SMRC 2018 Season Review

We had another good seasons racing in 2018. Around half of our Championships or Cup competitions, went down to the wire at the October Knockhill meeting (to be settled there were the Celtic Speed Mini Cooper Cup, Mini Cooper Ladies Cup, Saloons & Sportscars, Legends Cars, Classic Sportscars and Saloons, Hot Hatch Championship). Those already crowned champion by the last meeting were (Ross Martin FF1600 retained after winning in 2017, Wayne Macaulay Fiesta ST Cup (retained after winning it in 2015 and 2017), Martin Ramsay XR2 Newcomers Cup, Oliver Mortimer Mini Cooper S R53 Cup (unbeaten in 2018), Michael Weddell Mini Cooper Newcomers Cup, they had secured their titles before the final race meeting in October.  While the BMRC Trophy was not scored as in previous seasons, for 2018 it had become an SMRC committee decision.

From 2014 to 2017 there were years of change as Champions moved on, and in 2017 only 1 driver retained their title the very impressive John Paterson in Legends Cars, but he didn’t manage it in 2018. All bar three Championships and Cups had new champions in 2018, those defended were FF1600 (Ross Martin) Mini Cooper S Cup (Oly Mortimer) and Fiesta ST (Wayne Macaulay), as drivers retained titles they held previously.

In 2018 we continued with guest drivers at selected SMRC events and away rounds. This saw Guests again able to race in 2 Knockhill rounds. They could still only be at 2 Knockhill meetings but now could choose any one SMRC Knockhill from May to September and also race at the October meeting. Away rounds were again also open to guests.

The club was grateful for the continued support of Celtic Speed, Yokohama, Wheelsaround, and Superchips. We again welcomed The Mazda Road to Indy competition in FF1600, and had support from Morrisons of Stirling and Knockhill circuit. Back after around 10 years absence was a reverse direction meeting at Knockhill, which gave everyone a new track to race on and saw drivers being well behaved and some new race winners. This reverse direction track was used twice in 2018.

Scottish Fiesta Championship in association with Yokohama Tyres

Fiestas have two main competitions, the XR2 Championship and the ST Cup.  The XRs had been combined with the Classics as the STs stood on their own and were now part of the Scottish Hot Hatch Championship supported by the SMTA. The ST Hot Hatch grid mixed grid average was down 2 to 9 cars and the biggest entry was 13 cars at Knockhill in October. The away rounds in May at Anglesey saw numbers hold up. All cars raced on Yokohama treaded tyres and STs won 13 of the 15 races. Paul Curtis PCR race preparation business ran several cars for owners, and had hire cars.

Scottish XR2 Championship (supported by Yokohama Tyres)

 

The Mk2 Fiesta XR2s may date from the 1980s but they still offer very affordable racing. It was their 23rd year as an SMRC championship. In 2018 only the 16^th XR2 Champion was crowned after a 13 round championship.  The cars raced with the Scottish Classics for the first time and this seemed to be a success, thought the XR2s were well down the combined grid as they run standard engines and Classics have modified engines.

The new champion was Martin Ramsay. We saw new drivers battling for the XR title, as the top drivers from 2017 had all moved on. This included the 2016 Champion Jim Deans and 2016 runner up and champion in 2014 and 2015 Steven Gray, who had both sold their cars, which continued to be raced here. But Gray also appeared in an ST. While 3^rd o/a n 2106 Barry Farquharson did a couple of ST races as well. So numbers dropped as 4 drivers took part, compared to 11 in both 2016 and 2015 and 7 in 2017.  Martin Ramsay who was 5^th in 2017 led the title race all year, as Duncan O’Neill gave chase all year. While Duncan Fox only did the opening two rounds, before reappearing late in the season.  Ramsay took 13 class wins the maximum possible in a dominant display. O’Neill took 12 runner up spots though sometimes they were close on track and diced with the lower grid Classics as well.

