The crowning of 2023 champions
With the advent of autumn many of the prized Motorsport UK series reach their thrilling conclusions as title races reach fever point and worthy champions are crowned.
Last Sunday saw Ash Sutton move another big step closer to a fourth British Touring Car Championship crown with a sensational race two victory from a lowly 23rd on the grid after a poor tyre choice in the dry/wet opener.
Having then posted a further podium finish in the third of Silverstone’s trio of tin-top showdowns, Sutton now holds a sizable 45 point advantage over defending champion Tom Ingram, with just next month’s season finale at Brands Hatch left of the 2023 BTCC calendar.
While there are plenty of scores still to settle in the BTCC, the chase for three other premier Motorsport UK titles was resolved over the weekend: Adrien Fourmaux added his name to the illustrious roster of British Rally Championship winners; Bobby Wallace blasted his way to a first Pro Modified Drag Racing crown at Santa Pod and Lwi Edwards lifted the Drift Pro Championship at a tyre-smoky Brands Hatch.
Aged 30, Wallace is the youngest champion since wild Pro Modified ‘doorslammers’ became the championship class in 2007 and he clinched the crown despite losing in the opening head-to-head round at the STP National Finals.
With Wallace out of contention, it was French veteran Jean Dulamon who capped his maiden Pro Modified victory by setting the race’s quickest elapsed time, 5.918sec, having previously captured his first pole position at 5.954sec – both sub six second times were personal bests. Top speed of the fiercely-fought event was set by Jon Webster at 241.59mph.
Hailing from Wrexham in north Wales, it is no surprise that Edwards cut his motorsport teeth in rallying. He was then, however, given a drift experience at Learn2Drift by his father as a 16th birthday present… and he hasn’t looked back since!
What’s more, he won the title in terrific style with a stirring, sideways victory in his Bilstein BMW E36 – a testament to the unwavering consistency and skill he has displayed throughout the entire season.
Motorsport UK congratulates all its newly crowned champions.