LYDDEN HILL, 6 April: Having missed the opening round at Combe, Stewart Robb began his British Sprint title defence with a win at the Kentish circuit. Total commitment round Chesson’s Drift kept his potent Pilbeam-Judd ahead throughout the morning meeting despite an attack from a hard charging Mike Musson, also making his 2013 debut and really coming to terms now with his similar machine.

            Top qualifier Robb had to sit it out for a re-run while a timing gear glitch was sorted. But despite hand timing indicating a slightly slower run than his first, it was good enough for a threequarter second win. Unfortunately, the delay was such that with a race meeting scheduled for the afternoon there was no time for a second run-off.

Chasing Robb hard during the qualifying runs, Mark Smith would eventually get within a tenth or so of the 2-litre record as he ran just shy of Musson in the run-off – a tremendous feat on a bitterly cold but eventually sunny day, with track temperatures non-existent and an inevitable sprinkling of dust remaining from the Easter rallycross meeting, despite sterling efforts to clear it by organisers TWMC and Rochester MC. The SBD Reynard-Duratec driver’s efforts moved him up into joint second place in the Championship, level with Lydden first-timer Terry Graves, who had to settle for a second successive defeat by Championship leader and Lydden expert Terry Holmes as they battled for fourth.

Despite another fine performance by Scott Pillinger in his self-built, supercharged Suzuki powered DSP, with sixth place he slipped to fourth on the table in the face of Smith’s attack. As Robb begins his campaign for a third successive British title, he and Musson now round off the Championship top six after their first event in what promises to be a very competitive season’s sprinting..

SBD MSA British Sprint Championship, round 2: 1 Stewart Robb (4.0 Pilbeam-Judd KV MP88) 64.55s; 2 Mike Musson (4.0 Pilbeam-Judd KV MP88) 65.34s; 3 Mark Smith (2.0 SBD Reynard-Duratec) 65.66s; 4 Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola Tegra-Judd CV T90) 66.47s; 5 Terry Graves (3.5 Gould-DFR GR37) 66.47s; 6 Scott Pillinger (1.3s DSP-Suzuki) 68.10s; 7 Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola-Judd CV T90) 68.10s; 8 Glyn Sketchley (1.5 Force-Suzuki PT) 68.57s; 9 Craig Sampson (2.0 SBD Reynard-Duratec) 69.07s; 10 Gary Thomas (1.4 Force-Suzuki PC) 69.08s; 11 Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen-Duratec RF96) 69.83s; 12 Steve Broughton (2.0 SBD OMS-Duratec 25) 70.33s.

Championship positions after round 2: 1 Holmes 21pts; 2= Graves and Smith 19; 4 Pillinger 17; 5 Robb 12; 6 Musson 11; etc.

Terry Holmes (LOLA Tegra Judd) took the first round of the 2013 British Sprint Championship) at a very cold and damp Castle Combe from Terry Graves (Gould GR37) and a mightily impressive Scott Pillinger (DSP OMS).

Mark Smith, Steve Miles and Graham Harden (in his little Jedi) rounded out the Top 6 while special mention goes to Bill Gouldthorpe in 7th place in the SBD OMS CF08.

TOP 12 Run Off in detail:

Slicks had already appeared by this point (they had been general wear on Timed Run 2) as the track had already improved to make wets no longer a consideration and a dryer track was improving as each run went by. Some share drivers were being cautious to avoid any mistakes which would jeopardise their respective No 1 driver. Nonetheless Carole Torkington cleverly (she’s seen lots of Top 12s over the years) made sure she secured her “banker” on Run 1 and then improved that still further on Run 2. Two runners sadly had to rely on the first run time alone. One was Graham Porrett who having set a midfield time after Run 1 had to abort Run 2 when the clutch said “enough” to him during that run. Another was most unfortunately Steve Broughton whose gearbox electronics took on a mind of their own mid corner at Camp leading to an infield “off” after an unexpected down change which contributed to the front wing becoming detached, meaning Run 2 could not take place.

