France Season Gets Underway in 70th Year of UK Stock Car Racing

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08 May 2024

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The BriSCA F1 2024 season roared into life in March, in a year which will see celebrations of 70 years of Stock Car Racing in the UK.

The very first Stock Car Race on UK soil was held on Good Friday at New Cross Stadium in London back in 1954. British, American and French drivers participated in the event, watched on by 25,000 spectators. Frenchman Chevalier d’Orgeix was the victor of that very first event.

Over a 70-year history, the formula has evolved from genuine ‘stock’ cars to highly specialised purpose-built machines with huge power combined with mean-looking steel bumpers and side rails to withstand the rigours of full-contact racing.

Another milestone will be the 6,000^th stock car race meeting which will be held at Odsal Stadium on 26^th May, home track of NAPA Racing UK’s Jack France.

Season Opener – King’s Lynn – 16^th March

This years competition commenced at King’s Lynn on 16^th March with our very own Jack France in the #216 car. “It was great to get back behind the wheel of the shale car and boy was it fast!” commented Jack, who starts the year at red ‘Star’ grade. “Starting the year off at red is pretty tough” he added, referring to stock car starting position system where the highest grade drivers star further down the grid. With lots of cars to overtake, France made good progress through the pack and was up to 6^th when a coming together with a slower car undid the hard work. Undeterred, the NAPA driver pressed on and recovered to a sold 8^th place finish – securing a place in the Grand Final.

With many drivers keen to get their seasons off to a flying start, competition in the Grand Final was tough and France was in the thick of the action. As the race progressed, the NAPA machine was battling for 5^th position before a full course caution brought the race to a temporary stop. As the green flag dropped to result the race, a number of cars came together and the contact squashed the exhausts of the 216 car. “The exhaust damage meant I couldn’t carry on, which was a shame with the pace we had in the car. I’m really happy with the work we have done over winter, it’s worked” concluded an optimistic France.

Northampton – 23^rd March

Next up was Northampton Shaleway, host of the 2023 World Final, for the 23^rd March meeting. Jack put on a stella performance in Heat 1, working his way up the positions from his red grade starting position. A brilliant 5^th place finish secured a place in the Grand Final once again. The cars blasted off for the Final and the #216 was up to 7^th with an electrical issue caused the engine to cut out. “I think I must have some sort of curse with finals!” commented Jack afterwards, undeterred the team diagnosed and repaired the issue for the final race of the day; the Grand National. The team was rewarded with the brilliant 5^th place finish, securing valuable points.

Skegness – 29^th March

The Lincolnshire venue played host to the first tarmac race meeting of the year and the popular Skegness Stadium is set to host the 2024 World Final in September. It was the NAPA Racing BriSCA F1 teams first opportunity to compete with the tarmac car, as used by Dan Rowbottom in November, this season. Jack adjusted from shale to tarmac brilliantly, piloting the car to 10^th in Heat 1 and a strong 5^th in the Consolation race. “Having raced predominantly on shale until last year, I’m super pleased with the progress we’re making on tarmac” said Jack. The West Yorkshire based driver also quashed the curse and put in a brilliant drive in the final bringing the car home 8^th place as the chequered flag fell.

Kings Lynn – 6^th April

The second visit of the year to the Norfolk track came on 6^th April. The NAPA shale car was pressed into action once again, flying into a brilliant 6^th place position in the Heat and therefore securing a place in the Grand Final for the 4^th consecutive meeting. Bad luck returned for the Final with Jack not finishing.

Buxton – 13^th April

The BriSCA F1 teams headed into the Peak District for the second tarmac race meeting of the year. This was a World Final Qualifier event and therefore an opportunity to score points towards getting a position in the 2 Semi Finals later in the year. Jack put in a good drive to finish 8^th in the Heat and qualify for the Grand Final once again. A DNF in the final was unfortunate but more valuable experience had been gained.

Hednesford – 14^th April

Travelling straight from Buxton, the Hednesford Hills track made this weekend a ‘tarmac double-header’. The team left with a 10^th place finish in the Heat on their first visit to this track.

Bradford – 20^th April

The first visit of the year to France’s home track of Odsal Stadium in Bradford was on 20^th April, now in it’s 4^th year since reopening. The NAPA car was really on the pace, battling with a strong field of competitors. A 5^th place finish in the Heat secured a place in the Grand Final. A stella drive in the Final saw a 5^th place finish, after a tremendous battle with a number of Star grade drivers. The #216 car shone again in the Grand National, making it a trio of 5^th place finishes!

Mildenhall – 26^th April

Due to the postponement of KingsBattle2024 in Blauwhuis in the Netherlands, the NAPA Racing BriSCA F1 team were able to make first visit to Mildenhall of the year.  It would prove to be a fruitful trip with an absolutely brilliant drive in heat 1 which saw the #216 NAPA car take a fantastic race win! “I’m super pleased to bring home a win for NAPA, the team deserve it” Jack commented. A DNF followed in the Final but Jack bounced back to bring the car home a very credible 5^th in the Grand National. It was a good haul of points to start the weekend.

Northampton – 27^th April

The BriSCA F1s roared into Northampton for the next time this season.  Momentum was on the team’s side and the car was on the pace once again. Heat 1 was another race to remember, with Jack overtaking all before him to take victory. It was now 2 race wins in 2 days for the #216 machine. The Final was a hard fought race with on form Craig Finnikin in the #55 car taking the win, France put in a good performance against a strong field bringing the car home in a good 7^th place.

Next stop: The Netherlands!

The NAPA Racing BriSCA F1 team are proud to be heading to Blauwhuis in the Netherlands to take part in the Kings Battle event on 9^th and 10^th May. Then it’s back to home soil, (or should we say tarmac) for the UK Open Championship Open weekend at Skegness! And with the BTCC in action at Brands Hatch, it’s action packed few days for NAPA Racing UK.

 

Photo CreditS: Colin Casserley AND IAN BANNISTER

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