WOODFORD TRAILERS SPRINT LEADERS CHAMPIONSHIP - Reports

Loudon champion as Goulding makes late charge

Event 22 at Castle Combe on 14/10/2023
The 2023 Sprint Leaders championship came to its conclusion at a bright and clear Castle Combe with both the long term front runners, John Loudon (Force TA) and Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) claiming maximum points and leaving Loudon, runner up in 2022, as the clear winner. Goulding wasn't too disappointed as he took the British Sprint championship at the same time!

Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) took the final podium place while Nigel Holt (Caterham) scored well to end the season as the highest scoring Mod Prod competitor.

 

John Loudon, 2023 Sprint Leaders Champion (Jake Osborne www.osbornephoto.co.uk)


Pete Goulding, 2023 Sprint Leaders Runner Up (Jake Osborne www.osbornephoto.co.uk)


Steve Miles, 3rd 2023 Sprint Leaders (Jake Osborne www.osbornephoto.co.uk)


Nigel Holt, best Mod Prod Sprint Leaders (Jake Osborne www.osbornephoto.co.uk)

EARL AGAIN ON FIGURE-8

Event 21 at Curborough on 08/10/2023
The second day of Curborough’s HSA double-header, held in unseasonably warm sunshine, was run over the Figure 8 course. The same four Sprint Leaders contenders were present and once again it was Anthony Earl who topped the scoresheets with two more class leading times. Having finished only third in class the previous day, Justin Andrews made up for it on the Sunday with an opening run good enough to take the overall class win, but he only scored one maximum as he didn’t take a second run.
          Anthony Brown again ploughed a lonely furrow as the only runner in the class, but his combined scores maintained the Audi TT driver’s status as highest placed non-single seater, with fifth place on the overall points table. Having lain third in the class led by Earl at the break, Stephen Laing slowed dramatically with engine problems on the finish straight and failed to score.
 

Justin Andrews took a class win (Steve Wilkinson)


Anthony Brown is still top non-single seater on the series table Steve Wilkinson)

EARL SETS LEADERS PACE AT 2-LAP CURBOROUGH

Event 20 at Curborough on 07/10/2023
Four Sprint Leaders contenders were on hand for the first day of the HSA’s October double-header, run over Curborough’s 2-lap course. All four were contesting both the Sprint Leaders and the HSA championships, but with both days forming the concluding rounds of the HSA series, there were still two rounds of the Sprint Leaders remaining, at Castle Combe the following weekend.
          None of the leading single seaters in the series was present at Curborough, but the top non-single seater, the Audi TT of Anthony Brown, was running on his own to set the second highest Sprint Leaders scores of the day, ahead of Justin Andrews’ 1.4-litre turbocharged Subaru and Stephen Laing’s Caterham R500. Top scorer on the day was Laing’s classmate Anthony Earl, setting the pace on each run in the Roadgoing Specialist class with two determined runs in his rapid Caterham Roadsport.
 

Anthony Earl was on class winning form (Steve Wilkinson)


Stephen Laing chased Earl home (Steve Wilkinson)

Another damp day at Anglesey

Event 19 at Anglesey on 01/10/2023
The second day of Longton & District's Margaret Malcolm Memorial sprint at Anglesey was held on the longer, 1 lap International circuit and began in damp conditions. The track slowly dried throughout the day but it was only the final couple of runs that could be counted as dry.

Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) scored a pair of maximums to close in on championship leader, John Loudon (Force TA) by a couple of points but time and events are beginning to run out.

Mike Smith (Sylva Striker) was back with a master cylinder replaced and went well but he, and Chris Bennett (Caterham) were overshadowed in the class by young Jake Bellerby sharing the Striker for only the second time.

Diff related problems from Day 1 saw Simon Bainbridge's title challenge fade as he was only able to complete one slow run.

A problematic day for Simon Bainbridge's SBR Crono (Neil Lambert)

A very wet Anglesey

Event 18 at Anglesey on 30/09/2023
The first day of Longton & District's Margaret Malcolm Memorial sprint at Anglesey was held on the short, 1 lap National circuit and began in overcast conditions. It began to rain as practice started and continued for the rest of the day.

The principal contenders for the 2023 championship, John Loudon (Force TA), Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost), Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono) and Steve Miles all posted near indentical scores so John Loudon retained his slim lead at the top of the championship table.

Anthony Brown's Audi TT seemed to revel in the conditions and he scored well. Mike Smith (Sylva Striker) had a master cylinder fail early on and was out for the day.
 

Anthony Brown's Audi went well in the wet (Neil Lambert)

Loudon repeats at Blyton

Event 17 at Blyton Park on 24/09/2023
On Day 2 of Nottingham Sports Casr Club's Blyton double header John Loudon (Force TA) repeated his performace from Day 1 by taking maximum scores and strengthen his hold on the lead in the 2023 Sprint Leaders championship.

Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) recorded a brace of 11 point scores while also carrying over their good performances from the day before were Nigel Holt (Caterham) and Anthony Brown (Audi TT).