Matt Hillam put in a steady banker Run 1 but improved noticeably still further on Run 2 to secure 9^th. Phil Lynch’s times were a little better than Matt Hillam’s and beat him by a tenth to manage 8^th. Bill Gouldthorpe  made little improvement, strangely, from Run 1 to Run 2 but finished his best ever in a Top 12 Run Off in 7^th. It was reported to me that over Avon Rise that Grahame Harden was the most committed, despite the cold still damp track, and unbelievably managed to set the fastest 1100c car time ever around the Combe Sprint course! He deserved his ultimate 6^th place in the Top 12, again a personal best finish.

Steve Miles managed to improve his time from Run 2 compared with Run 1 despite his engine retaining its peculiarity with number of functioning cylinders (it for example came out of Camp strong on 4 cylinders which reverted to 3 as he changed to top) and managed to beat Grahame Harden by 7/100ths! Quite how he achieved the times he did I still find a puzzle but 5^th he was. In 4^th was Mark Smith, improving least of all, of the top runners from Run 1 to Run 2 but solid points to start his season. Scott Pillinger also secured his best ever Top 12 performance with 3^rd at his “home” track and looked quick all day, a wonderful way to start his British Sprint Championship season! In 2^nd spot was Terry Graves who made a big improvement in Run 2 despite his engine cover making a bid for freedom part way around and finished just a couple of seconds shy of the victor. This equalled his best ever performance from 2012 (from a competitor from the British Isles most southerly county, Cornwall, diametrically opposed to Colin Calder’s most northerly county origins!) But the thoroughly deserved winner was Terry Holmes who required just his first run to set his winning time (and decided to forego his 2^nd run after learning of his victory) but that run was thoroughly committed and showed Terry at his absolute best.

Results:

1. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola Judd T90/50) 121.13s
2. Terry Graves (3.5 Gould – DFR GR37) 123.91s
3. Scott Pillinger (1.3s DSP – SBD Hayabusa) 129.20s
4. Mark Smith (2.0 Reynard - SBD Duratec DB Mk 1) 130.85s
5. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen- SDB Duratec RF 96) 135.55s
6. Grahame Harden (1.1 Jedi- Yamaha R1 Mk 6) 135.62s
7. Bill Gouldthorpe (1.6 OMS – SBD Hayabusa CF08) 140.17s
8. Phil Lynch (2.0 Dallara – Vauxhall F399/001) 141.62s
9. Matt Hillam (2.0 Reynard - SBD Duratec DB Mk 1) 141.74s
10.  Steve Broughton (2.0 OMS – SBD Duratec 25) 143.82s
11.  Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola Judd T90/50) 146.63s
12.  Carole Torkington (1.6 OMS – SBD Hayabusa CF08) 150.04s

The second part of the Anglesey double header took place on the International circuit at Ty Croes but it was Colin Calder who again took the Top 12 Run Off in his Gould GR55.

Mike Musson’s on-off year culminated in a great week-end at Anglesey where he rose from sixth place to finish third whilst Mark Smith also had a similar rise through the ranks going from seventh to fourth. Colin Birkbeck’s fall from third to fifth all hinged on Sunday when the water pump failed during his first top 12 run and he limped home in ninth. The Top 12 drivers going into the week-end were still the Top 12 after however the number of changes in the order was hard to keep up with.

Drive of the week-end for the writer was that of Grahame Harden on Sunday when in an underpowered Formula Jedi he was still the fastest 1100 on track. Louise Calder followed up her FTD at Boynie with some determined performances on a track she first saw on Friday evening. Despite blowing up the Suzuki engine in her 24 year old Jedi on Sunday Louise, who is only 19, took the Sprint Championship’s Junior Challenge Trophy.

2012 proved to be a year of the Tie Break as no less than three pairs of drivers contrived to finish with the same points tally. In all instances the Loyalty Points separated the drivers.

