Click here for our
interview with Scottish Champion 41 Dennis Middler
The World Championship series has not been the kindest over the years to
reigning Scottish Champion 41 Dennis Middler who qualified for his first
Semi-Final in 2008 and converted it into a maiden World Final appearance that
year, no doubt helped by the Semi-Final taking place on home soil at Cowdenbeath.
However, despite being in a Semi-Final every year since this will be only his
third time competing in the biggest race of the year. What is interesting to
note from that form is that his sole Semi-Final top 10 since his 2008 debut was
two years ago at Mildenhall where he scratched and clawed in unfamiliar
territory to finish 10th and advance to a World Final at the Racewall. Battled
just as hard at King’s Lynn on August 13 to register a ninth place finish in a
race full of shale aces and punched his ticket to a first Mildenhall World
Final, a track where he also enjoyed action during his Ministox years. On paper
the lack of shale form may not make him an immediate favourite but his ability
to qualify at King’s Lynn coupled with a confidence boosting performance in the
2014 semi-final at Mildenhall means he should not be forgotten about.
101 Kelvyn Marshall
Age: 35
Home Town: Macclesfield
Grid Position: Row 19 inside
Best WF result: 1st (2015)
Previous WF appearances: 8
Debut Year: 2005
Click here for our interview with
defending BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Champion 101 Kelvyn Marshall
There is much to consider when weighing up the prospects of defending World
Champion 101 Kelvyn Marshall in this year’s race. Like so many others he was hit
with engine issues in his semi-final but at least he had the comfort of a
guaranteed starting place in the World Final which he has taken, confirming he
will not contest the Consolation Semi-Final and instead start from the back
where his progress will be interesting to chart. While largely a tarmac racer
these days, he does have a shale past which includes qualifying for his first
World Final with a ninth in the 2005 Semi-Final at Mildenhall plus a third in
the semi-final at King’s Lynn two years later. This will be his second shale
World Final, the last time at Mildenhall 10 years ago where he failed to post a
finish. By his own admission has not raced on shale as much as he had hoped in
2016 which might not help him and just two points from four shale meetings this
season is hardly a glowing reference but we should not forget he would have
easily outscored that in the semi-final on August 13 had he gone the distance
and on that night he looked very much at home. Starting at the back could give
him a little time to adapt to his surroundings and if he can do that quickly
expect him to move forwards...fast.
103 Carl Issit
Age: 46
Home Town: Spalding
Grid Position: Row 4 outside
Best WF result: 5th (2003)
Previous WF appearances: 13
Debut Year: 1995
Click
here for our interview with Mildenhall Track Championship leader 103 Carl
Issit
One of the most experienced drivers on the grid this year, only two finalists
having appeared in a World Final before him, 103 Carl Issit is one of four
drivers on the grid to previously hold the Mildenhall Track Champion, him being
the most recent having won the points race in 2014 and he is also the leader of
this year’s championship and it is form like this which has made him many
people’s tip for much of the year, an argument which was only increased when he
put his car on the fourth row of the grid with a third place finish in the
semi-final at King’s Lynn. This will be his 14th appearance in the race in 22
years, a feat made all the more impressive as this will be his first since 2011
having somewhat disappointingly failed to register a top 10 finish at the
Mildenhall staged semi-finals in 2014. His best result was a fifth in 2003 which
was also his first result since a 10th on his debut at Ringwood in 1995 and that
fifth sparked four consecutive top 10 finish from World Final outings in the
next five years which included a seventh place at Mildenhall in 2006. If the
race is run by experience he starts as a leading contender and providing his
survives the start he’ll have a shot.
124 Ollie Skeels
Age: 21
Home Town: Wisbech
Grid Position: Row 8 outside
Best WF result: No top 10s
Previous WF appearances: 2
Debut Year: 2012
Click
here for our interview with young gun 124 Ollie Skeels
2016 remains a very busy place in the life of young gun 124 Ollie Skeels who
continues to divide his time between racing his Saloon and BriSCA F2 Stockcars,
impressively securing race wins in both cars at Mildenhall at One Wild Weekend
and while his Saloon Stockcar commitments have limited his F2 appearances he has
still done more than enough to secure a third World Final appearance and his
first since 2013 where he will once again chase a maiden top 10 finish in the
big race and being on such familiar territory this could easily be his best
chance to achieve that. Almost half of his F2 outings this season have come at
Mildenhall and combined they see him lie just outside the top 10 in the track
championship and surely had he raced at the other two meetings he would be in
the top 10. But he made the all important top 10 in the semi-final at King’s
Lynn, an especially impressive feat as he started the race stone cold last as
the final reserve to make the grid and from there he finished a very impressive
sixth to put him in the middle of the pack here. Should he manage to survive the
start of the race expect him to make similar progress.
