2000

Rob Sayell won the British Championship at Buxton on Sunday, Steve Piggins took his new car to victory in the first heat and Neil Clarke took an overdue win in the final.

Allen Herbert led away the feature race, which was run first, shadowed closely by Gary Jones. Peter Bourn held third for several laps whilst Neil Clarke and Rob Sayell duelled their way through the field. Rob Sayell eventually passed Neil Clarke on lap 8 with them both closing right up on Gary Jones and Herbert on the same lap. As the 4 cars entered the pit bend on lap 9 Rob Sayell dived on the outside of Allen Herbert, Gary Jones diving up the inside a split second later as the 3 cars exited the bend Neil Clarke following through Sayell and Jones for third place. (Allen Herbert having entered the corner in the lead exited it in 4th place. Neil Clarke passed Jones one lap later but Rob Sayell had the left foot hard down and as the flag dropped 9 laps later Sayell was a third of a lap clear. Further down the field Gary Granger and Steve Piggins emerged ahead of a 6-car battle for 4th, including Bourn, Anthony Brewer Hodges and Andrew Bilby. Mark Hodges passing Anthony Brewer on the last lap for 6th place.

The second race was stopped after just one lap when newcomer Joe Bourn glanced the armco in his brother's car ripping off the back wheel which came to rest of the start finish straight. After the restart Steve Piggins quickly overhauled early leader Allen Herbert to hit the front on lap 3. Clarke and Sayell were again locked in battle soon demoting second placed Gary Jones to 4th . Rob Sayell dived past Neil Clarke on the inside for second place with 2 laps to go whilst Gary Jones came under pressure from Anthony Brewer. It was too late to catch Steve Piggins who was 1/3 of a lap ahead of the rest.

Allen Herbert and Gary Jones again led for much of the final. With Gary Jones doing everything he could to pass the BMC. But Neil Clarke broke free from the pack of reds and passed Jones on lap 13 going on to hit the front on lap 16 of 20. Streaking ahead to take his first win of the season. Allen Herbert held on for a good second resisting Jones in third with Mark Hodges similarly resisting Gary Granger and Rob Sayell for 4th.

Rob Sayell now leads the Series by 68 points on 262, but Neil Clarke has closed to within 2 points of Hodges in third place on 194 and 192 respectively. Gary Granger is still 4th on 139, Anthony Brewer has jumped to 5th and Gary Jones 6th.

British Championship: 10 Rob Sayell, 77 Neil Clarke, 72 Gary Jones, 25 Gary Granger, 11 Steve Piggins , 5 Mark Hodges, 48 Tony Brewer, 67 Allen Herbert, 88 Peter Bourn, 16 Andrew Bilby.

Heat: 11 Steve Piggins, 10 Rob Sayell, 77 Neil Clarke, 72 Gary Jones, 48 Tony Brewer, 5 Mark Hodges,16 Andrew Bilby, 3 Ben Pashley.

Final: 77 Neil Clarke, 67 Allen Herbert, 72 Gary Jones, 5 Mark Hodges, 25 Gary Granger, 10 Rob Sayell, 16 Andrew Bilby, 48 Tony Brewer, 44 Brian Gough, 3 Ben Pashley.