In 2019 the cars are going to have 14 rounds, running with the Classics who also go to Croft as part of the DDMC Battle of Britain meeting late in the summer. Though they only compete for their own XR2 Championship. More cars are required and they are still out there.

2018 points 1. Martin Ramsay 290  2. Duncan O’Neill 226  3. Duncan Fox 52

XR Newcomers Cup  – not run in 2018

Fiesta ST Cup (supported by Yokohama Tyres)

 

The ST Cup is for newer 2 litre cars made from 2002 – 2008. STs took every pole and won all 13 of 15 races on the road (hot hatches won twice). They provided good racing all year, and the average number of drivers per race was up from 7 to 9 while overall drivers racing STs was more than in 2017 when 18 appeared being up to 20, which saw 16 drivers score points and 4 enter as guests, as hire cars helped numbers. The cars are still out there and if you look at what happened in Ireland were they launched STs in 2018 with well over a dozen cars, they can still be built, especially as the regulations have been relaxed, so cheaper suspension parts can be used. In 2016 the defending double champion Wayne Macaulay lost out after a season long battle to Kevin Whyte, who was runner up in 2015. But new Champion Whyte didn’t race in 2017, so Macaulay regained the title. In 2018 he wrapped up his 4th ST title in 5 years. Wayne won 12 of the 15 rounds, as he held off the  revitalised Blair Murdoch, who was back for a full season of STs. Blair was runner up and won two rounds and had five 2nds in his scores and only one dnf.  The other race winner was veteran Peter Cruickshank winning round 1. Peter was 5^th overall but missed 6 rounds, but also had two 2nds and a 3rd. In 3^rd overall as Stewart Scott who was consistent and scored in 12 rounds. He had 3 dnfs, but also one 2^nd and two 3rds  in his scores. Lorn Murray was 4^th and finished every round, with six 5th places as his best scores. He diced with Russell Morgan who had a 2^nd and three 3rds who was 6^th overall despite missing rounds. An impressive guest was 2017 Mini Cooper champion Mark Geraghty who was 2^nd twice in May, while later in the year Ryan Stirling as a guest had two 4ths. Others who scored were Paul Curtis (two 2nds) Steven Gray, Aiden Ward, Cameron Bryant, John Balfour, Barry Farquharson, Nicholas Forsyth, Ryan Stirling and Gordon Haston.

In 2019 they continue but with a class for Fiesta ST Challenge which is for cars with a cheaper GAZ suspension option fitted.

2018 points 1. Wayne Macaulay 379 2. Blair Murdoch 287  3. Stewart Scott 196

 

SMTA Hot Hatch Championship

 

These cars raced with the Fiesta STs. There were various classes available. Hot Hatches finally appeared with STs in September when two gusts in Renault Clios won both races. Yumen Lai and then Steven McNab each took a win on the road. Then in October we had two more Hot Hatches, with Chris Milford registering his ST and taking two class victories and the Cup but not race win, while Adam Morrison entered his Mini Cooper as a guest and was 2^nd to Milford. In 2019 these cars will race with the Fiesta STs and this includes 2 away races at Kirkistown.

Hot Hatch 2018 Points  1. Chris Milford 36

 

Celtic Speed Scottish Mini Cooper Cup in association with Yokohama Tyres, Wheels Around and Superchips

The format of the 6 Knockhill meetings was 3 races, with the third featuring a reversed grid for the top 5 to 8 finishers (the number was drawn from a hat) from race 2. There were 36 drivers who took part (up from 32 in 2017) and 24 scored points, as the other 8 were racing as guests. The average entry was down to 19 from 21 cars in 2017 and 27 in 2016 (it was 19 in 2015), but with a high of 23 at the first meeting.

Whilst 16 was the lowest entry at Knockhill, again compared with 16 in 2015. The away rounds had 18 cars at Angelsey. This hard fought Championship was again supported by Celtic Speed along with Yokohama Tyres, Wheelsaround and Superchips. It was another excellent year of Mini Cooper racing, and we were told they were the favourite club racing category on Motors TV.