218 Rob Speak
Age: 44
Home Town: Manchester
Grid Position: Row 4 inside
Best WF result: 1st (1991-2, 1994-9)
Previous WF appearances: 17
Debut Year: 1990
Click here for our interview with Mildenhall
Track Championship front runner 226 Billy Webster
Making a welcome return to the grid for the first time since his debut in 2010
is young gun 226 Billy Webster but his presence here sees him as a very
different racer to back then. Now a fully committed shale racer he has enjoyed
an incredible attendance record at the shale meetings this season which has
almost alone carried him to a very impressive position in the National Points as
well as being the leading scorer on shale thus far this season. And this form
has been ever present at Mildenhall as well where he’s currently third in the
track championship and one of just eight UK qualifiers to have tasted a race win
at the venue this year with a heat win back on April 16. However, a lack of race
wins in 2016 could be the only chink in his amour as while he has been supremely
consistent this season (he has a very strong average of 17.17points), race wins
have been fewer and farer between with only four to his name and none of them
being finals and consistency won’t earn a gold roof here. From row five he
starts very much in the mix and is more than capable of grand things here and a
self admitted lack of ambition and easy going nature might reduce the pressure
to assist this to happen.
298 Jake Walker
Age: 22
Home Town: Chesterfield
Grid Position: Row 8 inside
Best WF result: N/A
Previous WF appearances: 0
Debut Year: 2016
Click here for our interview with former
Mildenhall Track Champion 377 Daz Shaw
One of the former Mildenhall Track Champions on the World Final grid, 377 Daz
Shaw lifted the points title at the Suffolk shaleway nearly a decade ago in 2007
but remains a hugely consistent performer on shale as he prepares for his third
World Final appearance but more importantly his first World Final on shale after
failing to make it past the consolation semi-final at King’s Lynn five years
ago. It may come as no surprise that his previous World Final outings came from
shale semi-finals, finishing third at Mildenhall in 2014 and second at King’s
Lynn to make his 2007 debut but he was unable to match that success at the
Norfolk Arena this year where engine issues forced him to settle for 10th which
he’ll likely see as a disappointment. Currently second in the Mildenhall points
with a pair of heat wins as well as a second in the final in April to underline
his ability to impress here and had he been among the front rows he would have
surely started as a leading contender for the gold. Still a strong contender,
fuelled by the knowledge of how good an opportunity this is for him to claim the
sport’s biggest prize but likely to need some fortune to make it to the top.
441 Micky Branston
Age: 33
Home Town: Leicester
Grid Position: Row 10 inside
Best WF result: N/A
Previous WF appearances: 0
Debut Year: 2016
Click here for our interview with 441 Micky
Branston who makes his World Final debut
Yet another success story of this year’s World Championship campaign, 441 Micky
Branston makes his World Final debut after much commitment to the cause which
saw him attend an impressive 10 World Qualifying rounds. Far from relied on the
attendance points to make the semi-finals as his heat and final double at
Sheffield was the only maximum score by any of the successful 20 qualifiers and
is something he should be very pleased with. Battled hard to make the top 10 in
his semi-final at King’s Lynn having dropped out of the top 10 in the early laps
and then fighting his way back to seventh for a row 10 grid position and that
determination will help him greatly here, especially at the start where he is
very much in the thick of it and survival will be key. His Mildenhall form is
far from the best with little more than a five point average from his four
visits so far in 2016 but they do include a pair of third place finishes in his
heat in May and the consolation on July 24 so he certainly knows his way around
the Suffolk shaleway and should he successfully get through the first couple of
laps in one piece a top 10 is far from out of the question.