It was a good week-end for Loudon who is looking to improve on his second place in last year's championship with Goulding and Miles failing to make up ground on the leader despite being not far behind.

John Loudon extended his Championship lead (Jane Loudon)


Steve Miles' Van Diemen (Jane Loudon)

Loudon moves ahead at Blyton

Event 16 at Blyton Park on 23/09/2023
With a pair of maximum scores, John Loudon (Force TA) extended his lead in the 2023 Sprint Leaders championchip ahead of Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) who was joined by Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) with an 11 and a 9 point score. Nigel Holt (Caterham) and Anthony Brown (Audi TT) both went well to post a pair of 10 point finishes.
 

Pete Goulding scored well at Blyton (Jane Loudon)


Anthony Brown at Blyton in May (AMM Photography)

Broughton again at Pembrey

Event 15 at Pembrey on 10/09/2023
On Day 2 of BARC Wales' September Pembrey double header Steve Broughton (SBD DJ Firehawk) again posted a pair of maximum scores as he outpaced the rest of the 1600cc Racing Car class.

On an alternating damp and drying track he was closely followed on the Sprint Leaders score sheet by Simon Bainbridge's SBR Crono and Steve Miles' Van Diemen RF96. Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) kept his title hopes alive with a good run in the wet while Carole Torkington (OMS CF08) put in a quick 'drying' time for a good score.

Carole Torkington put in a good 'dry' time (Kim Broughton)

Broughton on form at Pembrey

Event 14 at Pembrey on 09/09/2023
Steve Broughton had the SBD DJ Firehawk running to his liking for the first time and duly took FTD with a 96.23s run as well as a pair of maximum points scores in the Sprint Leaders championship at BARC Wales' second visit of the season to the fast and flowing Llanelli track.

Simon Wallis (OMS 3000M) was the quickest 1100cc racing car following the withdrawal of John Loudon's championship leading Force and also scored a pair of maximums.

Steve Broughton had the DJ going well at Pembrey (Kim Broughton)

Goulding's FTD but Earl takes the points at Hethel

Event 13 at Hethel on 03/09/2023
Only three Sprint Leaders competitors made the trip to the Lotus test track at Hethel with Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) taking FTD with a 71.32s run while Anthony Earl just headed Stephen Laing (both in Caterhams) to take maximum points.

Pete Goulding speeds to FTD (Simon Reid, Fokus Media)


Anthony Earl was in the points at Hethel (Simon Reid, Fokus Media)


Lotus at Lotus. Richard Hardwicke's 340R (Simon Reid, Fokus Media)

Rain stops play at Snetterton as Loudon closes in

Event 12 at Snetterton on 27/08/2023
Day two of BARC Midlands' Snetterton Sprint on the 100 circuit was enlivened by the droning hordes of 2CVs (plus a few Minis) enjoying a 24 hour endurance on the 200 circuit. The weather began as it had finished the day before by being warm and dry but by lunchtime threatening clouds began to move in. As competitors prepared for their third timed run the rain began. Running was stopped for a while (not least to recover spinners) but then the rain got heavier and thunder & lightning led to the organisers abandoning the meeting.

Last year's Sprint Leaders runner up, John Loudon (Force TA), again took a pair of maximum scores to move up the championship table to third, just 22 points off the lead held by Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost).

Justin Andrews (Impreza) and Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF86) matched their strong showings from the day before and Nigel Holt (Caterham 310R) again went well despite a mistake of his final run.

Nigel Holt is preprared for the start (BARC Midlands)


Championship leader, Pete Goulding, spins the wheels (BARC Midlands)

Good day for Andrews & Loudon at Snetterton

Event 11 at Snetterton on 26/08/2023
A good selection of Sprint Leaders competitors turned out at Snetterton on the first day of BARC Midlands' double header on the 100 circuit. They were rewarded with warm and sunny weather, even in to the afternoon when the track was surrounded by threatending thunderclouds which seemed to miraculously pass by.

Justin Andrews was still getting to grips with his 1.4t engined Impreza but was able to post a pair of maximum scores and was matched by John Loudon, struggling with a mysterious oil leak (later identified as a failed timing chain seal) in his Force TA.

Nigel Holt (Caterham 310R), Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono) and Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) also scored well.

Justin Andrews has got the Impreza running well (BARC Midlands)


John Loudon was in the points with the Force TA (BARC Midlands)

Low scores at Lydden but Goulding retains lead

Event 10 at Lydden Hill on 15/07/2023
Despite the strong winds being encountered elsewhere the Lydden Hill circuit was largely unaffected although the weather may have played a part in keeping the Sprint Leaders competitors' scores down.

As it was the best scoring competitor, Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost), was able to extend his championship lead by a small margin over John Loudon (Force TA) and Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) who also posted respecatble scores.

Pete Goulding extended his championship lead (Chris Bennett)

Broughton and Miles close the gap

Event 9 at Pembrey on 04/06/2023
On the Pembrey Club circuit both Steve Broughton (DJ Firehawk) and Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) both outscored championship leader Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) to move a little closer in the standings. John Loudon (Force TA) retired after practice with engine problems.

