The impressive Boughton Raceway was the host of the final Round of the 2018 BRCA 1/10th Off-Road Nationals. The immaculately presented astroturf track presents a different challenge for competitors, with a long lap combining a very technical layout with a unique low grip surface. Heading into the event, both Championships were still undecided, however Neil Cragg did have a guaranteed ‘hand’ on the 4WD title, with Lee Martin only able to share the title should he TQ and win on Sunday. Cragg could win 2WD outright should he TQ and win on Saturday, but competition was more fierce than ever with Schumacher's Polish superstar Michal Orlowski in attendance.
Saturday – 2WD
Kyosho's 1/8th National Champion - Elliott Boots was piloting the Japanese brand's latest 1/10th Off-Road release, the RB7. He came out the gates fast in Round 1 with an impressive time that held him in the top spot from Heat 9 through to 12 - the top heat containing our championship contenders. With nothing less than a TQ and win enough for Cragg to pip Martin to the title, he duly delivered a vintage pressure performance, sneaking the Round win by just under 2 seconds. Martin would take 3rd. in the Round. Buoyed-on by his Round 1 win, Cragg would go on to TQ the next 2 Rounds with his Associated B6.1 and complete the first half of his Championship quest by sealing TQ. Michal Orlowski would take his Schumacher KC to TQ in Round 4 and secure 2nd. on the grid ahead of Martin's Yokomo and Boots in 4th.
Qual. Top 10: 1. Neil Cragg
2. Michal Orlowski
3. Lee Martin
4. Elliot Boots
5. Paul Crompton
6. Tom Cockerill
7. Tom Yardy
8. Ellis Stafford
9. Danny McGee
10. Richard Barton
Cragg had the edge throughout Qualifying and it showed in the first 2 legs of the ‘A’ Finals as he cruised away at the front to ‘sew-up’ the event win and clinch his 19th. (for now) 1/10th. Off-Road National Title in the process - congratulations Neil! Martin would take 2nd. in the event and confirm his position as 2nd. in the 2WD Championship. Orlowski would take 3rd. in the event and his Schumacher team-mate Tom Yardy would take 3rd. overall in the Championship, despite a below-par 7th. place finish at Boughton.
Event Top 10: 1. Neil Cragg
2. Lee Martin
3. Michal Orlowski
4. Elliot Boots
5. Paul Crompton
6. Tom Cockerill
7. Tom Yardy
8. Danny McGee
9. Ellis Stafford
10. Richard Barton
From the 2WD Championship, a total of 40 F1 License Grades were awarded for the 2019 season, with 120 drivers completing the required 4 rounds from 6 - impressive entry figures once again.
Sunday – 4wd
Windy conditions would greet the drivers for the 4WD day of the event, but another dry day would be in store. The same layout was used as in 2WD, but this time in the opposite direction. Schumacher's Michal Orlowski would set an imposing time in Heat 9 of the first Round, as the former European champion drove his CAT L1 to a time which again held until the top heat. This time the usual suspects could do nothing to prevent the Polish driver from taking the Round 1 win. Orlowski would do similar in Round 2, although Cragg and Martin both had chances to take the round win, only for mistakes to prove costly. Orlowski taking a big step towards TQ which would prevent Martin from taking the vital TQ point he needed. But the Yokomo star wasn't done yet! Martin would pilot his YZ-4 to the win in Round 3, with a new fastest time of the day - meaning another round win in Round 4 would snatch the TQ. A scrappy run from Orlowski opened the door and Martin took his chance, winning the last round and grabbing a crucial TQ point. Orlowski would start 2nd ahead of Cragg in 3rd with Boots again in 4th.
Qual. Top 10: 1. Lee Martin
2. Michal Orlowski
3. Neil Cragg
4. Elliot Boots
5. Tom Yardy
6. Tom Cockerill
7. Paul Crompton
8. Ben Smith
9. Greg Williams
10. Phil Sleigh
The ‘A’ Final pace of the front 3 was very close and it looked as though Martin would have his work cut-out to take the win he needed. A perfect drive in leg 1 and 2 however, despite pressure from behind, would give Martin the win and for the fourth time in National Championship history, we have a ‘tied Championship’ with Cragg and Martin sharing the spoils. There had been little to separate them all year and this tied championship seemed a just result. On the day, Orlowski would secure 2nd. and Cragg 3rd. with top 3 finishes in all 3 legs. Yokomo's Tom Cockerill would secure 3rd. in the Championship.
Event Top 10: 1. Lee Martin
2. Michal Orlowski
3. Neil Cragg
4. Elliot Boots
5. Tom Cockerill
6. Tom Yardy
7. Paul Crompton
8. Phil Sleigh
9. Greg Williams
10. Ben Smith
From the 4WD Championship, a total of 41 F1 License Grades were awarded for the 2019 season, the highest number awarded in 4WD history.
This concludes another fantastic year of 1/10 Off-Road National competition. Well done to all competitors, especially our Championship, Formula and Age group winners. A huge thank you to all of the Clubs and the 1/10 Off-Road Committee for their efforts in 2018. We are looking forward to 2019 already - hope to see you there!
2018 Top 10, from the National Championships:
2WD 4WD
1. Neil Cragg =1. Lee Martin
2. Lee Martin =1. Neil Cragg
3. Tom Yardy 3. Tom Cockerill
4. Craig Collinson 4. Craig Collinson
5. Paul Crompton 5. Tom Yardy
6. Elliot Boots 6. Paul Crompton
7. Tom Cockerill 7. Richard Barton
8. Danny McGee 8. Danny McGee
9. Ben Pugh 9. Ben Pugh
10. Kevin Lee 10. Greg Williams
Recognition for report & pictures to:- Tom Yardy & Zoom RC Photography.
