2010

A hot sunny Aldershot raceway greeted the drivers for Round 8 of the driver championship, Andrew Bilby was defending his Southern Champion trophy,

Race one got under way with Andrew Lewis leading the cars away, Pete Dorrell got the jump on Lee Hazeltine from the Yellow grade with Andrew Bilby and Leon Retchless right behind,. Newly promoted to Blue grade was Steve Dawson made a good start and managed to get pass Marc de Land by the exit of the pit turn. Cliff Bunn Passed Neil Clarke with Steve Young Phil Retchless and Jonathon Pooley all following through, by lap 5 Andrew Bilby took up the lead from Andrew Lewis, Steve Young was on a charge as he past Marc de Land around the out side of turn one the Steve Dawson a lap later on the back straight Jonathon Pooley though was keeping Steve in his sights, As the laps ticked down Steve court and passed Andrew who had got him old BMC working well around the short Aldershot raceway, with 5 to run a group of cars all bunched up with Pete Dorrell heading the group with Leon Retchless trying what he could to pass pete but watching his mirrors from the closing Marc de Land, Phil Retchless, Cliff Bunn then a small gap to Steve Dawson and Neil Clarke, on the last lap coming to turn three Leon braked late and locked up which allowed Marc up on the inside who then got up along side Pete as they dashed for the line Pete just edging out Marc. Leon managed to keep Phil behind who was having his own battle with Cliff Bunn. But the win went to Steve Young who drove a great race from the fast Jonathon Pooley who was closing the gap.

1st S.Young 2nd J.Pooley 3rd A.Bilby 4th A.Lewis 5th L.Hazeltine 6th P.Dorrell 7th M.de Land 8th L.Retchless

Race two All the cars made it out for this race but before the end of lap one Jonathon Pooley retired with a clutch problem, Andrew Lewis was out in front with Lee Hazeltine Andrew Bilby Pete Dorrell and Leon Retchless following on from the yellows, Marc de Land had a better start this time around though Steve Dawson only managed a lap and retired, Phil Retchless got pass Neil Clarke and Steve Young the set about Cliff Bunn and cliff made Phil work for the position, Mean with Andrew Bilby was challenging for the lead with Andrew Lewis, Marc de Land got pass Leon around the out side of turn one, then had a three battle with Pete Dorrell with Pete keeping the inside line Marc went round the out side starting lap 7 marc got pass Pete at the end of the home straight but just behind them as Phil braked for turn one his car slid across the track and slammed into the wall a full course yellow came out while Phil`s car was removed from the track, the cars lined up behind the safety car though to Marc`s surprise Pete was put back in front of him for the restart, Leon stalled his car and as his starter motor was not working was pushed of the track also we lost Lee Hazeltine with mechanical problem, as the safety car pulled from the track Marc went to the out side and passed Pete down the back straight, Andrew Bilby was now in the lead and was pulling away from Andrew Lewis, Steve Young then retired to the infield which left Cliff Bunn to catch Pete Dorrell, With 5 to go Marc was on level terms with Andrew Bilby first he tried to come up on the inside but Andrew closed the door, so it was going to have to be the outside line, three laps side by side then Marc managed to pass Andrew going down the back straight, while this was going on Cliff Bunn manged to pass Andrew Lewis to move up to third, But it was Marc who went on to get his first win of the season.

1st M.de Land 2nd A.Bilby 3rd C.Bunn 4th A.Lewis 5th P.Dorrell 6th N.Clarke

Southern Championship final.

Only ten cars made the final but they put a good race on for the spectators, As the green flag was waved it was Andrew Lewis who was out in front, Andew Bilby got a good start and was soon up to second with Pete Dorrell and Leon Retchless close behind, by the start of lap two Marc de land had court the yellow grade cars and going into turn three made his move around the outside of Leon Retchless coming onto the home straight the engine started to misfire and Marc retired. Jonathon Pooley was soon up to 5th spot with only the yellow and white graded cars ahead of him, Cliff Bunn was having a good race with Steve Young also Neil Clarke was staying in contention just a couple of car lengths back, soon Jonathon was up with Andrew Bilby and this proving to be harder to pass, Steve Young got pass Cliff and was soon pulling in the leaders, Lee Hazeltine was having a battle with Andrew Lewis Pete Dorrell and Leon Retchless all the time Mr Clarke was just behind this group waiting for a chance to pass, With 6 laps to go Andrew Bilby was still leading with Jonathon on his outside, Now Steve Young was third and could see the first two just 7 or 8 car lengths ahead, Andrew made a little mistake coming out of turn two this allowed Jonathon to take up the lead, with two to run Steve Young passed Andrew and set about closing down Jonathon`s lead who was having a slipping clutch problem, Mean while Neil Clarke managed to pass Leon who had put up a great battle to keep Neil in ninth but was not to be, Steve Young was putting in his best lap times in catching Jonathon but there was not enough laps and JP took the southern Championship by .556 of second from Steve young, Andrew Bilby took a great third in his old BMC .

1st J.Pooley 2nd S.Young 3rd A.Bilby 4th C.Bunn 5th A.Lewis 6th L.Hazeltine 7th P.Dorrell 8th N.Clarke