GBE UK Ltd National Points Championship Shootout Stage One Recap

All of a sudden Stage 1 of this year's GBE UK sponsored National Points Championship Shootout is done. Sixteen drivers entered, four meetings raced, eight have qualified for Stage 2...and we go again with points reset to zero, this coming Sunday at Northampton Shaleway.

Over the last two years, qualification from Stage 1 into Stage 2 has come down to the last meeting. 2026 was no different, and interest centred on Group A at the Teng Tools sponsored Buxton Raceway round. 1 Tom Harris was through, but 67 Henry Robson, 96 Tom Holcroft and 212 Danny Wainman were fighting it out for the remaining 'ticket to stay in the Shootout'. Points were really close, and it was incredibly difficult to call pre-meeting.

Following an incident between 96 Tom and 212 Danny in the Meeting Final neither driver made it out for the Grand National. This left the door open for 67 Henry Robson, in his first Shootout, to progress. He just needed to score well, and that he did. A 6th place put Henry through, only for the North Eastern based driver to fall foul of post race technical checks. A disappointed Henry out, Danny in, and we had our 'Stage 2 qualifiers confirmed'. 

At this juncture, I just want to convey a big 'thank you' to our Stage 1 Round sponsors: Buxton Raceway, MGtastic, Makim Electrical and Teng Tools. The support is invaluable, and enables the provision of enhanced start / prize money for the contenders. Head over to the BSCDA Website for all the details you may need, and if the opportunity arises, please make use of these businesses. 

There is often talk on social media that getting the children involved in stock cars at an early age, is a real lever in creating 'fans of the future'. Available from the Race Hub has been driver postcards. We had a lot printed. I lost track of the amount of kids (and adults) I have seen walking round the pits, postcard and pen in hand, getting those all-important driver signatures. Brilliant to see, and full credit to this years 'Shootout Stars' who have spent quality time on these interactions. As detailed above, you just don't know where these small moments will lead.

I do wonder if myself and Sophie need our own postcards next year? Must add it to the BSCDA idea's board.

Round 1 of Stage 2 gets underway this Sunday at Northampton Shaleway, sponsored by DS Builders. We have the eight drivers, and the seeding system is in place again to assign 'who is who's group'. Basically, two of the four Stage 1 group winners, and two of the four Stage 1 runner's-up...combine to make a new group.

• Group A is as follows: 1 Tom Harris, 446 Joe Booth, 368 Callum Thornton and 418 Neils Tesselaar.
• Group B: 212 Danny Wainman, 16 Mat Newson, 515 Frankie Wainman Jnr and 120 Casey Englestone.

There are four rounds, two shale and two tarmac, with one driver from each dropping out at its conclusion. On current form you would suggest Tom Harris will be a strong bet for progression. 446 Joe Booth has been mega quick on shale, as has 418 Niels but for both of these drivers tarmac is their Achilles heel. 

Will it be damage limitation at the Skegness double-header? Will JB hire a purpose-built tar machine for the occasion? Callum Thornton up until two weeks ago did not have a shale car. A purchase of the ex-47 Simon Traves machine, has significantly changed things...Callum looking very at home on the loose. A fascinating group.

Onto Group B, FWJ set his stall out early on and similarly to Mat had a relatively straightforward path to the second stage. Both drivers have had some bad luck in the last couple of meetings, and both will need a change of fortune, quickly! 212 Danny Wainman after his tough Stage 1 will be looking for a less arduous set of meetings, and 120 Casey Englestone in his first ever Shootout will be certainly looking to upset the form book. Another too tough one to call...and exciting to see how this and Group A play out.

The Race Hub will be in attendance at Northampton, with live results and points updated after every race. If you have missed out on the driver postcards and wallcharts, pop over to the hub, just remember your pen for those all-important driver squiggles. Another one for the BSCDA ideas board; a 2027 pen sponsor.

I think that brings us bang up to date with the Shootout...on to a new competition running alongside, and that is 'The Shield', sponsored by Scenario Risk Partners. All drivers who did not automatically qualify for the 'race for Silver' are automatically entered. Points multipliers are in effect, and also attendance points. For full details on how the scoring works, head over to the BSCDA Website.

At the conclusion of this competition, £500 will be awarded to the top driver from each grade, and £500 to the overall winner. 545 Will Adams continues his domination at the top of the chart, just ahead of 151 Joelan Maynard who leapfrogs into second, courtesy of his strong Buxton performance. 346 Ashley England loses out, demoted to third. It's great to see representation from each grade in the Top Ten, and with plentiful points scoring opportunities ahead, it will be interesting to see what changes take place. 

The Shield, sponsored by Scenario Risk Partners also continues this Sunday at Northampton Shaleway.

If you are in attendance this weekend, enjoy...it's looking like it will be a very pleasant afternoon weatherwise. I am still getting over the fact I didn't need my coat last Saturday at Buxton!

Words: Jonathan Abbott.

Photographs: Colin Casserley / Dave Bastock