Jack plays part in Thrilling BriSCA F1 National Points Shootout

03 Dec 2024

The BriSCA F1 2024 National Points Shootout had a revised format this year and it delivered nothing short of a thrilling end to the season with high fan engagement at track side and online.

NAPA Racing UK’s Jack France having placed a strong 8^th in the points during the season played a role in one of the most talked about parts of the knockout. The National Points Shootout is used to decide the domestic champion, an exciting format that means the honours go down to the wire as no one drivers can run away with a large points lead. 16 drivers started a 12 round knockout with, as the name suggests, drivers getting eliminated after each round. The eventual victor gets the converted ‘silver roof’.

The first round of the Shootout was at Skegness Raceway on weekend of 14^th & 15^th September as part of the World Final event. Jack had been placed in Group D with the Flying Dutchman Jelle Tesselaar, former National Points winner Matt Newson and former World Champion Charlie Sworder. At round one our #216 machine picked up a 7^th in the heat but a DNF in the Final meant there was work do to at round 2 at Odsal Stadium in Bradford. On home soil on 21^st September Jack brought the car home with some good results, a 10^th in the heat, a superb 2^nd in the Consolation, and 8^th in the Grand Final and a 7^th in Grand National. It was the points haul needed to keep him in contention.

Rounds 3 and 4 ran back to back at Northampton on 28^th September. Jack went into the race meeting 3^rd in his group, with only the top 2 progressing onto the next round the NAPA team knew they had to bring their A game. The car was running well on the Brafield shale and ready to do battle with the other shootout protagonists. The racing was close and Jack put together an ideal drive with an outright win in the heat! This put Jack 2^nd and dropped Mat Newson to 3^rd. What happened next would be subject of considerable discussion, Newson knew causing France not to finish would flip the advantage his way. Early on in the next race, the pair were soon together. Newson blocked the NAPA machine on the exit of a corner, with Jack already accelerating the contact resulted him getting stuck on Newson’s rear bumper. The two entangled cars made it onto the infield. The collision had damaged Jack’s car but Newson was able to free himself and get the race finish needed to promote himself back to 2^nd in the group. Speaking in interview for the BSCDA afterwards Jack commented “fair play to Matt, he knew what he needed to do”. The new format for the National Points Shootout would deliver more exciting moments and we thoroughly recommend a visit to the BSCDAF1 YouTube channel.

As the season drew to it’s conclusion, the team competed at 2 events at Odsal. On the 26^th October picking up good results in the heats and a 6^th in the Grand Final and then on 9^th November coming home 5^th and 6^th in the heats before an unfortunately DNF in the Grand Final. The National Points Shootout went down to the wire, the victor after the thrilling races was Tom Harris.

Speaking about the season; Jack commented “Being part of the Shootout has been mega exciting this year, the revised format really put on a show and the fans have really added to atmosphere at the events. The pressure was really on as everyone wants to win it so much but it was great to part of it”. “I want to thank everyone who helped this season, we’ve competed in the most race meetings we’ve ever done and become proud parents too” he added.

Preparations for the 2025 season are underway!

The team have made the decision to build a new car. The current machine has been developed and altered considerably over the years, but the chassis is now showing its age. A new car is an opportunity to design in the successful features tried on the old car from the offset.