Round 11 SBD Motorsport British Sprint Championship

1. Colin Calder (3.5 Gould-NME GR55) 74.90s

2. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola-Judd ERH) 77.06s

3. Mark Smith (2.0 Reynard-Duratec 903SBD) 78.22s

4. Mike Musson (4.0 Pilbeam-Judd MP97) 79.47s

5. Terry Graves (3.5 Gould-Cosworth GR37) 80.09s

6. John Graham (2.0 Dallara-Vauxhall F397) 81.13s

7. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen-Duratec/SBD RF96/MM11) 81.37s

8. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola-Judd ERH) 81.55s

9. Colin Birkbeck (2.0 Dallara-Vauxhall F301) 82.08s

10. Jonathan Toulmin (1.5 Force-Suzuki PT) 83.20s

11. Scott Pillinger (1.3s DSP-Suzuki/SBD) 83.69s

12. Dave Pillinger (1.3s DSP-Suzuki/SBD) 83.65s

Final 2012 SBD Motorsport British Sprint Championship Points:

1. Stewart Robb 87pts

2. Terry Holmes 78pts

3. Mike Musson 62pts

4. Mark Smith 62pts

5. Colin Birkbeck 61pts

6. Steve Miles 52pts

7. Colin Calder 52pts

8. Graham Porrett 49pts

9. Terry Graves 41pts

10. Scott Pillinger 31pts

11. John Graham 31pts

12. Heather Calder 20pts

Colin Calder in his Gould GR55 won the Top 12 Run Off  in Round 10 of the British Sprint Championship at the Ty Croes National circuit on October 6th.

2012 Champion Stewart Robb was second on Saturday but had to return home early because of a family crisis. So on Saturday it was Terry Holmes in runner-up spot just as he was in the overall championship.

Scott Pillinger and Jonathan Toulmin both went well to qualify for the Top 12 in their bike engined cars although Toulmin was unable to set a time due to a broken chain.

Results:

Rd 10 SBD Motorsport British Sprint Championship

1. Colin Calder (3.5 Gould-NME GR55) 46.65

2. Stewart Robb (4.0 Pilbeam-Judd MP88) 47.62s

3. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola-Judd ERH) 48.02s

4. Mike Musson (4.0 Pilbeam-Judd MP97) 48.40s

5. Mark Smith (2.0 Reynard-Duratec 903SBD) 48.55s

6. Colin Birkbeck (2.0 Dallara-Vauxhall F301) 49.13s

7. Terry Graves (3.5 Gould-Cosworth GR37) 49.35s

8. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen-Duratec/SBD RF96/MM11) 49.69s

9. John Graham (2.0 Dallara-Vauxhall F397) 50.30s

10. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola-Judd ERH) 51.03s

11. Scott Pillinger (1.3s DSP-Suzuki/SBD) 51.47s

DNF Jonathan Toulmin (1.6 Force-Suzuki PT)

Stewart Robb was again in terrific form to complete a Kames double at the Sunday event. Fastest in the class runs with a 65.37, he took his second British sprint run-off win with a 64.71. His win on the now anti-clockwise course was his eighth of the season. It put Robb into the lead of the championship and barring a complete failure at the final Anglesey rounds in October, the Scot will retain his British title.

Colin Birkbeck followed his second place on the Saturday with a 69.46s for third place the following day while Roy Munro also fell back, a slipping clutch relegating him to sixth. Taking second spot in the run-off with a 66.09 was Terry Holmes, despite the Lola's clutch and brake problems over the two day event.

Scott Pillinger again came home fifth while Michael Musson (4.0 Pilbeam MP97) managed fourth in his 4-litre Pilbeam-Judd MP97.

Unluckiest driver of the week-end was Steve Miles, who finished eleventh on Saturday after being caught out by a shower and then on Sunday had a suspension breaking accident in practice with his Van Diemen RF96. Miles got the car fixed with the help of most of the paddock, but just failed to qualify for the Championship shoot-out.

