Hillclimb: Groves and Moran enjoy record-breaking day at Loton

Martin Groves and Scott Moran took a pair of wins between them in a record breaking opening round of the British Hillclimb Championship at Loton Park on Monday.

Reigning champion Moran ended the day as the new outright record holder for the Loton climb thanks to his 44.42 second run. That was only after rival Groves had lowered his own 2008 mark by 0.07secs however during the first of two Top 12 Run Offs.

Never before has the outright record been broken so early in the season, but sunny skies, warm tyres and a winter's worth of bottled up enthusiasm saw the original 44.53 second effort from last September smashed twice in quick succession.

Dave Wilson, who helps the Morans in the paddock, drove his own Caterham to a new Modified Production class record as did two-time British Champion Adam Fleetwood who smashed the 2 litre record in the 1400cc Supercharged DJ Firehawk.

Jos Goodyear meanwhile had an all-nighter after having a big accident up the Cedar straight in practice, while Tom New reveled in the power of V8 for the first time at Loton Park, sharing the car this year with Chris Merrick.

For a meeting that has in years past even been held up because of snowfall, it was the perfect way to start the 2009 season under the sun.

Catch the British Hillclimb Championship on Motors TV throughout 2009.

Round 1/34
1 Martin Groves 44.46 (Rec)
2 Scott Moran 44.59
3 Deryk Young 45.28
4 Jos Goodyear 45.63
5 Paul Ranson 45.69
6 Roger Moran 46.02
7 Chris Merrick 46.03
8 Paul Haimes 46.53
9 Tom New 46.81
10 Adam Fleetwood 46.97
11 Eynon Price 47.75
12 Will Hall 47.80
Trevor Willis No Run (Gearbox)

Round 2/34
1 Scott Moran 44.42 (Rec)
2 Martin Groves 45.31
3 Jos Goodyear 45.42
4 Deryk Young 45.92
5 Trevor Willis 45.98
6 Chris Merrick 46.51
7 Tom New 46.57
8 Roger Moran 46.80
9 Paul Haimes 47.20
10 Will Hall 47.24
11 Adam Fleetwood Fail (straight on at first corner)
12 Eynon Price No Run


Toby Moody and Tom Hornsby