Above: The top three in the British Championship at Aldershot – 3rd David Gooch, 2nd Jordan Salmon, 1st Matthew Smith
The Super Twos ventured to Aldershot Raceway last Sunday to compete for their British Championship, which, for the past two years, has been held by #761 Matthew Smith. The meeting would be tough for Matt however with him suffering trouble all day.
In Heat One, #61 Daniel Othen held the lead for quite a while before ex-Classic Hot Rod driver Dean Kitchen took the lead in the hire car and never looked back, taking the win comfortably ahead of #300 Tristan Jackson, in daughter Lola’s car, and #7 Jordan Salmon. #213 Steve Kinton took a tumble on the final bend courtesy of a push from #466 Ryan Burksfield. Kinton went over the front wheel of #32 Stewart Adams, rolling onto the side of his car. Luckily, all drivers were ok in the incident and all were out for the next race. The lap of honour saw Dean, along with the top three in the Midland Championship, take to the pace car.
Heat Two saw Othen get off to a fantastic start and extend a huge lead until he was slowed down by backmarkers, allowing #101 Michael Tidd and #579 Daniel Harris close up and challenge him for the lead spot. As they went three abreast into turn three, Othen and Harris tangled, allowing Tidd to break away and take the victory. A now-damaged Harris managed to hold onto second spot and Othen recovering for third.
With the British Championship grid being randomly drawn it was going to be a very mixed grid, with #633 Barry Amas and #124 AJ Anstiss making up the front row. Amas led the first few laps before defending champion, Matthew Smith, and Seamus Cushnahan overtook him. However, closing in on the pair was #7 Jordan Salmon. Salmon soon passed Cushnahan and was catching Smith at a great pace. The championship race came all the way to the last bend where Salmon went in for a lunge on Smith. Salmon made contact with Smith, but it was not enough as Smith won his third British championship in a row, with Salmon holding onto second, and #446 David Gooch finishing third after Cushnahan went wide and #85 Craig Marchant was sent into a spin on the final corner. Smith was having a terrible day up until this point with him spinning in the first race, and failing to finish in the second. Salmon and Smith congratulated each other after the chequered flag, a great show of sportsmanship from both drivers.
Fastest Laps:
Heat 1 – #7 Jordan Salmon – 16.653s
Heat 2 – #7 Jordan Salmon – 17.144s
Final – #300 Tristan Jackson – 16.958s
Speedhive link: https://speedhive.mylaps.com/events/2547792
