Midland Championship for Loton Park
The Midland Hill Climb Championship launches at Loton Park, near Shrewsbury this coming weekend (19/20th April) and reigning champion Jonathen Varley, from Telford, will be hoping to kick off his title defence in style in his GWR Predator single seater racing car.
A capacity entry on both days will see a large variety of classic, saloons, sports and racing cars compete against the clock through the picturesque parkland course.
Adding to the spectacle will be competitors in the National Motor Cycle Hill Climb Championship and half a dozen guest Mini variants in the Downton Motor Club Speed Championship.
One young lady hoping to make her mark is trainee estate agent Lizzie Weaver, aged 19, from Clungunford in south Shropshire, who will be driving the family Van Diemen 91 Formula Ford racing car in competition for the first time.
Lizzie started racing in a Citroen Saxo last season but has now made the transition to open wheel racing and said: “My father Richard and brother Tom have both had great success with this car so it is now down to me to uphold the family honour and do my best.
"I am very nervous but also really excited and I am pleased to be ably assisted and supported by my long-suffering mother Helen, who has now been promoted from ‘head of catering’ to ‘spanner woman’ in the family team!”
Regional drivers competing over the weekend include Darren Gumbley of Tenbury Wells in a Force racing car, Graeme Manton of Shifnal in a Westfield, Steve Morgan of Ellesmere in an Empire Evo, Nigel Elliott of Cleobury Mortimer in a Triumph TR7-V8, Mary Elliott of Shrewsbury in an Abarth 124 Spider, Tim Higgins of Oswestry in a Westfield, Philip Steele of Welshpool in a Porsche 911 Carrera, Rick Leddy of Bishops Castle in an Audi TT, Tony Adams of Shrewsbury in a Porsche Cayman and Simon Joyce of Bridgnorth in a Renault Clio.
The action starts at 9am on Saturday and 8.30am on Sunday in programme order with practice runs first followed by timed competition runs, with detailed commentary.
Further information can be found at the club’s website www.hdlcc.com
