A.C.U. / F.S.R.A. British F2 Sidecar Championships To Be Decided At Knockhill

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FSRA

Words – Tim Langham (F.S.R.A. Press Officer) / Photographs – Sid Diggins

Already the final round of the series is upon us this coming weekend (10th & 11th September) – it’s a cliché to say it but this season has flown past! Whilst last time out at Croft both the Super and Cup classes could have seen new champions crowned, misfortune on Sunday for Pete Founds / Jevan Walmsley (LCR Honda) and Rob Atkinson / Mark Middleton (Bellas Yamaha) has kept both series alive. The aforementioned teams only require a handful of points to seal the titles, so will be hoping to do so in Saturday’s opening race.

This will be a first-ever visit for Founds / Walmsley to Knockhill, and they are sure to be faced with a tough challenge from last year’s champions and lap record holders Team A.R.C. which again sees Lee Crawford pairing up with Jake Lowther (LCR Suzuki). Both teams took a win a-piece at Croft, while second and third places saw father and son Steve & Matty Ramsden (LCR Honda) move a step closer to cementing second in the championship standings. John Holden / Mick Fairhurst (LCR Yamaha) took third place in race two, whilst being ruled out of contention when similarly placed in the opening encounter.

Reliability and consistent top six finishing has seen the Manx team of Mike Jackson / Jake Roberts (DMR Suzuki) sit fourth in the table, and they have the impressive honour of being the only team to start and complete every race so far in 2022. Also likely to by vying for top six honours in the Super F2 section include Conrad Harrison / Andy Winkle (Bellas Honda); Wayne Lockey / Ben Binns (LCR Honda) and Gary Horspole / Kenny Cole (Baker Suzuki).

The F2 Cup sees Atkinson / Middleton hold a healthy forty point advantage over Brian Ilaria / Arlo Brown (DDM Suzuki) – with only fifty points remaining. However, Ilaria / Brown – having taken their maiden victory in race two at Croft are a huge 122 points clear of Tom & Thomas Quaye (MRE Suzuki) so are assured of at least the runners-up placing in the series. A mere four points separate the Quayes from sixth placed Bruce Moore / Amy Dodd (Ireson Honda), with Chris Schofield / Shane Colbrook (Baker Honda); Charlie Morphet / William Reilly (LCR Honda) and David Schofield / Josh Smith (Windle Suzuki) all contenders for snatching third – so midfield battles are highly likely to be figure throughout the weekend!

There will be some “local interest” as former British Championship regulars Gordon Shand / Tony Belsey (Shand Suzuki) will be making their first appearance in the series since 2019 as a “wild-card” entry.

Current Lap Records:

Super F2 – Crawford / Hardie – 00:52.352 (04/09/21)

F2 Cup – Payne / Wilkes – 00:53.795 (05/09/21)

Thanks as ever go to the A.C.U., along with series sponsors A.R.C. (Binchester / Newton Aycliffe); A.V. Craine & Son; Hegarty Plant Ltd; Leeds Parcel Company; Lockside Engineering; Pagid Racing (Breitenbach Rennsport); Rowtec Engineering Maintenance; and Whitby Cottages. Finally the F.S.R.A. would like to thank the Knockhill Racing Club and all their dedicated staff, officials, marshals, medics and all the other volunteers involved in running the event, and for inviting the series “north of the border”once again.

The next major event in the calendar for the F.S.R.A. is the A.G.M. and Annual Dinner and Dance on Saturday 19th November – details of which are available, along with all other F.S.R.A. news, including race reports and up to date championship points on the website – www.fsra.org.uk