464 Matt Linfield
Age: 37
Home Town: Billingshurst
Grid Position: Row 11 outside
Best WF result: No top 10s
Previous WF appearances: 1
Debut Year: 2015
Click here for our interview with 464 Matt
Linfield ahead of his second consecutive World Final appearance
Having not enjoyed the most successful World Final debut in 2016, 464 Matt
Linfield will at least have some comfort in that it won’t take a great deal to
top that and certainly it wold be a crying shame to see his second appearance in
the race end so swiftly. Has visited Mildenhall four times this year to help
prepare for this race and despite his best world qualifying round coming on
tarmac at St Day he more than underlined his improved skill set on shale with a
confident drive in his semi-final at King’s Lynn to a very decent eighth place
finish which will see him start the big race on the 11th row where a top 10
finish is likely to be his initial goal. While his average score at Mildenhall
is only a fraction more than five points it’s worth noting he saved his best
result yet at the venue for last with a second place in the August consolation
so his form at the unique raceway may have come just in time for the big race.
Another who is set to start the race very much in the thick of things and likely
to feel some of the push from the successful six from the consolation semi-final
who will look to make things happen early on but if he can survive that another
decent bet for the top 10.
488 Liam Bentham
Age: 28
Home Town: Nr Ormskirk
Grid Position: Row 7 outside
Best WF result: No top 10s
Previous WF appearances: 2
Debut Year: 2014
It’s not been the easiest of roads to a third consecutive World Final appearance
for 488 Liam Bentham but it’s a richly deserved grid spot as his hat trick of
qualification efforts comes on the back of four consecutive unsuccessful
attempts where he failed to make it beyond the semi final stages of the series.
Battled hard to get this far as while he finished a strong 10th in the world
qualifying series that was helped greatly by him attending 12 rounds in all, the
joint highest of the 20 successful semi-finalists meaning that almost 2/3rds of
his World qualifying points were achieved by attendance and wins have been
somewhat sporadic this year with just two from over 30 meetings. But he turned
that around with a strong fifth place finish in his semi-final at King’s Lynn to
book a ticket to row seven of the grid for the World Final. Has only made one
visit to Mildenhall this season on July 24 but again he shone with fourth place
finishes in both his heat and the Final to underline that he should not be
overlooked here as he chases a maiden top 10 finish in the race. Another whose
start will be crucial but a dark horse to finish on the podium.
578 Mark Gibbs
Age: 49
Home Town: Leek
Grid Position: Row 10 outside
Best WF result: 8th (2012)
Previous WF appearances: 2
Debut Year: 2016
Click here for our interview with former
World of Shale Champion and pole position start 606 Andrew Palmer
If the road to gold is anything to go by then 606 Andrew Palmer surely starts
this race as the odds on favourite. Topped the World Qualifying points chart,
won his semi-final and then won the Grand Final at King’s Lynn later that night
to secure himself pole position for the big race. No stranger to the World
Final, this being seventh appearance but after five consecutive appearances from
his 2004 debut, he’s only been in the race twice in the last seven years and his
last World Final was back in 2011 and he’ll want to make the most of this as the
sport’s biggest prize remains one of the few missing from his CV. A former four
time World of Shale Champion, the 2008 Ben Fund Trophy winner and 2014 Grand
National Champion he also won the Mildenhall Track Championship four years in a
row between 2009 and 2012. However his impressive World of Shale tally would
have been six had it not been for mechanical failures in the last two Mildenhall
staged events where victory was all but certain and that could be an issue here
as he has a habit of being all or nothing here as despite two wins in 2016 he is
just 11th in the points despite a near 100 per cent attendance.
647 Chris Burgoyne
Age: 32
Home Town: Falkirk
Grid Position: Row 1 outside
Best WF result: 1st (2002)
Previous WF appearances: 11
Debut Year: 2002
Click here for our interview with European,
British and National Champion 647 Chris Burgoyne
On the one hand it could be argued that the success of 647 Chris Burgoyne was
one of the surprise stories of the World Semi-Final meeting but then on the
other hand should it ever be a surprise to see the reigning European, British
and National Champion win any race? Surely not and from the front row the former
two time Irish Open and Scottish and former Grand National Champion is perhaps
the biggest question mark heading into this race. While he more than proved his
shale ability at King’s Lynn in August, his Mildenhall form is a lot less
certain as highlighted by his failure to make the top 10 in his semi-final here
in 2014 which resulted in his only absence from the World Final grid in the last
eight years and this will be his 12th time in the race in the 15 years which is
one of the most impressive streaks in recent times. One of only a few to win on
his debut, especially in the modern era, back in 2002 and came second in the
thrilling 2013 contest at Taunton while enjoying top 10s in 2009 (8th), 2008
(7th) and 2005 (4th). With his confidence at an all time high, don’t expect the
lack of Mildenhall form to be a hindrance, if he nails it, he’ll be a leading
contender.