British Sprint Championship positions after Round 9: 1 Stewart Robb 87pts; 2 Terry Holmes 77; 3 Colin Birkbeck 54; 4 Graham Porrett 49; 5 Steve Miles 48; 6= Mike Musson and Mark Smith 44;  8 Scott Pillinger 29; 9 Colin Calder 28; 10 Terry Graves 27; etc.

Stewart Robb (4.0 Pilbeam MP88) was in imperious form at Kames, taking the first of two back-to-back British sprint victories at the weekend when he won on the 'clockwise' course on Saturday. Fastest during the class runs at 72.16s, he then took the Top 12 Run-off win with a 72.60.

Colin Birkbeck (2.0 Dallara F301) had his best ever result with second place in the run-off on 75.23s, while Championship newcomer Roy Munro took his 1100cc OMS to a brilliant fourth, just behind erstwhile championship leader Terry Holmes' 3.5 Lola-Judd T90.

Scott Pillinger again demonstrated his determination, taking the DSP to fifth place while Grahame Harden put in a wonderful performance for eighth spot in his relatively underpowered, circuit spec Jedi.

The later start to the Sunday event (no running before midday) came as a relief to the Southern Irish who enjoyed the craic on Saturday night, when a party ensued to celebrate the recent engagement of Simon McKinley to Reynard driver Deirdre Delaney. It also enabled John Graham to conclude the repair work as his ignition box was relocated to elsewhere on the engine. Efforts to solve the problem with Grahame Harden's engine proved fruitless so he made an early departure to the port of Belfast in a quest to secure an earlier ferry departure. Over the course of the day Terry Holmes and Graham Porrett bled their brakes, conscious that they would be in for a far harder time on this course.

The Sunday event took place on the full course, punctuated by two chicanes toward the end of the back straight and near the start of the pit straight, which many British Sprint runners felt ruined one of the best circuits on the calendar. Many also felt that the entrance to these chicanes had been tightened. It was perhaps fortunate that, as is customary, many of the Northern Irish were absent for this shorter Sunday event, although it was nonetheless very much bigger than ever before.

TOP 12 RUN OFF

Brian Woffenden had intended from the outset to just take the one run to secure his point. He perhaps hadn't banked on a slip-up at the back chicane but managed to secure his important time. Co-driver Peter Howgate made modest progress from his sole timed run, but did manage Debtors flat! Tony Jarvis also planned to save the car so took just the one run and was beaten by 7/100ths by his co-driver Martin Webb with Howgate, Jarvis and Webb split by less than a quarter of a second. Jim Belt took next place up, spinning at the hairpin on his second attempt so unable to improve. Graham Porrett followed the precedent of mistakes with a couple on his second run. There was another tight battle mong the 2-litre runners for the next three places with Steve Miles again coming out on top and delighted with his weekend. John Graham continued his learning process and demonstrated the success of the repair work by pipping fellow Lakelander Colin Birkbeck by a couple of tenths. Terry Holmes made a determined effort to retain his Championship leadership. However he made a bit of a false start, rather putting the pressure on himself, but came back strongly on his second run to take third. Mike Musson concluded his highly successful weekend with another second place but boiling brakes didn't allow him to get closer to victor Stewart Robb.

RESULTS

1 Stewart Robb (4.0 Pilbeam-Judd KV MP88) 106.61s; 2 Mike Musson (4.0 Pilbeam- Judd KV MP97) 110.86s; 3. Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola-Judd) 113.55s; 4 Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen-SBD Duratec RF96) 117.10s; 5 John Graham (2.0 Dallara-Vauxhall F397) 188.67s; 6 Colin Birkbeck (2.0 Dallara-Vauxhall F301) 118.88s; 7 Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola-Judd) 119.17s; 8 Jim Belt (3.0 Juno-Jaguar) 122.51s; 9 Martin Webb (2.0 Reynard FVL) 124.32s; 10 Tony Jarvis (2.0 Reynard FVL) 124.39s; 11 Peter Howgate (3.2 Ralt-Judd RT37) 124.55s; 12 Brian Woffenden (3.2 Ralt-Judd RT37) 140.29s.

