Lauder race ace Steve aims to extend lead

The next clash of the Titans among the Molson F1 sidecar competitors comes to Knockhill on Sunday, September 20.
Steve Kershaw and Ryan Charlwood in action at Snetterton (picture by Barry Clay)Steve Kershaw and Ryan Charlwood in action at Snetterton (picture by Barry Clay)
Steve Kershaw and Ryan Charlwood in action at Snetterton (picture by Barry Clay)

It’ll also be a chance for Kershaw Racing to recapture the winning touch, after the disappointment of a second-place finish and a failed bid in race two, last time out at Snetterton.

Lauder ace Steve Kershaw, champion in 2018, and his wing man, Ryan Charlwood, still maintained their 10-point lead in the series – but it’s looking a little more precarious as their main rivals begin to hit their stride.

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Steve was understandably disappointed after race two, saying: “We had great pace in race one and were waiting for the last lap to make a move but never got the chance.

“In race two, the engine felt flat from the off and we tried our best but couldn’t make it to the finish.

“Easy points lost, unfortunately!”

It was a windy, wild but warm weekend which greeted the Molson F1 sidecar competitors to the old airfield circuit in Norfolk and, with no spectators permitted to the BSB series, there was no hiding place from the gusty conditions.

A welcome sight was a return to action of 2015-16 champion Ricky Stevens and reigning world champion Tim Reeves, sporting new passengers – Johnny Allum and Kevin Rousseau respectively – with both teams committed to the rest of the season.

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The Friday qualifying had wind gusts of up to 60mph, with 2019 champions Ellis/Richardson making the best of it, ahead of Reeves/Rousseau, with series leaders Kershaw/Charlwood just ahead of Stevens/Allum and a strong chasing pack.

Saturday for the 10-lap first race was not as windy but certainly wild on track.

From the off, Reeves/Rousseau got the drive to the first corner first, with Santander Salt teammates Ellis/Richardson and Kershaw/Charlwood determined not to let them go.

Quickly gapping the field headed by Stevens/Allum, for five laps, the three crews were line astern with less than one second covering them, before Ellis pulled the pin, broke the lap record and lunged past Reeves in the infield section to take the lead on lap six.

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Both crews looked well beyond the limit as Ellis defended and Reeves attacked, with Kershaw waiting to pounce on any mistake.

As lap seven started, Reeves/Rousseau got the slipstream into turn one and scythed inside to retake the lead, with Kershaw/Charlwood trying to follow them through.

The Ellis/Richardson combo, meanwhile, was equally determined to hold on round the outside.

But, on the dirty part of the track, a spin upended the outfit at around 100mph, landing mid-track, instantly bringing out the red flags and the end of the race.

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Amazingly, neither men nor machine were damaged, other than dented pride.

The result was declared, with Reeves/Rousseau winners from Kershaw/Charlwood and Stevens /Allum third.

A much calmer day arrived for race two on the Sunday afternoon but the storm on track was soon brewing.

With the first top 10 reverse grid of the year, Reeves/Rousseau and Kershaw/Charlwood were back on row five, with Ellis/Richardson on row eight.

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As the lights went out, team Kershaw became sandwiched between Reeves and Blackstock/Rosney, losing drive and places.

Throughout lap one, both Reeves and Ellis barged through the traffic to third and fourth, with series leader Kershaw mired in eighth and struggling to pass slower outfits ahead.

By lap three, Reeves and Ellis were on the tail of leaders Christie/Christie, who were looking fast and smooth. But Reeves bludgeoned his way past at the last corner, pushing the leaders wide and letting Ellis through as well.

As they started to pull away, Kershaw/ Charlwood struggled up to fifth before the engine cried ‘enough’ on lap six, leaving them as frustrated spectators.

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On lap seven, Ellis again got ahead of the world champion but couldn’t get a gap and, by the final lap, the gloves were off. Several hard passes and repasses ended with Reeves making the decisive move, sweeping round the outside at the end of the 150mph Bentley straight and defending sternly to the line to beat the young pretender by one tenth of a second. Stevens/Allum again took third.

So with a second and a ‘DNF’ each, the Lauder crew maintain their 10-point lead in the series from Ellis/Richardson.

But, with Reeves/Rousseau only another 10 points back, ‘Tornado Tim’ is coming and threatening to blow away all before him, as he did in 2017 when he last won the series.

For possible access at Knockhill, fans can check with the circuit for details and look out for highlights on RKB F1 on Youtube.