Last weekend saw the return of one of the best UK venues for SXS Racing, Par Homes. After a week of extreme heat, the welsh track was baked solid but after a good downpour on Friday, the track was ready.

Open Class

Qualifying 

Sean Haran flew out the blocks after a return from an injury and battled most of the session against rivals Mark McCann and Paul Severn. Lap ten is when the pole lap came, and it was Sean Haran on the front of the grid. Paul Severn wasn’t far behind and certainly looked to enjoy the battle, taking second place, ahead of Mark McCann in third. Sean Jenkinson took fourth place setting an all-expert top four. Louis McGuffog was next home in fifth, the first of the rookies over the line ahead of expert Adrian / Callum Loveridge in sixth. Seventh went to Olly McGuffog, who improves with every session. Alfie Davies made a guest appearance at his home track taking eighth place. Next over the line was Wayne Harris. Joe Chilvers closed off the top ten in a very competitive session.

Race One 

To say the conditions had changed overnight was an understatement. Heavy rain had left a wet track with standing water resulting in very challenging conditions. The flag dropped and Sean Haran set off first and stayed there till the end. Mark McCann got the better of Paul Severn in the battle for second and Shaun Jenkinson took fourth. Louis McGuffog was first of the rookies holding off Adrian / Callum Loveridge in sixth place. Wayne Harris battled with Joe Chilvers for seventh but Harris came out on top. Ninth place went to Alfie Davies. Olly McGuffog couldn’t build on his strong qualifying and had to settle for tenth. 

Race Two

The conditions didn’t improve but the results for some certainly did. Sean Haran again seemed at home in the extreme wet as he bolted off the front and never looked back. Mark McCann chased but could only manage a strong second. Shaun Jenkinson improved to third after a puncture saw Paul Severn tumble backwards to fifth behind Louis McGuffog. Adrian / Callum Loveridge took sixth place ahead of the much-improved Nick Barker and Rob Butterfield in seventh and eighth. Wayne Harris dropped to ninth ahead of friend and rival Olly McGuffog in tenth. 

Race Three 

Race three was more of the same as the conditions tried to improve. Sean Haran completed the clean sweep in a great day, made more impressive in some of the worst conditions we have seen in years. Mark McCann finished second ending a challenging week with a strong haul of points. Paul Severn improved from race two taking third spot and keeping the top spot in the championship. Shaun Jenkinson capped off all expert top four chased home by first place rookie Louis McGuffog. Nick Barker took sixth place ahead of Olly McGuffog in seventh. Alfie Davies continued his good day with a solid eighth ahead of Tom Welbourn in ninth. Joe Chilver closed off the top ten and was the last car on the lead lap. This was a great day’s racing for the Open Class with some amazing displays of driving in extreme conditions. Well done everyone.

Overalls

Expert Class 

1st – Sean Haran #51 (Polaris Pro XP) 

2nd – Mark McCann #64 (Polaris Pro XP)

3rd – Paul Severn #7 (Polaris Pro XP)

Clerks Driver of The Day – Sean Haran 

Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Sean Haran 

Rookie Class 

1st – Louis McGuffog #24 (Polaris RS1)

2nd – Nick Barker #40 (Polaris RS1)

3rd – Olly McGuffog #26 (Polaris RS1)

Clerk Driver of The Day – Louis McGuffog 

Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Louis McGuffog 

1000 Rookie Class

The 1000 Rookie Class is proving to be a cracker this year and this weekend was no different!  The stage was set, it was go time! 

Qualifying 

A blinding lap from the Rio Longdon saw him snatch and hold on to pole position mid-session. Jacob Wilson pushed on but second was all he could manage. George Hales was next over the line in third place ahead of rival Henry Proctor in fourth. That set up a great race one as all the championship contenders were lined up together for the first corner.  Corban Ross placed fifth ahead of Bradley Price in sixth. Anthony Green took seventh spot, beating returning driver Nick Payne in eighth. Sam Lloyd crossed the line a solid ninth ahead of newcomer Tom Butterfield closing off the top ten.  