Paul Parker

British Sprint Championship positions after Round 7: 1 Terry Holmes 76pts; 2 Stewart Robb 75; 3 Steve Miles 48; 4 Graham Porrett 48; 5 Mark Smith 44s; 6 Colin Birkbeck 33; 7 Mike Musson 28; 8 Colin Calder 28; 9 Terry Graves 27; 10 Heather Calder 20; etc.

Given the weather conditions present during much of what is laughingly termed our 'summer', this event managed to attract weather that was actually better than that forecast. Just two or three 15 minute showers during practice, and that was it. For when it mattered, during timed runs and Top 12 Run Off, it remained dry.

Sadly, the Calder father and daughter combination had decided belatedly to withdraw being still unhappy with elements of their gearbox. Some interesting local single seaters turned out including the ex.Karl Davison Gould GR37 of Sylvie Mullins, who combines his hillclimb and sprints exploits with Libre racing but wasn't able, despite spending much time viewing the times, to get closer than 2.5 - 3.0 seconds to Stewart Robb. Another interesting sight was Simon McKinley, who made many folk hunt around in rule books trying to discover whether or not his intriguing pneumatic DRS system was legal! Seamus Morris is having a quiet time for the moment, but unsuprisingly his 2.7 litre Pilbeam MP62 was up to speed.

In these timed runs British Sprint runners Colin Birkbeck and Steve Miles battled over unofficial 2-litre honours and finished just one hundredth apart! Now that plug issues with his Pilbeam MP97 have been sorted by Mike Musson, he was able to learn to drive it and made strides once he discovered he had a car with proper brakes for the first time - plus downforce with all that that enabled him to do! Andy and David Hawthorne spent all weekend with smiles on their faces as they, once again, enjoyed pitching themselves against the British Sprint runners. John Graham was making his first trip across the Irish Sea and was enjoying every moment of the learning process as progress was made.

TOP 12 RUN OFF

Opening runner Grahame Harden, was hoping to make further progress with his immaculate Jedi but unfortunately, during his opening run, his engine went from four cylinders to three, so he decided not to bother with his second run. The Redditch duo of Tony Jarvis and Martin Webb were their usual closely matched selves, finishing just 6/100ths apart with Webb coming out on top this time. Peter Howgate made further progress in the 3.2 Judd engined Ralt RT37, improving his times and going quicker with each run. This despite the problems in 2011 which meant he was learning the course./car combination on each outing. John Graham, too, improved on his first run but, sadly, an exhaust mounting made a bid for freedom on his second run and one plug lead burned through leaving him with just three cylinders and a busy Saturday evening making repairs and modifications.

Jim Belt was slightly disappointed with his best time, being unable quite to attack the existing record, finishing just half a second shy. Graham Porrett, who brought the Chichester-based car away from the mayhem of the Goodwood Festival weekend, accompanied by his brother (who later drove to collect Graham's co-driver Terry Holmes who'd flown over), was becoming accustomed to a layout new to him but found seconds on each outing and made big strides. The '2-litre battle' continued between Colin Birkbeck and Steve Miles in the Run-Off and an absolutely delighted Miles came out on top by a tad over half a second. Terry Holmes performed as one has come to expect, when it matters, and made further improvements over his disjointed times from earlier in the day, on a track he doesn't know at all well, to conclude a very solid third. Mike Musson put in a banker, improved by over three seconds on his best timed run then let loose as confidence grew, finding over five seconds more on his second run to finish up with a career best second place. Stewart Robb remained supreme but wasn't able to match his best class run time. Unusually, having clinched the victory, he took his second run with the record bonus point that goes with it in mind. Unfortunately he found that the amount of oil that was around the course prevented that, but was the victor nonetheless.