There was a maximum of 75 points to be won at each Knockhill meeting. The Cup went down to the wire in 2018 just as it had done in 2017and 2016. By October with just 3 of the 23 rounds to be run, there were still mathematically 3 drivers in with a chance of the title. David Sleigh led the points table by 13 points, the 2012 Champion had returned after a 3 year break preparing other cars and was on top form as a top 3 finisher, but only took 3 wins all year. John Duncan had also took 3 wins in 2018 and was again consistent, while Robbie Dalgleish who lay 3rd overall with 277 points after 17 rounds  was a multi race winner, but missed rounds. He would finish 3^rd overall with 8 race wins but 5 no scores hurt his total. Dalgleish was 3^rd in 2017 with a similar pattern of dropped scores. October’s 3 races had Dalgleish win twice but didn’t quite do enough to win the title, as he was a little too far back in the points tally.

In 2018 we had 6 drivers who won races. Kyle Reid took 3 in April,  David Sleigh had 3, John Duncan on 3, Dominic Wheatley won an away round and then  took maximum points in race  in October as guest Geraghty won round 18 on the road in October, Robbie Dalgleish won 8 times, including a hat trick in August and twice in October. Douglas Simpson won round 11 in mid season. Then defending champion Mark Geraghty racing as a guest won the first October race.  In 2017 we had ten race winners the same as in 2016.

On race statistics the new champion John Duncan had 10 podium finishes and finished every round. David Sleigh also had 10 podium finishes. Robbie Dalgleish had 13 podiums and 4 non scoring rounds. Surprisingly 6 drivers who did the full season had a 100% finishing record with John Duncan, and David Sleigh joined by  Michael Weddell who was 4^th and Top Newcomer along with 5th placed Dominic Wheatley they all scored in every round, as did 10^th place Ashleigh Morris and 11^th place Ross Wilkinson.

Ian Munro was 6^th in 2018 with 5 podiums and 2 dnfs though he finished 4^th in 2017, while in 7th Hannah Chapman had 6 podiums and only 4 dnfs and she was 6^th in 2017. Douglas Simpson moved from BMWs and took 8^th overall including a race win, though had 5 no scores,  Craig Blake was 9^th ahead of Ladies Cup winner Ashleigh Morris in 10^th. Those not appearing included Dylan O’Donnel who was 8^th with 5 podiums in 2017. Guest drivers numbered 12 by the year end. Unlike in 2016 when guests won 4 times (all were former race winners) the top guest finish was a 1^st for retiring champion Mark Geraghty.

Points  1. John Duncan 360  2. David Sleigh 360   3. Robbie Dalgleish 343

John Duncan wins on count back of scores

 

Mini Cooper Newcomers Cup

This Cup is only open to drivers new to racing cars, (in their 1^st or 2^nd season).  In 2017 Mark Geraghty won this cup and was well ahead by last meeting. Runner up was Dominic Wheatley while 3^rd overall was John Duncan who became champion in 2018, then in 4^th overall Michael Weddell had 6 wins. But in 2018 Weddell was in his 2^nd year and blitzed it. He won 16 of the 20 newcomer rounds. Ross Wilkinson who was runner up took a win, with Craig Blake who finished 3^rd overall took 3 wins. It was a dominant performance by Weddell. Craig Dillon was 4^th as 7 drivers took part in the Newcomers Cup, which often gives a form pointer to the following season.

Points 1. Michael Weddell 456  2. Ross Wilkinson 356  3. Craig Blake 319

 

Mini Cooper Ladies Cup

Few other Ladies classes exist anywhere else in motorsport. In 2017 Hannah Chapman regained the Cup having won it in 2015. She beat 2016 winner Taelor Shand. In 2018 she fought with former BMW racer Ashleigh Morris. Hannah took 16 wins from 20 rounds but had 4 no scores and these hurt her total. She lost the Cup by just 3 points to Ashleigh who had 3 class wins, fourteen 2nds and three 3^rds. The other regular Saloons and Sportscar racer Fiona Kindness took a class win and had one dnf and three 2nds.

