[woodcote]

Carrera Classic Nascar

   

Our grid of these big Carrera Nascars has swelled to fourteen cars - they are such fun to drive and completely different to anything else we run. Twelve are early-70s Torinos, Superbirds, Roadrunners and Chargers, plus two 50s cars - Jeremy's Plymouth Fury joining Andy's Chevy BelAir this month. Three qualifying heats determined the starting order for three step-up finals, with two step-ups from each...

   

The ten-lap C Final saw Jeremy and Rob start from the front row. Jeremy fell back, but this was very close at half distance - Rob leading Terry, Kev, Jeremy, Isaac and Simon, all still on the same lap. Rob continued at the front through to the chequered flag, with Terry holding off Jeremy for the second step-up. Simon fought his way through to fourth.

   

Dean and Jean started at the front for the second ten-lap race and they held those positions at halfway, followed by Rob, Andy, Terry and Ollie. Andy had fallen right to the back after an early off, but last month's winner gradually worked his way through the field, snatching second spot on the last lap when Dean crashed his Torino. Jean comfortably won the heat.

   

The feature race was extended to 20 laps, meaning that most cars would need to pit for fuel. Pole-sitter Mike was soon at the back, just like last month, his Roadrunner quick but a real handful. Alex has a good lead over Jean, Oliver and Andy at 5 laps, before taking a strategic mid-race pit stop and dropping behind Jean. Andy got ahead of Oliver and was in fuel-saving mode, confident he could get to the end without stopping and jumping those ahead of him when they pitted. That worked with Jean's Charger, but Alex's Superbird was fuelled to the end. It finished Alex, Andy and Oliver on the podium...

   

Here are the full results...

   

While that was going on, Jean was given responsibility of drawing the pole-sitter for the BTCC Reverse Grid race. He pulled out the #5 ball - the lowest number available. That meant John (fifth in Race Two) would start from pole, with fourth placed Mike beside him and only race-winner Alex demoted to the B Final. That gave Alex all the championship points to win the 2025 WHO BTCC title.