SMD & LRP @ UK Truggy Nats R2

The LRP SMD Truggy Team hit the road to join the fun at KMRC in Kent for the 2nd round of the BRCA Truggy Nationals. It was a late arrival for us being 3.30am Saturday Morning but this did nothing to dampen the spirit. The Kent track was looking good, a true dirt off road track with some big jumps, flowing on power sections with many different lines available to all drivers. With a very loose surface it was always going to be hard to pick the right tyre.

Just 30 drivers were in attendance for this round so some good points were up for grabs, we had 2 practice rounds with 5 x 7min Qualifiers on the Saturday and 2 further rounds on the Sunday Morning. Some major setup changes were needed to cope with the bumpy loose track and this caught most of us out. By the time round 4 came along we were pretty much on the pace. Jordan Banks had a wonderful qualifying session keeping himself in the mix for the A final. Stan had 3 steady runs after setup changes and managed to stay in the top 10. Joe was finding things hard at the Kent track and struggled to get the car right…

Day 2 proved better for both Joe & Stan, some major setup changes had helped and Joe went faster in both rounds on the Sunday along with Stan both drivers hitting 10 laps still some way off the pace but feeling better about the final. Final Qualifying Positions, 4 LRP cars in the top 10, with Mark Bailey needing a bump from the B final.

Qualifs

1. Matthew Lewis (Kyosho/RB)
2. Ed Kerry (Losi/NovaRossi)
3. Darren Hayden-Ball (Losi/Orion)
4. Jordan Banks (LRP/Alpha)
5. Wayne Pratley (Losi/Nitrotec)
6. Joe Joyce (LRP/OS)
7. Stan Gill (LRP/REDS)
8. Tommo Upson (LRP/GRP)
9. Josh Powney (Associated/Reedy)
10. Michael Lewis (Kyosho/Novarossi)

The B final was fun for all, Mark putting in an excellent drive to make the bump to the A final giving the LRP Team 5 drivers in the A Main. The A main was set to be a demanding race over 45min, anything could happen and it did! A good start for the front runners allowed the top 4 to get away, both Joe and Stan got caught up through the twisty section of the track leaving them down the field. Jordan had a great start making 3rd position, Tommo in 5th, Joe & Stan in 6th & 7th with a long way to go. 2 of the top runners dropped out with technical issues leaving Matt Lewis way out in front, both Joe and Stan worked their way through the field into 2nd & 3rd after Jordan dropped back into 6th place. Positions stayed the same until the end of the 45min final, all in all a good result for the LRP drivers with 5 cars in the final, all finishing!

Final

1. Matthew Lewis (Kyosho/RB)
2. Joe Joyce (LRP/OS)
3. Stan Gill (LRP/REDS)
4. James Tatlow (Losi/OS)
5. Mark Bailey (LRP/Alpha)
6. Josh Powney (Associated/Reedy)
7. Jack Sweetman (Hong Nor X1CRT)
8. Tommo Upson (LRP/GRP)
9. Darren Hayden Ball (Losi/Orion)
10. Jordan Banks (LRP/Alpha)
11. Kevin Davies (Associated/Alpha)
12. Wayne Pratley (Losi/Nitrotec)
13. Ed Kerry (Losi/Novarossi)

By BuggySport and SMD