662 Steve Wycherley
Age: 50
Home Town: Spalding
Grid Position: Row 13 inside
Best WF result: No top 10s
Previous WF appearances: 1
Debut Year: 2011
Veteran racer 662 Steve Wycherley started his racing career the sharp end of 40
years ago but despite his longevity in the sport he hasn’t enjoyed the closest
of association with the World Final, his sole previous appearance coming at the
last shale staged event at King’s Lynn when he qualified finishing third in the
consolation semi-final with his only other semi-final outing coming back in 2008
at Cowdenbeath. This year’s semi-final appearance came as a result of
circumstance rather actively chasing it as he only raced in three qualifying
rounds, the lowest of the 20 semi-final qualifiers and his hopes were hindered
by failing to score at the Mildenhall round but a big score at Coventry saw him
scrape into a semi where, in one of the most impressive performances of the
night, he finished ninth from the back of the grid to book a row 13 start here.
And the position might prove to be good enough for him as despite the
disappointing World Qualifier in June, half his National Points in 2016 have
been scored at Mildenhall and both his race wins in 2016 have been achieved here
including the final last time on August 6. If he goes under the radar he could
surprise people.
768 Tom Adcroft
Age: 24
Home Town: Nr Burnley
Grid Position: Row 7 inside
Best WF result: No top 10s
Previous WF appearances: 1
Debut Year: 2015
Click here for our interview with Grand
National Champion 823 Sam Wagner
We’ve not seen so much of current Grand National Champion 823 Sam Wagner as we
have in previous seasons but becoming a father a few months ago has played an
instrumental role in that and he also endured other issues which always seemed
to impact his planned Mildenhall visits but he has more than made up for that in
recent weeks. Despite not racing at Mildenhall until June he has climbed to 13th
in the points with scores of between 12 and 24 and including a Grand National
win at the World qualifier in June and a third in the July 24 final. After an
unsuccessful semi-final appearance in 2008 at Mendips he has now been in the
race the last six years which is a hugely impressive feat and one only matched
by Gordon Moodie, his best finish a third in the destructive Barford event of
2012 and it is also important to note his 2014 qualification came from a
consolation semi-final victory after failing to succeed in the semi at
Mildenhall. Despite only attending four qualifying rounds and barely making the
top 30 he stormed to an excellent second in his semi-final and from the inside
of row two he starts the night as one of the leading contenders for the title.
905 Rob Mitchell
Age: 32
Home Town: Colne
Grid Position: Row 2 outside
Best WF result: 2nd (2011)
Previous WF appearances: 5
Debut Year: 2004
Click here for our interview with former
World of Shale Champion 905 Rob
Mitchell
There are a few things you have to remember when analysing the chances of 2012
World of Shale Champion 905 Rob Mitchell. Perhaps the biggest is he once told us
before a big race that his commitments to TMR Supplies means sometimes he has to
put his business before his on track success which means finishing second in one
piece is sometimes the preferred option to trying to win and ending the race in
bits. This could be reflected in the fact he has only enjoyed one race win this
year but at Mildenhall alone he has finished second five times, including the
final at the World qualifier and of the 20 successful semi-finalists he is the
only one whose best world qualifying round was at the World Final venue. Other
commitments, including becoming a dad just before the semi-finals, means we’ve
only seen him at Mildenhall four times this year but despite this he is joint
13th in the standings, the exact same as the aforementioned Sam Wagner and these
two share the second row. Being so near the front, starting on the outside will
pose less of a disadvantage and with no other desire but to win the title, he is
another to start the evening as the leading challengers.
Overseas entries
lap times
The first point of business at Another Wild Weekend will be the lap times
for the overseas entries for the BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Final which will set
the grid positions for the 10 expected overseas entries from mainland Europe,
Ireland and the Isle of Mann on rows three, six, nine, 12 NS 15 of the
grid.
This crucial stage of the weekend for our overseas contenders will be at 12noon.
The reason for the early scheduling is so the lap times can be completed in good
time for final preparations to be made ahead of the 5pm start time and fans who
are present at the stadium at this time are welcome to watch this part of the
event.
It has also been decided that the overseas qualifying will be held under
slightly different and unique rules which we hope will offer a more enjoyable
and exciting viewing experience as well as offering the overseas drivers an
added opportunity to prepare for the World Final race.
