Visitors to Wiscombe Park are in for a truly spectacular weekend (July 30/31) of speed hill climbing with a capacity entry which will see the local stars take on the country’s leading drivers using the latest state-of-the-art hill climb technology.
The highlight of the South West’s hill climb season is undoubtedly the visit of the country’s premier series, the Avon Tyres/TTC Group British Hill Climb Championship, to Wiscombe Park this weekend (Saturday/Sunday July 30/31) sponsored by the Herald.
The main championship event will include two exciting run-offs for the fastest twelve championship competitors on the Sunday, whilst the previous day will see a separate event for local drivers plus the practice runs for those contesting the national series.
Current national champion Alex Summers will be bringing his new DJ Firehawk to Wiscombe Park in a part-time season in which he hopes to develop his new mount for a full programme next year. The Tenbury Wells driver will have to take on Wiscombe Park’s joint record holders in the form of previous champion Trevor Willis and Will Hall. This duo currently share the Wiscombe Park hill record having set identical times during the national championship event two seasons ago. Equipped with OMS and Force chassis respectively, these two will be out to halt Summers’ charge and, if conditions are suitable, improve on their 33.79 second benchmark.
Competitors will be travelling from Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands with the intent of claiming success.
Not all of the challengers will have travelled so far. With Honiton driver Ed Hollier has been competing in the British Championships for the last two seasons with his Suzuki powered Empire 00 Evo single seater racing car.
Another Devon driver and Wiscombe regular now competing on the national ‘stage’ is Colin Satchell in his rapid light-weight Peugeot 205. Colin is currently in second place in the British Leaders Championship, which he won last season.
The series only visits the South West once during the season so the fastest driver/car combinations can only be seen this weekend.
More local drivers will battle for glory in the Woolbridge Motor Club invitation classes, including golf professional Jon Langmead from Exminster and Sidmouth’s James Gibson in his OMS Hornet single-seater racer. Other locals who will been seen in action during the weekend will be Joe Keep and Sammi Layzell (Ford Fiesta) from Honiton and Ottery St Mary. Honiton’s Duncan Beer will be giving his Ford Escort an outing as will Richard Gibson aboard his Peugeot 106 Rallye.
Tickets for each day, including a discounted weekender ticket, are available at www.wiscombepark.co.uk or can be purchased at the venue on both Saturday and Sunday.
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