Large Scale National Championship - Rnd 8
Over the weekend the final round of this years Large Scale Off Road National Championship was hosted by the Nene Valley Raceway Model Car Club at their new astro surface track near Santa Pod Raceway.
4WD Class
The overall championship was already decided with Stevo Backland (MCD) crowned champion at the penultimate round held at sweetnap and with both 2nd and 3rd places still to be decided this was an important round for Team CML and FTX Punisher driver Steve Haynes and also for team MCD driver Richard Stiles who could both finish 2nd overall.
The track at Nene Valley Raceway Model Car Club.
Qualifying
In round 1 it was Stevo Backland setting the pace with a time of 15/10m 16.48 followed by Steve Haynes with a time of 15/10m 26.10 and with Richard Stiles on a 14/10m 12.69 in 4th place, and with Steve Haynes winning round 2 things where looking good for the Team CML driver.
However in round 3 Richard Stiles would take the overall TQ spot with a time of 15/10m 1.18 and with fellow MCD team driver Stevo also going quicker this would give CML driver Steve Haynes 3rd place overall and the CML supported Punisher of Darren Johnson in 4th place.
A Final 4WD
With Richard setting TQ during qualifying Team CML driver Steve Haynes knew that he needed a win to take 2nd place in the overall championship, and with the two team MCD drivers in front of him it was not going to be easy.
For the first few laps the leading trio would remain in TQ positions. Then, on lap 6, Steve Haynes passed Stevo Backland and moved into 2nd and set about trying to catch Richard.
By lap 13 Stevo Backland had gone out of the final with servo problems. This moved FTX Punisher driver Darren Johnson into 3rd while CML driver Ollie James was moving up through the places and was in 5th after qualifying down in 8th place.
On lap 18 Steve would move into the lead but this was short lived as Richard fought back and regained the lead for the next few laps. However on lap 21 Steve would make his move and from that point on would not be challenged even though Richard was pushing hard to catch Steve and retake the lead.
Darren was looking good for a final Podium finish until fuel problems would see him go out of the final in the last few minutes. Ollie had managed to move up to fourth overall and Darren even though having problems would finish in fifth spot.
National Championship 4WD top five
The track at Nene Valley Raceway Model Car Club.
Qualifying
In round 1 it was Stevo Backland setting the pace with a time of 15/10m 16.48 followed by Steve Haynes with a time of 15/10m 26.10 and with Richard Stiles on a 14/10m 12.69 in 4th place, and with Steve Haynes winning round 2 things where looking good for the Team CML driver.
However in round 3 Richard Stiles would take the overall TQ spot with a time of 15/10m 1.18 and with fellow MCD team driver Stevo also going quicker this would give CML driver Steve Haynes 3rd place overall and the CML supported Punisher of Darren Johnson in 4th place.
A Final 4WD
With Richard setting TQ during qualifying Team CML driver Steve Haynes knew that he needed a win to take 2nd place in the overall championship, and with the two team MCD drivers in front of him it was not going to be easy.
For the first few laps the leading trio would remain in TQ positions. Then, on lap 6, Steve Haynes passed Stevo Backland and moved into 2nd and set about trying to catch Richard.
By lap 13 Stevo Backland had gone out of the final with servo problems. This moved FTX Punisher driver Darren Johnson into 3rd while CML driver Ollie James was moving up through the places and was in 5th after qualifying down in 8th place.
On lap 18 Steve would move into the lead but this was short lived as Richard fought back and regained the lead for the next few laps. However on lap 21 Steve would make his move and from that point on would not be challenged even though Richard was pushing hard to catch Steve and retake the lead.
Darren was looking good for a final Podium finish until fuel problems would see him go out of the final in the last few minutes. Ollie had managed to move up to fourth overall and Darren even though having problems would finish in fifth spot.
National Championship 4WD top five
- 1 Stevo Backland MCD Race Runner Ultimate
- 2 Steve Haynes FTX Punisher
- 3 Richard Stiles MCD Race Runner Ultimate
- 4 Darren Johnson FTX Punisher
- 5 Ollie James FTX Punisher
National Championship 2WD top five
- 1 Ian Oddie Contrast Fuego 10
- 2 James Mccarthy Ho?rmann HT2 TK10
- 3 Andy Blackburn Ho?rmann HT2 TK08
- 4 Steve Milner Ho?rmann HT2 TK10
- 5 Adam Griffith Harm BX3
Overall it?s been a good year for the FTX Punisher and Team CML supported drivers with three cars finishing in the top five of this years 4WD Large-scale national championship. Congratulations to Steve Haynes on his second place in the championship, after putting in some impressive drives throughout the year.
Also Congratulations to both 2WD national Champion Ian Oddie and 4WD national Champion Stevo Backland.
Steve Haynes with his FTX Punisher.
Visit the Nene Valley Raceway website.
