Car Trials Championship Grand Final

Event Report

Hoppe does the double to regain Gold.

Mark Hoppe completed the double by winning the BTRDA Gold Star title on home soil as Woolbridge Motor Club hosted the championship final at Crewkerne. Uniquely third overall was sufficient to win the Gold Star, by default of a season long points scoring structure.

Simon Harris won the best supported front wheel drive class by eleven points, having led Garry Preston by a single point at lunchtime. Harris’ superior Golf torque told during the afternoon with his usual ultra smooth style opening enough of a class lead to win the event overall, but lower league table scores prevented him from winning the Gold Star, twenty years on from his last win.

Lunchtime saw Yorkshire’s Henry Kitching have a stunning morning to surprise many, leading class 1, but during the afternoon slipped back to second overall despite some brilliant driving.

Mark Hoppe and Dave Oliver had a titanic battle all day, swapping points and trading small errors. Hoppe held a comfortable lead after the first eight dry steep hills, but slipped up to lead by a point at lunch, whereby Oliver immediately slipped up but slowly closed the gap down to two points at the end of thirty two sections. Hoppe’s class win and expert bouncing by wife Michelle on the second hill netted him the title they won in 2014.

The top five places on the day were filled by previous Gold Star champions. Trevor Moffatt had a quiet day to finish a distant second in the new car class, guiding himself to the Silver Star from Kevin Roberts who initially couldn’t get his car off the trailer unable to select reverse gear! Dick Glossop completed a superb year with the Bronze star just behind Hoppe and Oliver in the class, with young Ifan Roberts Bronze Star runner up.

Outgoing Gold Star champion Shawn Franklin tactically switched to the ballasted front wheel drive class but could only manage fourth in class after a daylong battle with Rupert North’s Mini. Alex Harbourne won the strongly supported clubman section overall in only his second event.

 

1. Simon Harris, VW Golf GTI, 87.4%
2. Henry Kitching, Vauxhall Corsa, 93.2
3. Mark Hoppe, Dutton Melos, 96.3
4. Garry Preston, Fiat 127, 99
5. Dave Oliver, Hillman Imp, 99.1
6. Dick Glossop, Liege, 112.1
7. Rupert North, Rover Mini, 112.6
8. Shawn Franklin, Citroen Saxo, 113.7
9. Trevor Moffatt, Vauxhall Corsa, 127.2
10. Neil Mackay, Vauxhall Nova, 132.6Gold Star: Mark HoppeSilver Star: Trevor Moffatt

    Silver Star Runner Up: Kevin Roberts

    Bronze Star: Dick Glossop

    Bronze Star Runner Up: Ifan Roberts