The British
5th June 2010 to Sunday 6th June 2010

Groves back in the groove

Three times British Hill Climb Champion Martin Groves (Bicester, Oxfordshire) returned to the scene of his greatest triumphs to win both British Hill Climb Championship top twelve run-offs at the Midland Automobile Club's Shelsley Walsh hill climb just a week after a major crash at the Gurston Down venue. All week both Groves and his co-driver Paul Ranson (Brackley, Northants) had burned the midnight oil along with car constructors Gould Engineering and they arrived fairly late on Saturday just managing to squeeze in two practice runs before the hill closed for the day.

On event day Sunday Groves was in dominant form and never looked like anything other than the winner. Ranson was fastest in qualifying class runs for the first run-off but suffered tribulations when rain storms closed in as he was about to start and he contrived to accidentally turn off the ignition for a split second later on.

Despite Groves success the reigning Champion Scott Moran (Ludlow) finished second both times to maintain a 22 point lead at the top of the standings.

Talking point of the day was lady competitor and driver of the day Joy Hoyle (Bromyard) who beat a number of very fast male drivers to win her class in the Vauxhall powered Caterham Seven she shares with current Midland Hill Climb Champion Dave Wilson (Luston nr Ludlow) and she beat him in the process.

Stourport driver Grayham Parker won his class in the very fast Lotus Elise and the current British number eight Will Hall (Romsley) won his class.

Despite the Sunday afternoon showers the day concluded with the second of Groves's exciting win but current British number two Trevor Willis (Aylesbury, Bucks) suffered a catastrophic engine failure just before the finish line leaving a trail of smoking engine parts for the hard working marshalling team to clear up.

There was a celebration cavalcade featuring forty years of the Shell Racing Solutions sponsored Hill Climb Leaders Championship. The Leaders which is based on class performances rather than outright wins is a popular support to the British Championship and many past winners were present for a celebration Sunday lunch.

Results listings to follow.
Images available soon courtesy of Richard Danby at http://www.zipp.co.uk/gallery

Download: The British - Entry List 6th June

Download: The British - Results