Branson wins British Touring Car National opener

Xray’s Kyle Branson got his BRCA National Electric Touring Car title defence off to the best possible start over the weekend taking victory at the opening round in Stafford. In qualifying it was new Yokomo signing Alex Thurston who took the first round from the Schumacher of Zak Smith. Branson responding to go quickest in Q2 again with Smith second fastest. All to play for in Q3, multiple British Champion Chris Grainger popped up to take the final round with his Schumacher from the Xray of Ben Cosgrove. With Branson in third, that was enough for him to take the pole position. Cosgrove’s second place was enough to give him the tie-break for third over fellow Xray runner, Harley Eldridge. In the finals, it was Branson, who came, saw and conquered, taking all three legs of the final for the overall win. Behind him it was Smith with two seconds and a third, and Harley Eldrige took the third podium spot with a brace of thirds.

13.5 Class
It was the 13.5 defending champion, Zak Findlay with his Xray X4, who struck first taking the first round Tq. But last year’s runner-up, James Hart with his Schumacher Mi-8, stuck back taking rounds two and three of qualifying to seal pole position. Lining up third on the grid was last year’s 17.5 champion, Billy Fletcher with his Mi8.  The first leg went as per qualifying with a win for James from Zak and Billy. With Zak taking the second leg from Billy and Chris Gunter, it was all to play for going into the third and final leg. It was James who took the win from Chris and Zak, for the overall win.  Zak took second with Billy edging out Chris for third by virtue of the tie-break.

17.5 Class
In qualifying it was the local driver, Chris Parrot, with his Schumacher Mi8 who took the first two rounds of qualifying to take pole position. Behind him on the grid, taking second in all three rounds of qualifying was Alex Brocklebank with his Mi8 and third on the grid and top Under-17 driver, taking Tq in round three of qualifying, was Jamie Hall with another Mi8. In the finals, it was Chris who swept all three legs of the final for the overall win. Behind him it was young Jamie with a brace of seconds and Alex in third.

Thanks to Mike Haswell (BRCA 1:10 Electric Circuit Section) for report.