RRC Clubmans Rallycross round 7, Swindon

This large multi-surface facility (originally the home of Swindon Nitros) had something for everyone including a concrete main straight, a tricky astro-turf infield followed by a smooth dirt conclusion to the 40 sec lap. Despite other meetings congesting the calendar today there was a good turn out of die-hard RRCi competitors plus a new face to the series in the form of 1/12th & 1/10th maestro Keith Robertson of local CML stockist Microtech racing. Keith was running the latest HoBao Hyper 8.5 buggy with RB horsepower and after a solid performance in qualifying lined up 5th on the A final grid. CML?s Jon Howells (already crowned RRCi champion) did the business to take pole from Mark Redmond and Greg Hill, with the other half of the CML Hyper 8.5 driver line-up, Andy Reynolds, taking 8th on the grid. Both Jon and Andy settled on Pro-Line M3 Bow Tie tyres believing them to offer the best balance between track surfaces. After winning the preceding 20 minute Truggy final with his brand new Hyper ST Pro (also setting TQ) Jon calmly swapped transmitters and switched driving mode for the main event of the day the buggy A final. There was the usual start-line mayhem which dropped Jon back to mid-field and Andy right down to dead last but both the CML crew drove their way back into contention. Similar to round six of the series, Jon experienced another ding dong battle with Greg Hill, in which he eventually succeeded, but Keith Robertson?s Hyper 8.5 was already too far down the road to catch by the end of the race, leaving Jon 2nd ahead of Greg in 3rd. Andy kept his head down to come home 6th. So this being the last round of the series we had the prize giving ceremony with several very pleased racers taking home some great race gear from all the series sponsors including CML. Extra wow factor was provided by series organiser Glyn Morgan in the form of a number of Land Rover ?driving experiences? for the series winner, top privateer and top junior ? an excellent gesture, well received. For all his efforts including 5th place in the final series standings, Andy received RRCi?s special award for ?driver of the series? which was a very gratifying end to his season and warmly appreciated. Then at last the moment which team CML had been waiting for since Jon secured the championship win back at round five in Frankley, he finally got his hands on the series winners plaque to hang next to the one he won in 2006 proving that he is truly the RRCi master! Hearty congratulations to all involved in organising this years series especially Glyn Morgan and RRCi?s Dez Chand and Steve Bass.