2018 points 1. Ashleigh Morris 403   Hannah Chapman 400  3. Fiona Kindness 317

Scottish Formula Ford 1600 Championship

This is the only circuit racing Championship for single seater cars in Scotland. In 2018 there were again 13 rounds at Knockhill. We had an increase from 18 to 22 of drivers taking part, and there were 15 in 2016. Last season 12 scored points and 10 were guests, which was way up the one guest in 2016. The average entry for the season was just over 10 again. There were some new cars, with virtually all the field now in a Ray, and many less than 3 or 4 years old. Graham Brunton Racing prepared over least half the field, and they had the top two finishers.  Since 2014 teenagers have dominated with Ciarran Haggerty 2014 and Adam McKay 2015, then Neil MacLennan in 2016. Last season we had another teenager as champion, as Ross Martin who dominated the Championship and hr did so again in 2018. He won 12 of the 13 rounds on the road and took maximum points in round 4 when a guest won in his Ray. He secured the title before the final meeting, though not one other driver managed to finish every round, which was unusual. He was pressed all year by young Seb Melrose who had seven 2nds and a 3rd, in his 8 podiums.

The prestigious David Leslie Trophy also went to Ross, as SMRC remember a very fine Scottish driver. David Leslie had started in FF, progressing through national single seaters winning races, before going onto international success in Le Mans Sportscars and in British Touring Cars. Jordan Gronkowski was 3^rd overall and raced the only Van Diemen to regularly appear. He didn’t win a race but had three 2nds and six 3rds. Gary Skyes was 4^th having two 2nds and two dnfs in his scores. Matthew Chisholm was 5th with two 3rds and Michael  Neil Broome 6^th with two podiums, though also had three 4ths . James Clarke took seventh having two 3rds and three 4ths but missed the last 4 rounds. Steven Barlow took 8^th  despite missing 3 rounds and having three dnfs.  Ross Howe was 9^th but missed 5 rounds, and Fraser Gray as 10^th scoring consistently.  In 11^th James Thorburn started from the pits when he finished twice using it as a training exercise, while Logan Hannah had one finish and was 12th. Guests don’t score points but were up to 10, and national racer Hugo Bentley Ellis had a 2^nd and 3^rd while Matt Round Garrado had a 3^rd and a race win in rounds 3 and 4.

In 2018 there was again a major prize for the Champion. The organisers of the Road to Indy in association with Mazda nominated the winner of the Scottish FF1600 Championship, to be invited to take part in their program. This gathered the champion drivers from 16 different championships around the world. Hey went into a “shootout” from which a winner was selected. This shootout was in the autumn and held in America. The winner granted a $200,000 scholarship into the USF2000 Championship, the first rung on the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder. Ross Martin took the prize for a second year running following Neil MacLennan who took part in 2016.

1. Ross Martin 334 2. Sebastian Melrose 197 3. Jordan Gronkowski 159

The David Leslie Trophy will be held at the July 20/21 Konckhill meeting in 2019 when three FF races will be run.

Scottish Saloon & Sportscar Championship

This championship is for modified cars which are also the most powerful cars racing at SMRC meetings. It had 6 classes in 2018 and cars scored only in their class. There were full points awarded when 3 or more started, so the champion could come from any of these classes. The three classes in A could run on full racing tyres, while the other 3 in B had to use road based tyres. They had 13 rounds all at Knockhill, 18 drivers registered to score points, and we had 8 guests, which overall was 1 up on 2017. There were 9 race winners, up from 4 in2017 and the same as in 2016. Of these winners three were guests.