The 10 drivers will draw at random to compete in group one or two and each group
will then compete together for four minutes each with the fastest lap time set
by each driver in the group in this time being their qualifying time.
The fastest five drivers from the initial round will then have the option to
compete in a third four minute session and while their fastest lap time from
their first session will be ‘banked’ the second round will be an opportunity to
try and improve on their original fastest time in a shootout for the top five
grid positions for the overseas entries.
The confirmed overseas drivers who will compete in these time trials are as
follows
H24 Willie Peeters
H30 Toon Schut
H47 Patrick Tersteeg
H116 Barry Bauer
H124 Wim Peeters
H129 Michael Schutter
NI312 Christopher Kincaid
NI718 Gavin Fegan
NI925 Craig McConnell
NI944 Ryan McCrory
There was a time, long ago,
when overseas entries in an event such as this were regarded more as a token
gesture, an effort to try and give the grand title of a race a little more
meaning and to justify it’s name.
As far as BriSCA F2 Stockcars go, those years are a long time ago and the
overseas entries in this year’s World Final start with just as much potential
for glory as anyone else although many would argue this is especially the case
with the Dutch contenders thanks to a now booming shale scene on the continent
which has resulted in numerous visits by their shale aces to our shores for our
shale meetings where they have proved time and time again they are just as
competitive as anyone else.
Of course much changed when H24 Willie Peeters (49 years-old from
Nijmegen) became the sports first and still only Dutch World Champion with his
historic win at Northampton in 2005. His title defence at Mildenhall however
wasn’t a successful one and he’s only raced on tarmac this season which doesn't
bode well but competing in the race with son H124 Wim will likely be a reward in
itself.
H30 Toon Schut (52, Dordrecht) is a familiar name to long time Mildenhall
fans and was in fact a winner of the track championship back in the mid 1990s
when he also won the English Open at King’s Lynn. This will be his third
consecutive appearance in the race and his 13th since his 1995 debut which
brought his best result with a third followed by a fifth the following year but
he’s only made the top 10 once since. One of the most successful Dutch stars
this could be his last best shot to win the sport’s big one.
On paper H47 Patrick Tersteeg (33, Bodegraven) may not jump out as a
leading contender but overlooking him would be a huge mistake after he came from
row six to finish second in the hugely action packed World of Shale Championship
at Mildenhall in 2013 and a lap or two more he would have easily taken the
title. With many predicting a very lively race, like what we saw on that night,
he could easily be a surprise package, especially if he can qualify in the top
four. This is only his second appearance in the World Final, his last at King’s
Lynn in 2011 which went without success, something he is very capable of putting
right here.
Among the leading contenders to travel abroad for this year’s race is H116
Barry Bauer (22, Bergschenhoek) who was tipped as a leading challenger in
the aforementioned 2013 World of Shale Championship after he secured a race win
at the weekend event at Mildenhall a few months before but a suspension ended
any hopes he had of taking the title. This will be his World Final debut and he
has already been tipped by several of the UK’s finest as one to watch and it is
easy to see why. Has been a regular visitor to Mildenhall in recent times for
One Wild Weekend including this season where he impressed greatly on the Sunday
with a fifth in the final and a third in the Grand National. Having taken the
King of Dirt, World Master of Shale, Snap-on Supercup and the track titles at
Emmen and Kollum don’t bet against him taking this as well, especially if he can
put the car on the third row.
Looking to follow in his father’s tyre tracks is H124 Wim Peeters (22,
Nijmegen) who makes his fourth appearance in the race having debuted in 2010 and
returning to the grid last year after a three year absence. Another tipped by
some of the UK’s stars he is currently regarded as one of Holland’s finest and
is the current and two time points champion in his native land as well as
winning the World Cup and World Masters last year and the World Masters of Shale
at Emmen this season to underline his potential.
Concluding the Dutch challenge is another tipped by many English drivers as one
to watch and H129 Michael Schutter (25, Noorden) more than made that
point with a race win here at One Wild Weekend but mechanical issues prevented
him from building on that as the weekend continued. His is also making his World
Final debut having started the season in fine style with a handful of final
wins, if he finds that form here he is another massive contender for the podium.
Onto the Irish quartet and while they might not have the shale experience the
Dutch contenders have, they should still not be discounted and we hope the
unique overseas qualification system will give these drivers especially a chance
to familiarise themselves with the track and boost their chances for later in
the night.
