British F1: Kershaw and Charlwood take Championship lead to Donington Park 2-4th October
Despite the International Sidecar Superprix taking place over the same weekend as Donington Park, the series leaders have opted to consolidate their slender twenty-point lead, and race in round four.
The lure of a high profile International event with big prize money has attracted five crews from the UK, but there will be a full grid at Donington Park to give Steve Kershaw and Ryan Charlwood a run for their money on the Santander Salt/Quattro Yamaha.
Most likely to be in the mix at the front will be Ben and Tom Birchall on their very rapid Honda CBR600 short chassis which is bristling with innovation, and something of a prototype machine maintaining the technological edge of LCR F2 outfits.
Ricky Stevens and Jonny Allum have been on the podium four times in the last two rounds and must now be aiming to put their Kawasaki on the top step. The newly inspired Stevens, despite sponsorship woes, has shown he still has what it takes to regain the Championship he twice won.
The Beverley based Christie brothers Sam and Adam sit third in the table, and with Todd Ellis/Charlie Richardson away in Germany could easily move into second place. The same is true of Ricky Stevens, who trails the Christie boys by just ten points.
Never has there been such an opportunity for teams to capitalise, as reigning champions Ellis/Richardson, Tim Reeves/Kevin Rousseau and John Holden/Jake Lowther are among the crews absent from Donington Park.
Other big winners at Donington are likely to be Lewis Blackstock/Paddy Rosney, Phil Bell/Jimmy Connell and Tommy Philp/Tom Bryant. All these crews can earn big points in the two races on the programme and significantly shake up the table. It really is a situation of “when the cat’s away”, so expect to see colourful and dramatic action over the weekend.
The final round takes place at Brands Hatch two weeks later, with the second part of the International Sidecar Superprix running concurrently, and double points at stake in the second and final race of the season.