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Sunday 13th September the date, Northampton Shaleway the venue, for the commencement of Stage 2, Round 1 of this year's GBE UK National Points Championship Shootout...'the race for the Silver roof'.
Eight drivers will battle it out over four meetings to make the crucial third and final Stage. As a reminder of the two new groups:
- Group A: 1 Tom Harris, 368 Callum Thornton, 418 Niels Tesselaar & 446 Joe Booth.
- Group B: 16 Mat Newson, 120 Casey Englestone, 212 Danny Wainman & 515 Frankie Wainman Jnr.
The groups are derived from the qualified driver's finishing position in Stage 1, and seeded accordingly.
Before racing got underway, it was time to bring back the 'Shootout Jnr Grid Draw'. This draw is used to determine starting position within each group, for all races, in that particular round.
I love the Shootout Junior draw, it is such a unique thing that we do, and the kids involved really do have the best time. Getting to meet your heroes, seeing yourself in a video on social media and receiving a brilliant goody-bag, what is there not to like!
The draw always feels like the calm before the storm, lots of (friendly) banter between the Shootout contenders before the serious business of racing gets underway. We always get a crowd of race fans too...feels like I'm on stage performing to an audience...I'm sure I have missed my real-life vocation.
Anyway back to Northampton, and the draw which was conducted by five year old Stanley, his favourite driver 1 Tom Harris. The rain was coming down at this juncture, but it certainly didn't dampen proceedings. With the draw complete it was a big wait until the F1's made it to the track, the 'big league' as a support to the F2 and Saloon World Finals over the course of the weekend.
As an aside, there are plenty of opportunities for your child if they would like to be a future Shootout Jnr. Simply keep an eye on our Socials a couple of days out from a Shootout round, as we will publish 'what you need to do'.
Group A would be out in Heat 1, in the two heat format meeting. It was a busy one car number wise, many drivers wanting a last practice opportunity, prior to the World Final at the end of September. Big news, 1 Tom Harris did not make the top 12 in this one, and missed out on qualifying for the DS Builders sponsored Final at the first time of asking. With Tom out, did his fellow Shooters capitalise on his misfortune?
Well, not really, 368 Callum Thornton the highest finisher in 6th. Callum is really starting to come to grips with his ex-47 shale shifter, and on current form should make Stage 3...the burning question, will he take it to teammate and mentor Tom H? Be super interesting if he does, as he certainly has the pace to match the current Shootout Champion.
418 Niels Tesselaar and 446 Joe Booth did score in this one as the Top 12 were being taken to the Meeting Final. Unfortunately for Joe it would be his last appearance of the afternoon.
Heat 2 and the Group B Shootout drivers fared much better. 16 Mat Newson took the win, just beating 216 Jack France to the line. After his big impact with the Buxton fence the weekend prior, great to see 212 Danny Wainman out on track, and not only that, deliver a strong third place ahead of brother 515 Frankie Wainman Jnr. Shootout newbie 120 Casey Englestone claimed the last qualifying spot, meaning that it would be just Tom in the Consolation race.
I along with many others expected a dominant performance...but Tom did not look his usual self. A 9th place was the best he could manage. Back in the pits, frantic work was carried out on the black and gold machine prior to the Meeting Final. Whatever was causing the problem, it was resolved, Tom back on form in the main race of the day.
As we know, an incident in Round 1 of this year's Shootout saw 138 Dave Polley miss the remainder of Stage 1, and his resultant elimination from the championship. Northampton weekend was Dave's return to racing, and he looked very quick...so much so that he stormed to victory in the Final, and even had time for a 'last bender' on one of our Dutch visitors! Not sure if Dave thought he was leading, or whether he thought TH was a bit close for comfort in second. Whatever the reasoning, Tom came up the inside of Dave as they exited turn four.
Dave was having none of it, and dropped down the track to squeeze Tom off the racing line. Dave took the chequered, Tom continued into second and 515 Frankie Wainman Jnr took third. Tom picked up a bit of damage as a result of his tussle with Dave. Busy times once more at the Harris transporter, there was only one race before the F1's were back out on track for the Grand National.
How did everyone else do? Well they weren't in the results. Callum's race came to a premature end courtesy of the front bumper of Craig Finn, 212 Danny Wainman made a big lunge for a place, which didn't go to plan, and it was flat tyres / mechanical issues for the rest.
16 Mat Newson and 446 Joe Booth were non-starters in the Grand National. 120 Casey Englestone probably wished he hadn't, his race ending within a couple of laps. As Casey came into turn three, a huge cloud of smoke erupted from the engine, and the car came to a dead-stop in turn four. I am no mechanic but that did not look good, a really disappointing afternoon for the likeable Norfolk based star.
Tom's change in fortune didn't last long, he was sent to the wall by a train of red roofed drivers which is where he would remain for the duration. FWJ looked quick again in this one, but seemed to tail off as the race reached half distance. That said he still delivered a decent fourth, and would end the day as the top points scoring Shootout driver. Niels, Danny, and Callum also picked up placings, but didn't really make any headway in their group standings.
So, with one round completed, this is how the tables look:
Tom Harris heads group A, Joe Booth is currently in elimination spot four. FWJ tops Group B, and Casey is in the same position as Joe. But as you can see there really isn't anything in it. One good meeting for a driver would see a real change of fortune, in the 2026 race for Silver.
The Shootout Championship now 'goes on hold' as attention switches to the biggest meeting of the year, the World Championship. We resume on Saturday 10th / Sunday 11th October for a Skegness tarmac double-header. Got a real sense that Stage 2 is shaping up to be a good one!
BSCDA TV's recap from Northampton is available on our YouTube channel, and features one of our favourite activities, eliminating drivers on the Shootout Race Hub graphics! Give it a watch! Before I sign off, a big "thank you" to Round Sponsor, DS Builders. Our sponsors are so important to the success of this Championship, and if you can make use of any of their services please do so...all the details can be found on the BSCDA website.
- Words: Jonathan Abbott.
- Photographs: Dave Bastock