Reigning and two time Irish Open Champion NI312 Christoper Kincaid (23,
Antrim) like his countrymen is no stranger to this race, debuting in 2008 and
this will be his seventh time in the race and sixth in as many years having
started his streak at King’s Lynn in 2011 which like the rest of his appearances
ended without a top 10 finish. Something to consider is his previous experience
of drifting would could prove useful.
Former Irish Champion NI718 Gavin Fegan (37, Lisburn) has been a welcome
returnee this year and is currently second in the Irish points having finished
third in the British Championship as he makes his ninth appearance in the race
but an eighth at Taunton in 2003 remains his sole top 10, will need to use all
his experience to add to that.
NI925 Craig McConnell (31, Bangor) is another enjoying a fine season,
currently leading the Irish points and the runner-up in the British Championship
as well as fifth in the Irish Open, he makes his 11th appearance in the race and
his fifth in a row after debuting in 2002 but this will be his first on shale.
His best result is a seventh in 2009, which was the third consecutive top 10 in
the race but leading the shale points during the brief existence of the Nutts
Corner shale venue could be a plus point.
Finally comes 2015 Irish Open Champion NI944 Ryan McCrory
(22, Antrim), the second generation racer finishing an excellent sixth in
the 2011 World at King’s Lynn which bodes well for him here on his fifth
appearance in the championship, his outings being sporadic since his 2009 debut,
this his third appearance in four years and the hiring of a shale car underlines
his determination.
BriSCA F2 Stockcars
World Championship Roll of Honour
Click here for the World Championship roll of honour which is available on the
BriSCA F2 Stockcar website
BriSCA F2 Stockcars Consolation Semi-Final (updated September 7)
Another Wild Weekend is set to get off to a fantastic start with the first
race of the weekend the BriSCA F2 Stockcar Consolation Semi-Final where the
final six places on the World Championship grid will be contested.
The race is open to all those who competed in a Semi-Final race but failed to secure a top 10 finish plus the reserves who were present at the Semi-Final meeting and they will start the race in World Championship qualifying points order with the top six advancing to the main event and with several noticeable names failing to qualify at King's Lynn combined with several shale and Mildenhall regulars who will fancy their chances of making it to the big race this has the potential to be a great start to the two days of racing.
Listed below are all the drivers eligible
for the race, they are listed in World Championship qualifying points order.
Drivers shown in bold are those who have confirmed their intention to
race while those shown with a strikethrough will not be taking
part.
Please note 101 Kelvyn Marshall has confirmed he will not take part in the Consolation Semi-Final and will instead start the World Championship from the back of the grid as defending champion.
7 Gordon
Moodie
968 Micky Brennan
19 Martin Ford
560 Luke Wrench
59 Lee Dimmick
871 Mark Simpson
101 Kelvyn Marshall
676 Neil Hooper
431 Andy Gibbs
788 Stephen Mallinson
741 Luke Branston
817 Timothy Bailey
977 Dave Massey
995 Michael Lund
846 Ashley England
225 Tony Blackburn
24 Jon Palmer
581 Dan Fallows
854 Robbie Dawson
341 Drew Lammas
299 Steve Smith
55 Courtney Finnikin
376 Daz Seneschall
184 Aaron Vaight
542 Steven Gilbert
100 George MacMillan
417 Allan Weston
5 Josh Coleman
887 Neil Brigg
527 James Riggall
136 Kyle Taylor
177 Glen Scott
597 Barry Clow
452 Mark Armitage
289 James Waterfall
700 Adam Rubery
618 Ben Lockwood
219 Chris Mitchell
524 Michael Wallbank
Driver Interviews (updated September 7)
NEW: Click here
for our interview with former World of Shale, UK Open and Challenge Trophy
winner 13 Andy Ford
NEW: Click here for our interview
with World Final rookie 26 Gary Ford
NEW: Click here for our interview
with Scottish Champion 41 Dennis Middler
Click here for our interview with defending BriSCA F2 Stockcar World Champion 101 Kelvyn Marshall
NEW:
Click here for our interview with
Mildenhall Track Championship leader 103 Carl Issit
NEW: Click here for our interview
with young gun 124 Ollie Skeels
Click here for our interview with former nine time World Champion 218 Rob Speak
Click here for our interview with Mildenhall Track Championship front runner 226 Billy Webster
Click here for our interview with World Final debutante 298 Jake Walker
NEW:
Click here for our interview with former
Mildenhall Track Champion 377 Daz Shaw
Click here for our interview with 441 Micky
Branston who makes his World Final debut
Click here for our interview
with 464 Matt Linfield ahead of his second consecutive World Final appearance
Click here for our interview with reigning
Ben Fund trophy holder 578 Mark Gibbs
NEW: Click here for our interview with former World of Shale Champion and pole position start 606 Andrew Palmer
Click here for our interview with 623 Rob
Dobie whose 25 year career will be honoured on Sunday, September 11
Click here for our interview with European,
British and National Champion 647 Chris Burgoyne
Click here for our interview with World Cup
runner up 768 Tom Adcroft
NEW: Click here for our interview with Grand National Champion 823 Sam Wagner
Click here for our interview with former World of Shale Champion 905 Rob Mitchell
Meeting Sponsors
(updated September 7)
We are delighted to welcome a number of
sponsors to Another Wild Weekend who together will greatly enhance the prize
fund for the BriSCA F2 and Saloon Stockcars across the weekend.
