The number of local competitors on our race circuits has increased and have recorded some respectable results.

William Mitcham, defending champion of the leading national Caterham contest, took most of the year to get the now Cosworth-powered version up to race speed.

He finished fifth overall in the Superlight Championship, with fellow Bury resident Ben de Zille Butler, in second place, just 12 points adrift of new champion, Graham Fennymore.

For de Zille Butler, the major success came with outright victory in the Caterham Eurocup, giving the region its continued run of top awards in these cars.

Mildenhall's Andy Coombs moved from Minicross to Caterhams and, for him, it was the Graduate's category.

A string of consistent performances saw him secure third in the championship.

Staying with Caterhams, Barrow-based Kevin Williams took his R400 to second overall in the championship run by the 750MC.

He also contested the Classic Thunder Touring Cars run by the BARC, taking second in the championship following a season-long battle with the Chevrolet Camaro of Frenchman, Gerard Faber.

Stephen Pearson made the move to racing from rallying, taking over the BMW of Rick Kerry for the Kumho BMW championship. An accident during testing delayed his season but he was soon on the pace.

The Merlin driver-of-the-day award was secured at Mallory Park and the season rounded off with two third placings at Snetterton.

Ipswich-based Kerry won the Kumho contest and intends to move to the British Touring Car Championship for 2007 – the first driver to use a diesel-powered car in the UK's top championship.

The CSCC Tin Tops Championship saw Bury's Mark Livens team up with Rob Dyball, from Elmswell, sharing the Honda CRX. It was an excellent first season for Livens, as the duo won their class championship.

Tthe 750 events saw most local involvement. Brian Mitcham set out to defend his Locost title, but the Hessett driver had more than his share of misfortune and had to settle for a disappointing fourth place after the 14-round championship.
Stephen Glasswell competed in Formula Vee, competing in his Storm Formula Vee.

As the season progressed, so did his results, and 2007 should see him as a strong contender.

Troston builder, John Cutmore, took his Honda-powered Westfield into the RGB Championship for his first season. He finished fifth in his class championship, and plans to contest the same category in 2007.

Matt Green made a late-season debut in the RGB Championship, driving a Fisher Fury, while Steve Savage contested another season in Formula 4.

However, the Ixworth-based Yorkshireman found great pleasure in the aptly-named Uniroyal Fun Cup.

The hard-working Duane Kidd was the saviour of the SCSA Championship at Rockingham. His team won awards and so did Kidd, voted man-of-the-year in SCSA.

Luke Stevens took in his customary strong drives in Tony Davis' Sprite, and historic events were shared with Gareth Burnett.

Having won the Magda RX5 series in 2005, Martin Byford returned to the Renault Clio series for 2006.

Snetterton, in August, saw his G Signs of Bury-backed car take him to a 50th outright victory of his career.

Next year, he will be a strong favourite for the Clio Championship.

Whepstead's Phil Ayres continued with the ERA single-seater, and Paul Hewes kept us reminded of years past with his Formula Junior Lotus and Lola versions, plus the wonderful sight of the Cooper Norton F3.

RALLYCROSS. The 2007 British Open Rallycross Championship was launched at the recent London Motorsport Show, and promoter Peter Stott informs me interest was good.

Stott was pleased to announce a sponsor for the new championship, in the form of Olympus Cameras and, at their request, an extra round will be held on June 17, at Blyton.

This brings it to five rounds, getting underway at Croft on February 11. Blyton hosts its first round on May 20, Lydden Hill has a two-day meeting on September 23-24, with Croft concluding the championship on November 3.

Stott's season ends with the Superprix at Croft, on November 3-4, but his long-term aim is to get a British round of the European Championship reinstated in the next few years.

He is also keen to see rallycross return to East Anglia, and is working with the Minicross Drivers' Association in this direction.

DIARY DATES. Short Circuit. Wimbledon, Monday, 2pm.
Superstox, two-litre Hot Rods, Bangers.
Production Car Trial. Seckford Hall, Woodbridge, Monday.
Eastern Counties MC.

COMING SOON. Autosport Show, NEC, January 11-14.

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