2017 Champion William Robson defended his title with his Ford Focus RS. Though it was a strange end to the season as he didn’t race and his main rival changed class. We also had 2014 champion Andrew Morrison racing his Seat as well. The average entry benefitted from the Mini Cooper S Cup class racing with these cars and often getting well amongst them. The regulars supported the championship and the variety of cars was impressive again.  The biggest grid being in October when 20 cars raced, which was bigger grid than 17 in 2017 and 18 in 2016.

Race winners were Robert Drummond with 2 in the Escort Cosworth in April and May, Roddie Paterson took a win with his Caterham which appeared occasionally, then Andrew Morrison won in his Seat going well at the 1^st reverse direction meeting. In July David Headen raced as a guest in his Caterham and just piped Ron Cumming on the line to win race 1. Ron made up for it in race 2 to win with his Nemisis kit car.  Championship regular William Robson won twice in August and Paul Rankin also won at that triple header. Then in September guest Andy Forrest took 2 wins with his Westfield and then registered and won class A3 and the race in October before being beaten in the final round by guest Andrew Gallagher ‘s 4×4 EVO.

This is a class based championship, so you need to score well against your class rivals, and hope you get 3 or more entries per class to score full points. Though the Championship went down to the wire in October, William Robson in Class B1 didn’t race despite only having a 25 point lead, as Paul Rankin didn’t race in class B2 after August, he changed to class A3 and got 2 class winds and a third in A3 during the final 4 races, but you can’t add different class scores together so he lost out in the Championship. So Robson wrapped up the title despite not doing the final races of 2018.

On track William had 8 class wins in B1. He was nearly always a top 5 runner on the road and had class competition late on from Ron Cumming in a Z3 and Scott Duthrie who also did 4 rounds late on.

Runner up in 2018 was Paul Rankin in a Westfield. He took 7 class wins, as he took class B2. But he was always scoring reduced points, as other cars didn’t enter. Andrew Morrison was 3^rd overall with  5 class wins and a class 2^nd in A2. His Seat Leon went well when he appeared.  Andrew Paterson was 4^th in his BMW with 6 class wins, Ron Cumming in B1 was 5^th he used the old Z3 when his Nemisis was out of commission. In 6^th was Robert Drummond scoring 5 class wins, but again missing most of the season in the fast class A1 Escort Cosworth.

Outside the top 10 we had some quick cars which appeared occasionally. Colin Simpson’s Marcos had a class A1 win in May but was also damaged at the reverse direction meeting and didn’t reappear.  Alistair Baptie brought out a very quick MGB GT V8, it was the oldest car in the championship, and the early seventies Sportscar took a class 2^nd in May in B1. Roddie Paterson took two class wins and an outright win in April with his Caterham, but also didn’t reappear.

But 8 guests racing was encouraging. It had been an entertaining season, but quite a few drivers only take in a limited number of races. In 2019 we should see the same mix of 2 and 4wd saloons taking on kit cars and some production Sportscars. There are always some exciting and unusual machines, and the opportunity for competitors to enter and race modified cars. However the Mini Cooper S class is moving in 2019 to go and race with the Fiestas, starting at least 10 seconds behind the STs.