Chris Bennett (Caterham Roadsport) and Mike Smith (Sylva Striker) were the only non racing cars to score points.

Mike Smith looks relaxed in the Sylva Striker (Kim Broughton)


Carole Torkington (OMS CF08) lies just outside the top 10 in the championship (Kim Broughton)

Earl racks up the points at Pembrey

Event 8 at Pembrey on 03/06/2023
Anthony Earl (Caterham Roadsport) took a pair of maximum points scores on the first day of the Pembrey June sprint week-end with Steve Broughton (DJ Firehawk) and Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) just behind.

John Loudon (Force TA) scored well to stay in the hunt for the championship.

Steve Broughton scored well in the DJ Firehawk (Kim Broughton)


John Loudon is in the hunt for the championship (Kim Broughton)

Hillam tops the scores

Event 7 at Lydden Hill on 20/05/2023
Following a double maximum score at the previous round at Blyton, defending champion, Matt Hillam (DJ Firehawk), put in a repeat perfomance at Borough 19's Spring Lydden sprint to close in on championship leader Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost).

Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) and Steve Broughton (DJ Firehawk) both scored a pair of 10s to stay in the hunt for the championship.

In the non racing car classes, Stephen Laing managed one good run in his Caterham R500 before electrical gremlins put him out for the day.

A strong performance from Matt Hillam (M&H Photography)


Stephen Laing kicks up the dust before problems intervened (M&H Photography)


Nick Scott in his Force TA (M&H Photography)


Mike Smith at speed in his Sylva Striker (M&H Photography)

Hillam closes in at Blyton

Event 6 at Blyton Park on 14/05/2023
Reigning Sprint Leaders champion, Matt Hillam in the SBD DJ Firehawk made it a perfect Blyton Sprint week-end with another maximum points haul, this time on the venue's Outer circuit and made up ground on championship leader, Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) who also scored well.

Anthony Brown in the Audi TT put in a good perfomance to bag a pair of 10 point scores.

Anthony Brown scored well in the Audi TT (AMM Photography)

Loudon & Hillam take Leaders honours at Blyton

Event 5 at Blyton Park on 13/05/2023
John Loudon (Force TA) and Matt Hillam (DJ Firehawk) moved into contention in the race for the 2023 SBD Motoraport UK Sprint Leaders championship on the Blyton Eastern circuit with a pair of maximum scores.

Damien Bradley (Subaru Legacy) and Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) both continued their strong early season form with good scores.

 

Matt Hillam moved into championship contention at Blyton (AMM Photography)


The rapid Subaru Legacy of Damien Bradley (AMM Photography)

Broughton goes for gold at Goodwood

Event 4 at Goodwood on 22/04/2023
Five SLC registered competitors took to Glorious Goodwood for the fourth event in the season. Steve Broughton was the clear winner in the SBD DJ Firehawk, taking home a solid 24 points from the day after completing consistent runs of 76.69s and 76.84s. Pete Goulding’s runs were equally consistent, his 75.53s and 75.58s netting him 20 points in Class S15D aboard the Mygale.

Steve Broughton in the DJ Firehawk (K Broughton)


FTD for Pete Goulding's Mygale (Jean-Paul Da Costa)

Bainbridge, Loudon and Hillam ahead at Anglesey International

Event 3 at Anglesey on 02/04/2023
All twelve SLC competitors returned to the Anglesey coast on Sunday to compete around the longer 3,109m International Circuit layout. Bainbridge, Loudon and Hillam repeated their previous days’ successes by again securing the full 24 points over the two rounds, followed by Peter Goulding (Mygale) who added 22 points to his season total.

The two Steves — Miles and Broughton, followed on 18 and 12 points respectively.

Mike Smith in the Sylva Striker (Neil Lambert)

Four tied at the top at Anglesey National

Event 2 at Anglesey on 01/04/2023
A strong turnout of twelve SLC competitors battled it out around the challenging 1,661m Anglesey National circuit. A wide variety of models was represented too from Damian Bradley’s Subaru Legacy and Anthony Brown’s Audi TT via Simon Bainbridge’s thunderous SBR Crono V8 to the gaggle of single-seaters that were likely to be battling it out for fastest lap.

Damian Bradley, Simon Bainbridge, John Loudon (Force TA) and Matt Hillam (DJ Firehawk) all ended the day aving added 24 points to their seasons’ tallies.

Simon Waterfall in the Westfield Megablade (Neil Lambert)

Holt takes early lead in Sprint Leaders at Cadwell

Event 1 at Cadwell Park on 25/03/2023
At the opening round of the 2023 SBD Motorsport UK HSA Sprint Leaders championship at Cadwell Park, newcomer to the series, Nigel Holt in his Caterham 310R took the best score of 24 points ahead of a gaggle of single seaters and Stephen Laing (Caterham) and Mike Smith (Sylva Striker).
 

Nigel Holt leads the Sprint Leaders (AMM Photography)


Mike Smith in the Sylva Striker (AMM Photography)