National Hot-Rods 2012 WQR 16
Ian McReynolds storms to Final Victory
Going into the final round of the series six drivers, John Christie, Stewart Doak, Gary Woolsey, Glenn Bell, Keith Martin and Adam Maxwell were still battling for the five places on the grid at the World Final, with 3 of the 6 drivers, Christie, Woolsey and Doak, also in with a chance of being crowned Northern Ireland Champion. Ian McReynolds started the evening with a flag to flag victory in heat one, with Maxwell’s second place finish boasting his hopes of claiming a qualifying spot. However a blown diff in the#76 Peugeot 206 at the start of heat two, followed by a race win for Martin, meant that Maxwell could no longer beat Martin’s points tally and his brave challenge was over. The five Northern Ireland representatives at the World Final may have been confirmed, but the battle to be crowned overall Northern Ireland Champion remained unresolved. Going into the final race of the campaign Christie and closest rival Doak were tied on points, with defending champion Woolsey only 6 points further back and still very much in contention. Woolsey needed to finish three places ahead of his two rivals to have a chance of retaining his crown, but the Portadown man slipped down the order in the opening laps to leave it a straight fight between Christie and Doak. Whichever one finished ahead of the other would be champion and it looked good for Doak in the early stages as his Cirrus Plastics Tigra motored into second with Christie behind in third. Things quickly changed however when the pair caught up with race leader McReynolds. Doak decided to go for broke and attempted to pass the leader on the outside, but could not make the move stick and instead dropped back to third behind Christie. If the result stayed like this to the finish Christie would be champion and the Ballinderry ace did all that he needed to follow McReynolds home and claim the title much to the delight of his army of fans. The Northern Ireland representatives at this year’s National Hot Rod World Championship are confirmed as Christie, Doak, Woolsey, Bell and Martin.
Stock-Rods Jubilee Trophy
Impressive McMillan wins Jubilee Final
Two reverse grid qualifying heats decided the grid positions for the Jubilee Trophy final. Derek McMillan just edged out Chris Gordon after a nip and tuck battle between the pair in the opening heat. Victor McAfee made no mistake from pole position to stretch out a commanding win in heat two, where the ferocious battle for second ended spectacularly on the final bend with Marc Morrell and Stevie McNiece crashing out. Carl Sloan was classified in second with McMillan third which, coupled with his opening heat win, earned the Kells teenager pole position for the final. A rollover for Jonny Cardwell at Suffolk bend brought the final to a stop in the opening laps, but once things got underway again it proved to be a very close encounter between the two heat winners, with Gordon also right in the thick of the lead scrap. McMillan was under all sorts of pressure from McAfee for the 20 lap duration, but kept his composure to seal the Jubilee Trophy with a well judged drive. Gordon inherited second after McAfee was penalised by the race steward, with Micky McFall promoted to third.
Gp2 Lightning-Rods Jubilee Trophy
Hazlett claims the Honours
Aaron McMillan and Noel Hazlett battled long and hard in the opening heat and it was Hazlett who darted ahead two laps from home to open his account for the evening. David Gillespie and current form man Kenny Carson enjoyed a real ding-dong tussle for the honours in heat two. They were almost tripped up by backmarkers in the closing laps, but Gillespie just managed to make it home ahead of a fast finishing Curtis Greer. Heat one protagonists Hazlett and McMillan occupied the front row for the Jubilee Trophy final and were quickly clear of the main pack. Just like in the opening heat there was little to separate the pair, but it was Hazlett who reached the chequered flag first to claim his second win of the evening. McMillan was a very close second, with Liscinda Smyth showing well in third.
Junior-Rods Jubilee Trophy
Aidan McFerran dashes to Victory
Fourteen cars took to track for the opening heat which was led initially by Niall McFerran. Jaimie McCurdy then breezed through to secure a clear victory in his Vauxhall Corsa, with Aidan McFerran next home. Dylan Magee took the honours in race two which meant the Glenarm lad qualified on pole position for the final with McCurdy alongside on the front row. Magee looked comfortable up front in this one until getting delayed by a backmarker in the closing stages. McFerran was right on hand to take full advantage and darted through to snatch victory in his Vauxhall Corsa. The unlucky Magee was second, with Bradley McKinstry in third.
Photo's thanks to John Wolsey of Racemart
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