Former champion Martin Groves bounced back from his heavy crash at Gurston Down with maximum points in the British Hillclimb Championship’s visit to Shelsley Walsh at the weekend.
Groves and Paul Ranson, who shares his car, worked non-stop on his Gould-NME GR55 to repair the damage sustained in the practice crash at the Wiltshire venue the previous week, and was rewarded with victory in both runoffs.
“It has been a fraught week,” said Groves. “Paul and I seem to have been living at Gould Engineering, which has been flat-out making carbon parts for us in its autoclave.
“We have both been there after work each evening and not getting home until after midnight, but this result makes it worthwhile.”
The morning run was dry, but rain fell in the afternoon making conditions far more treacherous.
Groves led home championship leader Scott Moran in both runoffs, while Tom New and Rob Turnbull both had podium finishes.
Roger Moran twice finished fourth, while Ranson’s hard work was rewarded with fifth and sixth place finishes.
There was bad news for front runner Trevor Willis. After finishing eighth in the opening runoff driving his OMS Powertrec, his engine blew in the second event, leaving him with no time and as a serious doubt for the next round.
British Hillclimb Championship results – Rounds 9 & 10, Shelsley Walsh
Round 9 Top 12 run off
1 Martin Groves, 23.15
2 Scott Moran, 23.47
3 Tom New, 23.92
4 Roger Moran, 23.95
5 Paul Ranson, 23.98
6 Chris Merrick, 24.03
7 Deryk Young, 24.08
8 Trevor Willis, 24.16
9 Rob Turnbull, 24.93
10 Will Hall, 25.41
11 Oliver Tomlin, 25.46
12 John Chalmers, 26.34
Round 10 Top 12 run off
1 Martin Groves, 25.96
2 Scott Moran, 26.98
3 Rob Turnbull, 27.33
4 Roger Moran, 27.46
5 Deryk Young, 27.58
6 Paul Ranson, 27.64
= Chris Merrick, 27.64
8 Oliver Tomlin, 27.76
9 John Bradburn, 28.82
10 John Chalmers, 29.20
11 Morgan Jenkins, 29.32
12 Trevor Willis, Fail
Next round: 13 June, Loton Park
Watch British Hillclimb Championship highlights on Motors TV.
Andy Wilkinson
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