In the BriSCA F2 Stockcars we have received generous sponsorship from the following backers.
B&M Autos
The Fortune family
Impact Signs
JL Signs Motorsport Graphics
Neil Dunne Welding
Phoenix Improvements
Randall Motorsport
RS Motorsports
Teng Tools
TMR Supplies
With the additional sponsorship we have received since first outlining our plans
to enhance the prize we are now delighted to confirm that with in excess of
£1,500 in additional sponsorship and prize fund that the prize fund for the
Grand Finals on each day of the weekend will be enhanced even further and we
also have some further awards for the white grade drivers on the Sunday
afternoon meeting as part of our tribute to Rob Dobie.
As previously detailed with the World Final itself already having a significant
prize fund and the Consolation Semi-Final already having a greater prize fund
than a regulation heat race it was decided to use the additional prize fund on
the weekend’s other races for the BriSCA F2 Stockcars.
With an even bigger pot of additional prize money we can now confirm the Grand
Finals on each day will now carry the same prize fund as some of the sport’s
major races, the British, European and World of Shale Championships, with £545
in prize money on the Grand Finals spread over the top 10 places.
The winner of the Grand Final will win a cool £200 with the rest of the top 10
collecting £100, £75, £60, £40, £35, £30, £20, £10, £5 and £5.
Meanwhile all of the heat, consolation and Grand National races will as
previously detailed offer the same prize fund which was carried in the sport
prior to the changes to the prize fund in 2013 meaning each race will carry a
total of £75 spread across the top eight finishers, the winner receiving £25
with the rest of the top eight collecting £15, £10, £5, £5, £5, £5 and £5.
With Sunday’s meeting a tribute to Rob Dobie’s 25 year career there will also be
some additional prize money for the lower graded drivers in action. As
previously discussed the first heat on Sunday, September 11 (1.30pm) will be
primarily for the white graded drivers and this race will carry an additional
£100 in prize money which will be used to boost each of the top 10 places by
£10. So this heat will now carry £175 in prize money, the winner receiving £35
with the rest of the top 10 collecting £25, £20, £15, £15, £15, £15, £15, £10
and £10 as well as having trophies for the top three.
There will also be five white grade grade awards on the Sunday afternoon with a
£10 bonus to the top white grade finisher in each of the consolation races and
Grand National on Sunday and the top two white grade drivers in the Grand Final.
Furthermore the last BriSCA F2 Stockcar race of the weekend, Sunday’s Grand
National will be for the O’the Border Trophy and with thanks to the Fortune
family this will see the winner collect a £100 bonus while there will be £5 for
every lap a driver leads meaning this race will carry over £250 in prize money
and will hopefully be a fitting conclusion to the weekend.
Furthermore the Saloon Stockcars EA Championship has also received some additional sponsorship thanks to S.Venni Transport, DK Salvage and Spares, Appcom UK, PSH Environmental Ltd and Turf is Us with this sponsorship being used to enhance the prize fund of the EA Championship race which will now carry over £450 in extra prize money.
All of their additional sponsorship is being pumped into the title race itself
on the Sunday afternoon programme and we can now confirm that their donations
have been ‘rounded up’ so that the EA Championship will carry exactly triple the
prize fund of a normal Grand Final prize fund with each of the top eight places’
normal prize fund being multiplied by three.