Race One 

Race one saw a few switch ups as punctures caused problems for a few cars. Jacob Wilson seemed in control of the race, but after a rear puncture, first position went to  George Hales. Wilson was able to hold on to second, followed in by Anthony Green in third. Bradley Price continued his good form to take fourth beating Corban Ross in fifth. Sam Lloyd took sixth place ahead of Nick Payne. Tom Butterfield jumped up the field to eighth marking the last of the cars on the lead lap. 

Race Two

Race Two saw the battle at the front continue exactly where it left off. This time Jacob Wilson had the advantage. George Hales pushed hard but couldn’t catch up to Wilson. Anthony Green grabbed third ahead of Bradley Price in fourth, another strong session indeed. Henry Proctor seemed to struggle in this session as fifth was the best he could muster. Nick Payne built on his earlier session taking sixth. Tom Butterfield was next home in seventh beating the consistent Sam Lloyd in eighth. Rio Longdon pushed on in ninth ahead of Alan Curnick. Another great race, setting up a strong finale. 

Race Three 

 This race was set up beautifully as the front pair battled for the top spot. Jacob Wilson broke from the front and didn’t look back taking the win and the top spot of the day. George Hales had a front puncture and as the laps went on the wheels deteriorated, but yet he still managed to hold on to second place. Anthony Green grabbed his first podium spot taking third place in race three and third overall. Henry Proctor improved to fourth, followed home by Bradley Price in fifth and  Sam Lloyd in sixth. Nick Payne scored a solid seventh beating Darren Longdon in eighth and Rio Longdon in ninth. Alan / Joe Curnick closed off the field as the last of the finishers on the day.  A great day for the rookie class with some fierce racing even in tricky conditions. Well done everyone.

Overalls

1st – Jacob Wilson #7 (Polaris RS1)

2nd – George Hales #19 (Polaris RS1)

3rd – Anthony Green #105 (Polaris RZR1000) 

Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Jacob Wilson 

Clerks Driver of The Day – Anthony Green

1000 Experts

The 1000 Experts Class delivered as always with some fierce racing laced with excitement and even a sprinkle of controversy.

Qualifying 

Robert Lloyd held pole for the big part of the session but that all changed when William Buller took pole with only four minutes left on the clock. All was not to be expected as Tom Fletcher grabbed the top spot on the very last lap, proving it’s only your fastest lap that matters. Second place went to William Buller split by hundredths of a second. Kevin Haran pushed through late to take third ahead of Robert Lloyd in fourth. Mack Priestwood crossed the line fifth, closing off the back of what was a small field for this weekend. 

Race One 

William Buller broke clean off the line and never looked back to win the race. Tom Fletcher tried to catch Buller, but just could bridge the gap. Robert Lloyd took third place after a race long battle with Mack Priestwood. Kevin Haran closed off the field in what was a great race to watch.

Race Two 

Race two was when things became super interesting. The flag was raised and off they went into the rain. Early in the lap Tom Fletcher slid into the side of William Buller causing the Northern Irishman to leave the circuit. Tom and the remainder of the field carried on, but Buller re-joined and gained an advantage in doing so. Penalty time for both the front runners. It got worse for William Buller when he cut an entry corner in the Joker Lane meaning another penalty for the number 32 car. Buller now carrying ten seconds of penalties and Tom Fletcher five seconds  meant they had to get a wriggle on. Somehow, they managed to build gaps on the field with William Buller finishing first and Tom Fletcher a close second. Robert Lloyd again took third place in a solid day so far. Mack Priestwood again battled with Robert Lloyd for fourth, with Priestwood coming out on top. Kevin Haran again pushed on to take fifth and close for the grid. 

Race Three

As soon as the race began, William Buller broke clean and was gone. Three wins on the day and a royally slapped wrist saw the 32 car on the top spot. Tom Fletcher couldn’t catch Buller on this occasion and only managed second place. Third went to Mack Priestwood this time as he held Robert Lloyd behind in fourth. Kevin Haran crossed the line in fifth place closing an interesting day for the expert class. Well done everyone. 

Overalls

1st – William Buller #32 (Polaris RS1) 

2nd – Tom Fletcher #59 (Polaris RS1)

3rd – Robert Lloyd #41 (Polaris RS1)

Clerks Driver of The Day – Robert Lloyd 

Fastest lap Bonus Point – Tom Fletcher