RESULTS

1 Stewart Robb (4.0 Pilbeam-Judd KV MP88) 83.76s; 2 Mike Musson (4.0 Pilbeam-Judd KV MP97) 87.33s; 3 Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola-Judd) 89.74s; 4 Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen-SBD Duratec RF96) 90.27s; 5 Colin Birkbeck (2.0 Dallara-Vauxhall F301) 90.88s; 6. Graham Porrett (3.5 Lola-Judd) 91.36s; 7 Jim Belt (3.0 Juno-Jaguar) 94.84s; 8 John Graham (2.0 Dallara-Vauxhall F397) 96.56s; 9. Peter Howgate (3.2 Ralt - Judd RT37) 97.47 10. Martin Webb (2.0 Reynard FVL) 98.15s; 11. Tony Jarvis (2.0 Reynard FVL) 98.21s; 12 Grahame Harden (1.0 Jedi-Yamaha Mk6) 106.65s.

Despite ominous forecasts of bad weather that was affecting much of the rest of the British Isles Pembrey remained (largely) dry for Round 5 of the British Sprint Championship.

Stewart Robb (who'd earlier said it was unlikely the existing record could be beaten) repeated his form from the preceding day and again lowered the track Sprint record to an incredible 89.02s in his Pilbeam MP88 but only after Colin Calder had become the second man to get under 90s with an 89.92s on his first run in the Gould GR55. Terry Holmes took the final podium position and was followed by Mark Smith, Heather Calder (despite a single run and clutch problems) and Craig Sampson in the same places as the day before.

Terry Graves was unable to run after gearbox maladies manifested themselves. Mike Musson steadily improved over the weekend to finish 7th in Sunday's Run Off now starting to get to grips with the car.

British Sprint Championship positions after Round 5: Terry Holmes 56pts; Stewart Robb 51pts; Mark Smith 44pts, Graham Porrett 35pts;   Steve Miles 30pts; Colin Calder 28pts; Terry Graves 27pts; Heather Calder 20pts; Colin Birkbeck 18pts; etc.

Stewart Robb (Pilbeam MP88) took the Top 12 Run Off and a new record of 89.56s at Pembrey after first Colin Calder (90.41s), Gould GR55, got close to the record and then Terry Holmes (90.03s), Lola Tegra Judd, knocked 0.3s off the record on their final runs.

Mark Smith (breaking the 2 litre record on both his runs) and Heather Calder rounded out the top 5 while Craig Sampson, having his first competitive outing in a single seater, put in an excellent performance to take sixth in the SBD Reynard he was sharing with Mark Smith and in place of regular pilot Steve Broughton.

Tom Potter had gone well to qualify 11th for the Run Off in the Jedi but unfortunately blew his engine on his 2nd class run.

Colin Calder had arrived at something like 2am Saturday morning, having completed the rebuild of the gearbox at 8.30pm the previous night at Amber Racing (the parts having eventually been delivered there) and Stewart Robb's bodywork had been repaired after Snetterton. The Jarvis/Webb Reynard FVL had a new CWP so most of the Snetterton problems had been rectified.

The Sunday turned out to be very wet - so much so that pumps had to be employed to remove water from the hairpin area of the Snetterton 100 circuit.

Fortunes were reversed with Terry Holmes (Lola Tegra Judd) taking the win on 100.37s from Terry Graves (Gould GR37) and an outstanding performance from Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) in third. Bill Gouldthorpe and Matt Hillam (replacing Steve Broughton in the SBD Reynard) were both pleased to make the Top 12 run off as was John Graham who was making his first BSC appearance.

Stewart Robb didn’t take part in the run off as he suffered body work damage after the timed runs. He had lost some of the electrics on the Pilbeam which made the car difficult enough to drive in the dry but in the wet...............

