WITH the 42nd running of the PRI Banger World Final just two weeks away, the final chance for qualification was last Sunday at Arena Essex and a typically large entry arrived to do battle.
A Wildcard entry into the World Final was available to the winner of the final and, somewhat ironically, this turned out to be won by Jack Foster Jnr who had already secured his place on the grid having won a previous wildcard event earlier in the season. The World Final place was therefore passed down to second on the road Dale Hughes, who had punted Jason “Boxer Jack” Jackson wide on the last bend in what proved to be a crucial move.
Karl Douglas brought the first heat to a halt with a rollover in the early stages. At the restart Kieron Briddock avenged an earlier hit by attacking Emerson Fairweather, sending him for a flight over the inner kerb. Nathan Roberts took a rare win after all his Gladiator foes had been destroyed.
The action stepped up a pace in the second heat with a massive pit bend pile up forming as the Cream Team/Gladiator war took centre stage. The biggest hit was possibly the head on between Craig Oliver and Harry Bradbury, but there were plenty to choose from with, for the time being, most of the hits kept sensible. Jason Jackson won the race, taking a cautious route through the mayhem which actually had blocked the track for a while.
Things took a sinister turn in the consolation with Lewis Price getting a big hit from Jim Harding and then a totally OTT hit in the drivers door and front wheel from Karl Douglas – he then took another follow up shot from Dan Rose. Somehow Price escaped unharmed but sanctions will follow. Rob Browning took the win, making it through to the Wildcard final where he was certainly to make an impression.
That impression was on the reigning World Champion, Lee Hughes. Hughes had already finished the race in fifth position when Browning turned his car around on the finish line and drove head on at Hughes on the pit bend. Having seen his brother Dale secure the Wildcard spot and safe in the knowledge that, as the defending champion, he has the right to line up at the rear of the World Final grid in any case, Lee probably wasn’t too put out by the crash, although he has a long memory and won’t forget this incident in a hurry. The main protagonists in the final also duked it out in the Destruction Derby that ended the day. Jason Jackson eventually finished off the Hughes boys, with the assistance of team mate, Dave Barwick, to take the win.
The Junior Mini Stox provided the highlight of the support programme with Lauren Overy surviving a scary moment in the first heat, which so nearly saw her roll the car over, to take an accomplished win in the final from Dan Newman and Cole Atkins.
The Group A Stock Rods provided an entertaining battle in the Essex Championship final between heat winner, Sam Reed and Steve Gooch. Gooch eventually found a way past to take the win whilst Neil Wood did his track championship chances a lot of good with a third place finish. Fellow championship chaser, Wayne Shackleford fell behind Paul Haralambou at the flag due to an electrical problem which had been affecting him all afternoon.
The Lightning Rods saw wins for Brian Smith, Cole Offord and Peter Faggetter. Gary Greenland finished high up too, ensuring that he seems nailed on for points championship glory. This was just reward for a week of hard work to get a car ready following a write off at the recent World Championship.
Sunday 23rd September is the date of the Banger World Final at Arena Essex. Upwards of 160 cars are expected to compete for the sports ultimate prize with a number of last chance events allowing for qualification on the day. Most of grid is already decided though and Lee Hughes will be going for an unprecedented third straight World Championship from the very back of the grid. Can he do it again? It all starts at 1pm.
NEWS EXTRA: Popular Arena Essex Banger racer, Simon Smith, suffered serious injuries to his left knee and right ankle in a racing accident whilst competing in Belgium. Many of his Gladiator team carried get well messages on their cars at Arena Essex at the weekend.