2018 Points

1. William Robson 151 2. Paul Rankin 126  3. Andrew Morrison  110   4. Andrew Paterson 108

The Mini Cooper S R53 Cup

These supercharged Mini Cooper S cars proved they are quick. Their second season saw the experienced and very quick Oliver Mortimer dominate again and he repeated his 2017 form by winning very round, this time 13 rounds. He could get right amongst the S&S front runners if it was wet, and performed well in the Mini as he often qualified up in the top half of the grid.  Runner up this year was Paul Wilson, who finished 3^rd overall in 2017. Paul regularly got close to Oly on track he got eleven 2nds one 3rd and a dnf.  In October these two ran nose to tail in the final race for most of the 12 laps before Oly eased away on the last lap.  While in September ‘s race 1 Oly had to work extra hard for his win at the reverse direction meeting, as he was 3d on track behind Paul and race leader Vic Covey jnr until mid race when he regained the class lead. In the overall standings Fraser Jamieson was 3rd, and had seven 3rds in the 9 rounds he raced in. Stuart Buchan took 4^th contesting  10 rounds but had a couple of dnfs. In 5th was former Mini Cooper Cup champion Vic Covey jnr, he did  6 rounds but took two 2nds and three 3rds along with a dnf.  Calum Drybugh was the only other registered competitor and did 2 round> We also had 3 guests race, Johnny Dreelan who was runner up last year,  Jock Borthwick and Neal Robertson.

Points 1. Oliver Mortimer 325    2. Paul Wilson 236   3. Fraser Jamieson 140

In 2019 these cars will race with the Scottish Fiesta ST Cup, but start 10 seconds behind the Fiestas on their joint grid.

Scottish Classic Sports and Saloon Championship

This championship is class based with cars scoring only in their own class, so the Champion can come from anywhere. Though if the class has at least 3 entries for the winner get maximum points,  if not drivers have a reduced score. There were 13 rounds and all were at Knockhill. Cars are mainly from the 70s and early 80s as the cut off is December 1985 for classes A-E and G, while future classics in class F are from 1986 to 1991. All cars use treaded tyres.

In his third season racing Alistair Baptie defended his title but it was close. He raced in class A, and his successful car from 2017 was retained. His Fiat X19 sportscar took him to a 2^nd title. He dominated class A but the Championship went down to the wire in October as former Champion Raymond Boyd in class E with his 911 was only 3 points behind him as they started the final meeting. Both these drivers needed to score well, or Mario Ferrari in 3^rd could take it though he was 29 points back. Alistair Baptie took two maximums with full point s in the final races while Raymond had a first and a second in class as John Kinmond beat him in the final race with his class E Rover 3500. So Alistair was Champion winning by 8 points. In total he scored 10 class wins and one second but failed to score twice. We had 26 cars race (2 down on 2017) of which 19 scored points, as 7 were non scoring guests (there were 5 in 2017). The average grid was just over 11 one up on 2017. The high at Knockhill was 14 cars in mid season..

Outright race wins in 2018 were shared by 6 drivers, the same as 2017 and way ahead of the 2 in 2016.  Tommy Gilmartin the 2014 champion took 3 wins in his Morgan +8 . Guest  Robert Bremner won 3 times with his AC Cobra. Raymond Boyd in his 911 also had three wins. John Kinmond took 2 wins in his Rover SD1 3500. Andrew Graham took a win in May with his TR8 sportscar.  While Andrew Smith also has a win when racing as a guest with is Morgan +8 in September.

Alistair Baptie led the championship all the way. Raymond Boyd had 4 class wins but crucially scored in every round so was able to close right up and lead in August, all be it be a couple of points. After September Alistair was back in the lead. Third overall for the second year in a row Mario Ferrari also won the saloon car cup for the highest placed saloon in his Alfa Coupe. Fourth was Michael Longstaffe in his class A MG Midget and scored in 12 of the 13 rounds.  In fifth was William Conway with his class A Mini and scored 11 times. So the smallest engine class provided 4 of the top 5 cars.  He had class E and outright wins and one class 2^nd but had 5 no scores. Rounding out the top 6 was Jimmy Crow with his usual Ford Escort MK1. He did 9 rounds and won his class 5 times.

In Class A (up to 1500cc) Alistair Baptie with his mid engine Fiat X1/9 sportscar took 1^st Mario Ferrari with the Alfa Coupe was 2^nd and took the saloon car cup. Michael Longstaffe MG Midget was 3^rd and Mike Conway 4^th with the Mini.

