After some fantastic testing at Bayford Meadows yesterday by Jake Gillett, Jack Clegg and Luke Whitehead we had high hopes for the teams first MSA race. Jake managed to set a lap time 3/100ths of a second quicker in practice than the new cadet lap record set in the race on Sunday and Luke set a time just over 2/10ths off the same record with Jack also setting a  personal best lap time on his Clubman engine.

For race day we had two drivers in the awning, Jake and Jack. Both boys showed the form they had yesterday was no coincidence with them qualifying in the top 3 for Jake and just outside the top 10 for Jack, out of 30 drivers.

They drove their hearts out all day in the heats with some great finishing positions including a 2nd place for Jake. Jack made it through to the B Final and had to finish in the top 4 to qualify for the A final, he drove the best we have ever seen and came home in 3rd place. So both boys qualified for the A final.  Throughout the whole of the final race, both boys battled hard and gave the opposition a taste of what the future holds.

Well done Jake, your first time out with the team and a well earnt 4th place on the podium. Your first MSA trophy and we are positive there will be many more where that came from.

A big thanks to all the team for making this a really enjoyable  weekend and all your hard work is paying dividends, the results are coming fast……….Next race F6 for Joel Saunders at Buckmore Park.

Benchmark travelled down to Lydd for their monthly non-MSA race meeting.

Jack Clegg had only been to the circuit twice before for some testing, so it was a good start for him to qualify in sixth place. There was only 2 tenths of a second between 3rd place and 6th so Jack again was showing some good pace. Luke Whitehead, being a race regular at Lydd placed himself in pole yet again, a good half a second faster than 2nd place and only 2/10ths slower than the fastest Cadet driver.

In the first heat Luke took the win and Jack battled it out in a small pack of four drivers finishing where he started but posted the 3rd fastest lap time.

Heat 2 was a reverse grid, with Jack starting 10th and Luke in last place back in 16th. Luke got off to an absolute flyer and was up to 7th on lap 1, but a spinning kart took him off and Luke dropped back to last and lost a good 100yards on the rest of the field. Jack was now charging through the field,  again showing some great pace and managed to finish in 3rd place, also posting the 3rd fastest lap time. Luke eventually made it back to 5th place, a great recovery.

In the pre final, Luke started in 2nd and Jack 4th, by now Jack was showing his metal and again he finished in 3rd place. Luke finished where he started in 2nd.

In the final, Jack started in 4th place and Luke 2nd, Jack jumped straight up to 3rd on the first lap right behind Luke and the three front runners pulled a small gap on the rest of the field. A great battle ensued with Luke taking first place every lap but he had no answer for the top end speed of the other driver down the straight. Jack eventually lost 3rd place and battled to regain it for the remainder of the race but was pipped to the podium by the slimmest of margins. Luke finally finished second securing more points to keep him in the championship lead.

A great day for all the team, with some truly brilliant driving by both Jack and Luke. Hopefully we can keep Jack’s good form going as we move  to our next race at Bayford Meadows on the 25th September.

This was our third race as a team and we had two drivers under the awning, Luke and Jack.

In morning practice, Jack showed his metal, being a tenth quicker than his team mate. Jack built on this and set a personal best lap time at the circuit.

Luke started Heat 1 in 4th and led the heat from lap 1 finally finishing 3rd.

In heat 3 Jack started 10th and Luke 11th, on lap 1 Jack was away, pushing up to 5th place with Luke moving through the field behind. A great heat for the team and Jack finally finished 7th, Luke 6th.

In the final, Luke started 4th and Jack 13th(due to an engine stall coming out of the dummy grid), a great race ensued with both drivers performing very well. Another podium for Luke and the team, well done to both boys, we could not have wished for a better day……roll on next weekend as we trundle down to Lydd for their Non-MSA race.