The title race will now carry a little over £450 in prize money with the winner
receiving £120 with the rest of the top 10 receiving £90, £75, £45, £30, £25,
£20, £20, £15 and £15 respectively.
Meeting Format (format is subject to change)
Saturday, September 10
12noon
BriSCA F2 Stockcars Overseas World Finalists Lap times (click
here for more information)
5pm
1. BriSCA F2 Stockcars Consolation Semi Final
2. BriSCA F2 Stockcars Heat Two
3. All Granada Bangers Heat One
4. All Granada Bangers Heat Two
5. BriSCA F2 Stockcars World Championship
6. Saloon Stockcars Heat One
7. All Granada Bangers Consolation
8. BriSCA F2 Stockcars Consolation
9. Saloon Stockcars Heat One
10. All Granada Bangers Grand Final
11. BriSCA F2 Stockcars Alan Benson Memorial Grand Final
12. Saloon Stockcars Grand Final
13. All Granada Bangers Accumulator Qualifier into Destruction Derby
Sunday, September 11 1.30pm
1. BriSCA F2 Stockcars Heat
One-#623 Rob Dobie tribute race
2. BriSCA F2 Stockcars Heat Two
3. BriSCA F2 Stockcars Heat Three
4. National Bangers Hot Shots Championship
5. Saloon Stockcars Heat One
6. BriSCA F2 Stockcars Consolation
7. National Bangers Allcomers One
8. Saloon Stockcars Heat Two
9. BriSCA F2 Stockcars Grand Final
10. National Bangers Allcomers Two
11. Saloon Stockcars EA Championship
12. BriSCA F2 Stockcars O'er the Border Trophy Grand National
13. National Bangers Accumulator Qualifier into Destruction Derby
Admission Prices
Adults: Saturday £20 Sunday £15
OAPs Saturday £10 Sunday £9
Under 14s Saturday £6 Sunday £6
Under 5s Saturday Free Sunday Free
Family (any two adults and up to three under 14s) Saturday £46 Sunday £36
Prices include special souvineer 40 page A4 programme (subject to availability) and car parking.
Please note there are no weekend tickets
Directions to
Mildenhall Stadium
Getting to the stadium is easy with the A11 now upgraded to dual
carriageway. From the Barton Mills roundabout on the A11 turn towards
Mildenhall on the A1101 follow the road to a small roundabout and then follow
the sign for West Row. This road is 2.5 miles long and you pass RAF Mildenhall
on your right at the end of the road turn left towards West Row and then first
right which is signposted Mildenhall Stadium. The stadium is a mile down the
road on your left and the car park is the first entrance by the big tyre. For
the pit area go past the stadium and take the road down the side of the
stadium.
The A11 can be accessed from the M11 at Junction
9 or use Junction 14 onto the new A14 formerly A45 and follow the signs for
Norwich A11. The A14 is also accessible from M6 M1 and Harwich.
The post code for the stadium is IP28 8QU
For more detailed directions click
here
Overnight Camping
Overnight camping is available at Mildenhall Stadium on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday night for no additional cost to racers or fans.
Those intending to arrive early for the weekend are reminded there is greyhound racing at the Stadium on the Friday (September 9) evening from 7.45pm.
Drivers who are staying elsewhere but wish to leave their lorries and bangers at the stadium are able to do so but again we ask that drivers aiming to do this contact RDC before hand.
Long distance travellers who are looking for overnight accommodation are reminded that RDC has a deal with the Bird in the Hand hotel which is just minutes from the stadium and they can be contacted on 01638 713247.
Anyone planning to travel to Mildenhall Stadium the night before this weekend may be interested in joining us at the stadium on the Friday night (September 9) where there will be a greyhound meeting.
RDC offer a fantastic deal with the stadium where drivers can get a reduced admission for themselves and their guests to the dog meeting.
By producing an ORC log book (or a Saloon Stockcar or BriSCA F2 Stockcar log book) drivers can get admission to the greyhound meeting for themselves and all their guests for just £2 a head which includes a race card. Normal admission for the greyhound meetings is £5.
The greyhound meeting will be a great way to kick off the weekend and these meetings at Mildenhall and always an excellent night out for the whole family. The Fenman bar will be open as will the fish and chip shop and the restaurant is open although tables must be booked, for more information call RDC on 01268 412299.
If there is any information you have been unable to find about this event on this page then please contact RDC either by calling 01268 412299 or 07850 683953 or e mail wastedmc@btopenworld.com