Jim Belt in the mighty Juno TR400 was disappointed to miss  the Run Off having qualified an excellent 3rd after abandoning Juno's recommended wet set up and simply putting on the wets! Steve Cawley's introduction to the British Sprint came to a halt with an off requiring a couple of new wheels.

British Sprint Championship positions after Round 3: Terry Holmes 34pts; Terry Graves 24pts; Graham Porrett 24pts; Stewart Robb 24pts; Mark Smith 24pts, Steve Miles 21pts; Colin Birkbeck 18pts; Tom Potter 12pts; Scott Pillinger 9pts etc.

Photos courtesy of Steve Miles

The British Sprint Championship made its annual trek to Norfolk for a double header over the week-end of June 2/3. It a was to be a week-end of two halves with a dry Saturday bright and a very wet Sunday.

On Saturday Stewart Robb in his Pilbeam MP88 was the only driver to get under 80s all day and duly took the Top 12 run off in  79.62s on his first run and didn’t need to go out for another go. Terry Holmes (Lola Tegra Judd) took second place with a 80.57s ahead of Colin Birkbeck (Dallara F301) in a good third despite spinning on his second run. Dave & Scott Pillinger, Jonathan Toulmin and Peter Howgate all did well to make the Top 12 run off.

Star of the timed runs however, was Heather Calder who set the second fastest time on her first run only for Father Colin to break the gearbox of their Gould GR55 on his first run and put them out for the rest of the meeting.

The Reynard FVL of Martin Webb and Tony Jarvis didn't even set a time as the CWP failed on their first run. Steve Cawley was a welcome addition to the British Sprint Formula Ford ranks in his Swift FB89 and had some competition on the day from Dennis and Dan (recently returned from Australia) Pickett - with Dennis coming out on top.

Photos courtesy of Steve Miles

Defending Champion Stewart Robb got off to a flying start in the 2012 SBD British Sprint Championship at Castle Combe on March 24th with an emphatic win and smashing the outright record with a time of 112.88s despite his Pilbeam MP88 not running on all cylinders!

Unfortunately the Top 12 Runoff had to be abandoned as the meeting ran out of time due to the unusually large number of incidents - mostly mechanical failures. Despite this the fantastic weather and strong entry made for an excellent day and much promise for the season ahead.

Terry Holmes (photo courtesy of Chris Bound) put in a good perfomance to take second ahead of Mark Smith who edged out Steve Broughton in their shared SBD Reynard by less than two tenths and destroying the 2L record in the process. Colin and Heather Calder having their first run in the ex Algar Gould GR55 and their first vist to Combe managed 7th and 9th repsectively although Heather's second run was spoilt by missing the entrance to Bobbies chicane. Splitting the Calders was Scott Pillinger in the family DSP which was particularly noteworthy as mid meeting the car was returned to base to have the chassis re-welded!

After spending the winter lightening his Van Diemen, Steve Miles was disappointed with tenth after a C shim dropped out of the rear suspension leading to some wayward handling and 75 year old Bill Gouldthorpe (photo courtesy of Kim Kingham) was the last and possible oldest ever points scorer with 12th place in the SBD OMS.

Jonathan Toulmin broke a CVJ on his Marengo and was unable to set a time while Martin Pickles to put in a floorless performance (sorry!) in his immaculate new Jedi Mk1 as the second fastest 1100cc racing car to Graham Harden who smashed the class record in his Jedi Mk6.

Tony Jarvis and Martin Webb were just outside the points and seperated by a quarter of a second in their Reynard FVL but split by the amazingly fast SBD Westfield of Craig Sampson.

Photos available from Chris Bound (gallery and photo montage)  and Steve Kilvington.

British Sprint Championship positions after Round 1: Stewart Robb 12pts; Terry Holmes 11pts; Mark Smith 10pts, Steve Broughton 9pts; Graham Porrett 8pts; Terry Graves 7pts; Colin Calder 6pts etc.