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Race report by Oli Meggitt
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The fourth round of the popular Essex Winter Series took place this weekend. With this being the first major Touring Car race of 2014 in the UK, a number of drivers had new teams, cars or parts on their car, and everyone was hoping to get the new year off to a winning start.
In the popular Pro-Stock class, the focus would be whether Team XRAYâ™s Zak Finlay, the current UK National Pro Stock Champion, could continue his winning form at EWS. Zak had won the second and third round of the championship, and looked to carry that momentum into 2014. It wasnâ™t the start Zak was looking for, however, as he got caught out by a tape line in the first round of qualifying. In round 2, Zak was back on the pace and took second in the round behind Tony Broad. Zak then went fastest in round 3, ahead of Tony, with another XRAY driver, Jon Seals, tying for the third fastest time in the round. Zak had clearly put his first round incident well behind him now and topped the final qualifying heat too, which secured him the pole position. XRAY was the most popular car in the A Final, with four drivers choosing the T4 â™14.
The Pro Stock A Final stared with the first two cars initially battling over the race lead. However, Zak quickly got into his groove and began to extend the gap to Tony, which he calmly managed and maintained until the five minute buzzer. Reece Hodges and James Baker also showed speed with their XRAYs and were involved in the six-way battle for the final podium spot, but some bad luck left them sixth and seventh overall.
PRO STOCK A FINAL RESULT:
1. Zak Finlay â“ XRAY T4
2. Tony Broad
3. Richard King
4. Ben Putt
5. Dean Gibbs
6. Reece Hodges â“ XRAY T4
7. James Baker â“ XRAY T4
8. Ashley Wiffen
9. Jon Seals â“ XRAY T4
10. Darren Lee
In the Modified class, XRAY was also represented in the A Final with James Hart, Matt Winyard and Phil Chambers, up against the best UK Touring Car drivers.
MODIFIED A FINAL RESULT:
1. Elliott
2. Matthew White
3. Chris Grainger
4. Paul Pinkney
5. James Hart â“ XRAY T4
6. Alan Bickerstaff
7. Matthew Winyard â“ XRAY T4
8. Phil Chambers â“ XRAY T4
9. Brian Eldridge
10. Kyle Branson
In the Stock class, again XRAY had representation in the A Final, with Nathan Morgan and Colin Gardiner taking their T4 â 14s to top 10 places.
STOCK A FINAL RESULT:
1. Jimmy Maddison
2. Gavin Clinch
3. Luke Hobson
4. Mark Trinder
5. Nathan Morgan â“ XRAY T4
6. Mark Young
7. Dominic Skinner
8. Michael Ball
9. Colin Gardiner â“ XRAY T4
10. Richard Clarke
With four out of the six rounds of the Championship now complete, Zak Finlay leads the Pro Stock standings, and is now favourite to take the title. James Hart remains in contention for the prestigious Modified overall championship, and Colin Gardiner leads the Stock championship table.
The series continues in February, ahead of the International Carpet Challenge event. |
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