SMRC GoMotorsport Live raceday

Alongside a bumper 18-race programme at Knockhill today, the Scottish Championship Car racing series was joined by a multitude of other motorsport clubs to participate in the MSA backed GoMotorsport Live event. An event that aimed to bring a series of clubs together at one venue to allow the general public to find out how to become involved – whether from a racing or volunteering perspective.

Knockhill Events Director, Stuart Gray said:

“It’s been an excellent event and hats off to all the motorsport associations and individual clubs for banding together to promote the sport collectively. Hopefully we’ll see a few of the people who made the journey to Fife today, take that next step into some form of motorsport activity.

“At Knockhill, we are well aware of the popularity of motorsport; but it’s great to see a some real funding and backing given to the promotion of the sport Scotland-wide. Hopefully, with more events like these we can encourage the next generation of Scottish motorsport stars to join Clubs all over Scotland.”

On the day, most of the action on track centred around the Scottish Motor Racing Club’s fifth meeting of the year at Knockhill; with seven different Championship classes all competing on track in a plethora of vehicles form single seat racing cars to classic sports and saloons.

In the open-wheeled Scottish Formula Ford Championship, young Ecurie Ecosse driver Adam MacKay bagged himself a hattrick of wins ahead of Tore’s Neil MacLennan – who finished 2nd in two races and 3rd in the other. Jordan Gronkowski and Patrick Dussault – British Formula Ford competitor for Cliff Dempsey Racing – shared the other podium scores on the day. Gronkowski taking a 2nd and 3rd place finish; with Dussault taking a podium 3rd in the final encounter of the weekend on only his first ever outing at the Scottish Circuit.

In the Fiesta ST class, both George Orr and Wayne Macaulay were left bemused as 3rd placed man in the standings, Kevin Whyte, stormed to a brace of wins to seal his third race win in as many outings. Indeed, current Championship leader George Orr was quick to praise his fellow competitor:

“Kevin’s flying today and all credit to him. I might be driving a little to hard in an effort to catch him; but he’s definitely found something with the car this weekend.”

In the Celtic Speed Mini Cooper Cup, things are beginning to get a bit serious at the front. Racing incidents and stewards enquiries have provided some of the major talking points this weekend. Race wins apiece for the leading trio of drivers – Kenny Thirlwall, Joe Tanner and Oliver Mortimer – mean that this pulsating Championship battle will continue all the way to the end of the season. Hannah Chapman also secured his first-ever outright podium following an impressive display in the final race of the weekend; that even saw her overtake current Championship leader, and teammate, Kenny Thirlwall at the Hairpin before eventually finishing third.

A few selected shots from the racing at Knockhill today:

In the Scottish Sports and Saloons Championship, the deadlock at the top of the table between Ian Donaldson and Roddie Paterson has been finally broken – courtesy of Paterson’s two race DFNs this weekend. Paterson’s hardships are almost certainly Donaldson’s gain as he opens up a 50-point gap at the top of the overall Championship standings. Finaly Crocker and Andrew Morrison claimed the remaining on-the-road podium positions today, with Crocker finishing both races in 2nd position and Morrison finishing both in 3rd.

Steven Dailly, once again helped himself to the race (x2) wins in the Scottish BMW Compact Cup; that saw 34 racers line up on the grid for the opening encounter – a spectacular sight. Gary Clark and Andrew Winchester pushed Dailly all the way on the day, finishing with two 2nd and two 3rd placed podium finishes respectively.

In the Classic Sports and Saloons Championship, Harry Simpson claimed both race wins in part due to some inside racing knowledge from Knockhill’s own Duncan Vincent and Sandy Forrest.

“You know, l’ve been racing here for 30 years and then someone comes along and say’s l’ve been doing it wrong… and low and behold the advice that Dunc and Sandy gave me certainly made me faster through the Hairpin section. If you want to learn race craft then get up here, to Knockhill, and spend some time with these guys. They know their way around the circuit – even teaching an old dog like me some new tricks.”

Knockhill provide a number of Driver Coaching courses where you can receive expert instruction form our ARDS qualified instructors in your own race car. Similarly, there are a number of Driving Experience options and Perfomance Driving courses that are tailor made to your current driving abilities and vehicle – with the promise that there will be some improvements that you can make, even the slightest thing that could see your lap times tumble on track. See our website, or call the office on 01383 723337 if you’d like further info.

Aside from Simpson’s brace if wins, Keiron Baillie piloted his Lotus 7 to two 2nd place finishes, whilst, Bruce Weir and Tommy Gilmartin shared the two remaining 3rd place finishes between them.

After blowing an engine, current Legends Championship leader John Paterson had to make do with a replacement engine in his car; and despite a number of noticeable imperfections, the Motherwell driver still hauled his American hot-rod racer over the line for three podium finishes (one win and two 2nds). Elsewhere, Alan Freeland and David Hunter were quick to capitalise on Paterson’s woes by muscling their way onto the winner’s rostrum – of which Paterson has dominated throughout the course of the season. Euan McKay and Scott Hynds also got in on the podium action by claiming two 3rd place finishes, with Freeland and Hunter sharing the other podiums on the day.

This week at Knockhill, we now look forward to hosting the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship event on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August. The BTCC is arguably the UK’s premier tin-top racing series and as well as three barn-storming Touring Car races, the weekend will also see a superb supporting line up take to the tight and twisty dips of Knockhill’s 1.27 mile undulating track. Make sure you join us for what will be one of the highlights of our 2015 events calendar.

Full race results from this weekend’s action can be found here and for all the latest reaction from the SMRC race meeting check out the official SMRC website. A huge thanks to everyone who came along today and for helping to make our first GoMotorsport Live event a roaring success.

See all next time when the SMRC action returns to Knockhill on Sunday 13th September for the penultimate round of the season.