Class B was revised to be for cars with 2 valve per cylinder engines 1501-2500cc, and was won by Jimmy Crow’s Escort.  Bruce Mitchell was 7^th overall and second in class with his Lotus Europa sportscar.  He had 7 class wins, but only once did he get full points for his wins. In 3^rd was former Formula Ford champion Stuart Thorburn with his lovely twin cam Escort Mk1  Escort. In  4^th was Craig Houston with just one finish.  While in 5^th George Leitch failed to finish in his Fiesta MK1, which had mechanical woes.

Class C lay was back in 2018 as an invitation class but no one started.

Class D was for cars 2501 – 3600cc. Ian Blacklin was class winner and the only starter in his Capri. He had three wins in a limited season. We didn’t see former Champion Stan Bernard or regular from previous years Grant Allan.

Class E was for cars with engines over 3601cc. It was won by Raymond Boyd who changed class with his 911 which now had a turbo charged engine.  John Kinmond was runner up with his lovely big Rover SD1 saloon and had 4 class wins, then Andrew Graham in the TR8 sportscar who had an outright win. Tommy Gilmartin in his Morgan +8 sportscar was 4^th but he only raced 3 times and  won the class each time.

Class F didn’t have any competitors after having a few in 2017.

Class G for kit cars and replicas over 1501cc Andy Walker with a Mallock won the class taking 6 wins but no one else entered the class.

2018 also saw a change to classics grids with the MK2 1980s Fiesta XR2s from the Fiesta Championship have their own class and starting in the same races to help ris numbers.

Classics 2018 points 

1. Alistair Baptie 272 (A) Raymond Boyd  262  (E)  3. Mario Ferrari 197 (A)  4. Michael Longstaffe  196 (A)

In 2019 these cars will have 14 rounds, with 12 at Knockhill and two away rounds at Croft in August.

Scottish Legends Cars Championship

These cars are based on 5/8^th scale 1930s US cars and coupes. They have rear wheel drive and sequential gearboxes, motorcycle engines and race on hard compound tyres. They always provide lots of action on track. This is due to their race format of 2 heats and a final, with heat one’s grid drawn at random and reversed in Heat 2, then the highest scoring cars from the 2 heats start at the back for the final. This ensures lots of overtaking. All drivers who are rookies or newcomers to Legends Cars racing must start at the back for 6 races, helping them to get used to the rolling grid starts and close racing. There is also a national UK championship for those wanting to race further afield, but costs are higher.

Last season we had 24 cars race, but as one was a shared team car then 25 drivers took part, which was 2 drivers down on 2017.  Guests were down 2 compared with 5 compared to 2017. The championship was over 9 rounds but competitors dropped their lowest score from one round. There were two away rounds at Anglesey, so Legends Cars had 27 races in 2018.  The maximum score for 1 round is 600 points, but that’s 3 race wins and it isn’t easy to score a maximum.

In 2017 John Paterson retained his title, that was 4 times in a row for this fine driver.  But in 2018 this changed and we had a new champion as John missed half the season after getting injured on his mountain bike. Outright race wins were shared between 8 drivers,  were as in 2017 6 drivers won races. Most wins went to David Hunter who had 6, then John Paterson, Ivor Greenwood and David Newall who each had 5 wins. Then 2 drivers each took two wins, which were Jordan Hodgson, and Duncan Vincent, and finally two drivers each won one race, Ryan McLeish and Stewart Black.  The average entry was up from just over 14 cars, to nearly b18 cars per race and a definite improvement from under 12 cars in 2016. The 2018 season started with 19, fell to a low of 16 in rounds 6 and 9.

