Premier Sprint Round 6

Introduction and Qualifying

Llandow circuit in the Vale of Glamorgan played host to Wales’s premier motorsport event, round six of the 2011 Club 100 Sprint Championship, or the Welsh Grand Prix as it has become known. The circuit itself is fast, technical and fairly easy to defend on, unless of course, you are Jamie Jakins. Another feature of the track is the famous Russ Pittingales Sausage, which is feared by experienced drivers who know how uncomfortable it is to ride.

Kieran McCullough was on blistering form in the heats to take pole for final 1 with a 4th place finish in heat 1 and an incredible win from 12th on the grid in heat 2. Jamie Jakins also shone in the heats, scoring a 2nd in heat 1 backed up with a solid 10th in heat 2 after starting 20th. George Lovell and an on form Dave Pethers lined up on the 2nd row. Phil Ingram and Parmveer Nijjar made up row 3.

Jamie Jakins took a superb pole for final 2, setting a new lap record in the 2nd heat. Parmveer Nijjar took 2nd. On the 2nd row were Steve Kendall and George Lovell. Kieran McCullough and Phil Ingram lined up on row 3.

Final 1

McCullough and Jakins led away in order from the front row while the second row pair of Lovell and Pethers made contact at the Hook yet managed to keep going and maintain their positions. Over the line to begin lap 2 and Jakins was a fraction ahead of McCullough, who wasn’t willing to give away the lead easily and made Jamie go the long way round into the first section of the Hook. Jamie braved it out and had the inside line for the tighter left hander which meant he was able to go clear into the lead. As Jakins led McCullough and Lovell, Pethers and Nijjar were disputing 4th place, Nijjar briefly ahead exiting the last corner before Pethers used his greater momentum to regain the place. Jakins, who always excels at Llandow, was starting to edge away from McCullough, no doubt helped by Kieran having to defend from Lovell who was giving him a hard time. As soon as McCullough was able to shake off Lovell and concentrate on catching Jakins the gap to the leader narrowed, with Lovell staying a comfortable 3rd ahead of Pethers and Nijjar. Behind them Stuart Symonds and Brian Trott were scrapping over 6th place, ahead of Carl Tebbut and Steve Kendall who soon caught up and made it a quartet fighting for the position. At the halfway stage McCullough had caught Jakins and set up a thrilling fight which allowed Lovell to catch them both and make it a three way scuffle for the lead with positions changing corner after corner. After a good move by Jakins up the inside of the Sausage corner also allowed Lovell to pass McCullough, things looked like they might be about to go Jamie’s way. Not for long though as Kieran was soon back past Lovell and right behind Jakins again, setting up a grandstand finish with the last few laps seeing some absolutely brilliant pod to pod racing from two great drivers. Winning this final was clearly going to be about hitting the front at the right time, and it was McCullough who got it right, taking the chequered flag from Lovell, who had sneaked past Jakins at the last corner. Stuart Symonds took 4th after a good drive from grid 9, with Dave Pethers a lonely 5th. Good to see the reigning HW champion Pethers at the sharp end of a final again. Steve Kendall had an impressive drive to 6th from grid 12, ahead of Carl Tebbut. Lee Kemp, Jon Lisseter and Brian Trott rounded out the top 10, Trott 5th on the road but collecting a good haul of penalty points demoting him down the order.

Final 2

After the first attempt at starting was waved off because of a midfield melee, Jakins got away well at the restart to lead from Nijjar and Lovell who had got the jump on Steve Kendall. After a frantic but fairly well mannered first lap Jakins led narrowly from Nijjar and Lovell, this trio having made a break from the following pack headed by Kendall. Lovell soon took second from Nijjar and began to apply the pressure on Jakins. After a steady start McCullough was up to 4th at the expense of Kendall and then a couple of laps later took third from Nijjar at the Sausage. At the halfway stage, Jakins led narrowly from Lovell with McCullough looking dangerous in third. As Lovell had a tentative look at the inside of Jakins into the Hook, the stalking McCullough latched right on to the back of them, making it a three kart fight for the lead. Lovell briefly headed Jakins, passing him at the last corner only for Jamie to get a better exit and retake the lead. With the leaders so close they were soon caught by the rest of the pack, the order as they approached the closing stages being Jakins, Lovell, McCullough, Nijjar, Trott and Symonds. With a couple of laps to go, McCullough took second from Lovell at the last corner to set up a fight with Jakins for the win. As Big Mick readied the last lap board, McCullough was drafting Jakins down the back straight, forcing Jamie to defend into the last corner, just about keeping the lead as they crossed the line to begin the last lap. With Jakins taking a narrow line all the way around the last lap the race win depended on Jamie being able to defend at the last corner. He did defend, but wasn’t narrow enough as McCullough was able to sneak by and hold the advantage on the exit, flashing across the line to take the chequered flag ahead of a gutted Jakins in second, having been mugged at the last corner for the second time that day, not to mention the last lap of a final here two years ago when he lost the lead at the last corner of the race to.... yes, you guessed it, Kieran McCullough. Trott took third ahead of Lovell, next up was Symonds and Nijjar with Kendall 7th. Phil Ingram, Matt Brooks and Oliver Allwood completed the top 10.

Driver of the day – Kieran McCullough- Again... Won both finals and took his winning streak to an incredible four straight wins.