Shropshire Star

Speeding into spring at Shelsley Walsh

The first competitive event of the year at Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb is being held this weekend (April 30 and May 1) and has attracted a full entry as some of the very best cars and drivers from across the country who will head to the iconic Teme Valley venue, near Worcester for two days of motor sport on Saturday and Sunday.

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Several new machines and first time drivers will be making an appearance at the Midland Automoble Club's 'Speed into Spring' event in a wide variety of sports, classic, saloon and racing cars, alongside entrants in the highly competitive and popular Midland Hill Climb Championship.

Reigning Midland champion Mike Turpin, of Hereford, will continue the defence of his title in his extremely quick Vauxhall VX220 while Droitwich driver Duncan Andrews steadily improves in his much-modified Porsche Cayman in the modified sports car class. Tewkesbury driver Tony Hunt this year joins former Shelsley Walsh fastest-time-of-day winner Terry Graves in the large racing car class in their shared Gould GR55.

Over 20 cars are entered into the 1100cc motorcycle-engined single-seater racing class, which always provides extremely close and competitive times, with local Martley driver Chris Aspinall possibly taking the honours in the Empire Wraith machine, which he shares with fellow local driver Clive Austin of Clifton-on-Teme.

Two classes for racing cars manufactured before 1971 and 1985 will see classic examples from Brabham, Lola, Alexis, Lotus and Pilbeam cars taking to the hill with Worcester driver Bryony Serrell in her Lotus 51 upholding local honour.

Henley-in-Arden driver Keith Bristow will make his debut in the latest 3.5 litre supercharged Lotus Exige V6 as part of a full entry in the Paul Matty Sports Cars Lotus Championship, which hosts ten drivers in its sports class and 12 in the class for classic Lotus racing cars.

The Porsche Club of Great Britain National Hill Climb Championship has nearly a dozen examples of the marque taking part including Carrerra, 911 GT3 and Cayman models.

A class for relative newcomers to the sport who hold a B grade competition licence and drive road going cars, which is sponsored by Newbarn Cars, has attracted several local entrants driving a variety of cars including Renault Clio, MG Rover, Mazda MX5 and a Ford Capri.

Practise and qualifying takes place on Saturday with timed competition runs in programme order with full commentary on Sunday including run off competitions for the fastest twelve cars taking place at the end of both morning and afternoon sessions.

Tickets on the gate are £12.00 for Saturday and £15.00 on Sunday.

Track action starts at 9.15am and finishes around 5.30pm

Further details can be obtained at www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk

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