On the driver front race wins equalled 200 points, and the maximum points per round is 600. David Hunter took six wins on his way to the title. He also scored over 500 points in 4 rounds and over 400 points three times, while his scores saw him drop 345 points as his lowest points.  Runner up Ryan McLeish won one round and he scored over 500 points once but scored over 400 points 7 times. His dropped score was 225 points. In 3^rd was David Newall. He took 5 race wins, which include a perfect 600m top score on round 9. He dropped a score of 260. He also scored over 500 points once and over 400 points 4 times. In 4^th Jordan Hodgson scored over 500 points twice and over 400 points 4 times.  His dropped score was a 295. In fifth came veteran Ivor Greenwood. He took 5 race wins and scored over 500 points twice, as well as over 400 points 4 times. His dropped score was 235 points. Into 6^th came Stewart Black. He took a race win, scored 500 points once and over 400 points twice. His dropped score was 0 as he missed the final round. In 7^th overall was Steven McGill he scored over 400 points three times and dropped a score of 195 points. Into 8^th came Michael Paxton he had 3 scores of 400 or over. In 9^th was Billy Wait, his top scores were 360 which he got twice. Rounding out the top 10 was former champion Ben Mason, he missed three rounds but scored over 400 points three times.

John Paterson finished 13^th he missed 4 rounds through injury, but did the treble wining both heats and the final in the first round. He won 5 rounds in total. The top team car was Duncan Vincent and Drew Pritchard which was 11^th overall. Duncan drove at Knockhill, with Drew doing the away rounds at Angelsey.  Duncan also won two races.

Ten drivers did every round and finished all of the 27 races.

The Rookie award is made to a new driver who finishes highest in the overall points table. This was won by John Critchlow who finished 14th overall.

In 2018 the cars had a single rounds at 6 SMRC Knockhill’s as well as one with KMSC also at Knockhill, and  double header away rounds at Anglesey in Wales, a track some drivers had been to before. The championship was over 9 rounds (27 races), but only the top 8 rounds scores counted.  David Hunter scored well all year to take the title. He went into the October round with a lead of just 150 points so this title went down to the wire. Ryan McLeish lay 2^nd and Ivor Greenwood 3^rd after Septembers races. In October David did enough scoring 480 points with three 4th places.  David Newall won three times and moved from 5^th to 3^rd overall with a 600 point score. While Ryan stayed 2^nd overall scoring 430 points.

Legends Cars points 2018 for Drivers including one dropped score as per 2018 regulations:

1. David Hunter 3960 2. Ryan McLeish 3730   3. Dave Newall 3710   4. Jordan Hodgson 3630

In 2019 these cars will again have 9 rounds, 6 SMRC Knockhills, one KMSC Knockhill and 2 away rounds in May at Anglesey.

 

BMRC Trophy

This famous trophy was first won by the late great Jim Clark, and is awarded to the clubs champion of champions. It rewards outright race wins in the 7 championships.  Wayne Macaulay the Fiesta ST Cup champion won it in 2014, while in 2105 Steven Dailly took it as he won the BMW Compact Championship. It was young gun Neil MacLennan the Formula Ford champion who triumphed in 2016. In 2017 the committee made the decision, and the famous trophy was awarded to Legends Cars Champion John Paterson, who won an impressive 18 races. In 2018 the trophy was awarded to Scottish Formula Ford Champion Ross Martin, who took 12 outright race wins, and had 13 wins in FF as he took maximum points when a guest won one round.

2019 Season

We have 6 SMRC race meetings a Knockhill, starting in April and finishing in October. Of these four will be run clockwise, while two (May 5^th and September 1^st will run anti clockwise). In 2019 guests can still go to away rounds, and again race in two SMRC Knockhill meetings. However, while one is still the final meeting in October, they are also free to choose any one meeting from April to September.

Championships with away rounds booked are the Mini Cooper Cup and the Fiesta ST Cup /Mini Cooper S53 Cup . They are all going to Kirkistown in Northern Ireland on May 25^th. Scottish Legends Cars are again going to Anglesey in May 25/26. Support for these rounds is important, as it is never easy to get our championships onto race programmes of other clubs. Legends Cars will also race at a KMSC Knockhill meeting supporting SLS on August  3 / 4. Scottish Classics go to Croft in Northern England to race at the DDMC meeting on August 17 / 18.

Kevin Pick