This weekend had an exciting array of different disciplines both nationally and internationally from the 12-car rally, Autosolo, and Autotest at Carver Barracks, the Clwyd Trial, Rallynuts stage rally to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Formula E-Prix in Rome, there is plenty to catch up with in this weekend in review.

Motorsport Month Anglia and South East

April is Motorsport Month Anglia and South East and both regions are full of a varied mix of motorsport events and activity.

Across the weekend, Anglia Motorsport Club held the Mercury Trophy 12-Car Rally and the Debden Autosolo and Autotest at Carver Barracks.

Novice and Expert Awards were given at the Mercury Trophy 12-Car Rally with Sporting Car Club of Norfolk taking the Winning Club title.

Not sure what a 12-Car Rally is? An event for up to 12 cars, the competition follows a defined route, is strictly timed and lasts about two hours or 50 miles. Ideal for both beginners and experts, the more experienced crews receive tougher clues en-route whereas the novices are often given clues in advance or have a map with the route already planned.

At the Debden Autosolo and Autotest, Kevin Lockwood took the overall honours with a strong performance across 20 tests.

Motorsport UK Academy driver Harry Rice took the win in his category.

Motorsport Month is designed to champion the range of motorsport disciplines available with the local celebration showcasing some of the best motorsport events and demonstrating the various pathways into the sport.

For more on Motorsport Month, visit – https://www.motorsportuk.org/events/motorsport-month/.

Clwyd Trial

Garry Preston took the overall honours at the Clwyd Vale Motor Club’s Clwyd Trial on Sunday. Battling the course in his Fiat 126, Preston was the top performer in a field of 17 competitors who took on the challenge in the north of Wales.

Rupert North, Ifan Roberts and Barrie Parker won their respective class disciplines.

Check out one of Preston’s runs HERE and see the full results HERE.

Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship – Rallynuts Stage Rally

Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear made it a second successive victory in the Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship after claiming top spot in the Rallynuts Stage Rally.

The pair started on the front foot and were never headed at the top of the timesheets, piloting their Ford Fiesta R5+ to the winner’s circle ahead of second-placed Elliot Payne and Patrick Walsh.

Dylan Davies and Mark Glennerster rounded out the top three, with the next event scheduled to be the Plains Rally on 21 May.

FIA Formula 1 World Championship – Albert Park, Melbourne

Charles Leclerc extended his lead at the top of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship after claiming victory in Albert Park, Melbourne, and scoring his third podium in as many races.

From pole, the Ferrari ace went virtually un-challenged and held a comfortable gap back to second-placed Max Verstappen before the Red Bull hit mechanical problems at two-thirds distance and was forced into retirement.

His team-mate, Sergio Perez, inherited the runner-up spot, taking the chequered flag some 20.5 seconds behind Leclerc, who now leads in the standings by 34 points.

His nearest rival is now Mercedes-AMG’s George Russell after the Brit claimed a first podium for the Brackley-based team in third, leading home team-mate Lewis Hamilton after a steady run for the Silver Arrows.

McLaren enjoyed something of a return to form after a tricky start to the new campaign, with the last of the British contingent on the grid, Lando Norris, leading home hero Daniel Ricciardo in fifth and sixth respectively.

Formula 1 heads next to Imola for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix across the weekend of 22-24 April.

FIA Formula E World Championship – Rome ePrix, Italy

Mitch Evans gave his FIA Formula E World Championship hopes a shot in the arm with an emphatic double victory on the streets of Rome.

The Jaguar TCS Racing driver was in a class of his own in the Eternal City, cutting through the field from ninth and fourth respectively to the winner’s circle, his second and third career victories in Rome respectively.

After leading home Robin Frijns (Envision) and Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes EQ) in the opener, the Kiwi ace had to make use of his attack mode in the latter stages of the second contest to power by Frijns and Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Techeetah) to complete the double.

Vergne takes over at the top of the standings after a torrid weekend for erstwhile leader Nyck De Vries (Mercedes EQ), two points clear of Frijns.

Sam Bird (Jaguar) claimed the sole top-five finish for the British contingent in the opening race, with NIO 333 duo Oliver Turvey and Dan Ticktum also among the points on Sunday. For Ticktum, tenth spot marks the first point of his Formula E career.

The next round of the FIA Formula E World Championship will be held in Monaco on 30 April.