Grainger Wins at Mendip
The fourth round of the BRCA UK Championship, the penultimate event in the series, took place at the Mendip circuit this weekend.
The Championship battle was really hotting up as the season drew to a close, with the three title contenders (Chris Grainger, Elliott Harper and Olly Jefferies) all having a win apiece. From the BTCC a few weeks ago, the drivers knew tyre strategy would be key on the fast but abrasive circuit just outside Weston-super-Mare.
Chris knew that nothing less than a win would improve his championship standings, so took an aggressive approach to the weekend, deliberately sitting out the opening qualifier, to hopefully put himself in a better position with the limited control tyres later in the weekend. As qualifying progressed, his plan was working out, as he took two TQ's and a second place, to secure the overall pole position. Behind him, fellow Team Associated/Reedy Powered driver Matthew White continued a year which has shown him to clearly be able to mix in amongst the established three stars, taking three top three results to line up third on the A Final grid. They would also be joined in the A Final by Team Associated stalwart Alan Bickerstaff; the TC7 the joint most popular car in the A Final.
Chris' strategy really paid off in the finals, his Associated TC7 also proving its pace on both new and used rubber, with Chris securing the overall win with two A Final leg victories and one second place finish. Behind Chris, Matthew was unlucky to miss the podium, with fourth overall, and Alan taking his almost customary position of seventh.
In the Pro Stock class, the Team Associated results kept on coming, with again three cars in the A Final. Mark Wallace ended fourth overall, with Chris Clark seventh, and rising star Michael Bolt making his second BRCA A Final in succession and taking ninth overall.
The net result allows Chris to put one hand on the overall BRCA trophy, with his competition needing to win the final event at West London to force a tie-break scenario. Matthew is firmly on track for an overall top five finish, with Alan also looking set to lock down a top 10 result at the end of the year. The Pro Stock drivers are also on track to secure three overall top ten positions.
The championship concludes at West London in September.
