Shropshire sidecar stars suffer technical troubles

The 2.6 mile circuit in Cheshire was the setting for the second round of the British Sidecar Championship.

Shrewsbury’s Team Hannafin Racing, with driver Rupert Archer and passenger Steve Thomas, from Birkenhead, made the trip for the 12-lap race.

The omens were not looking great following free practice, which saw the pair complete just four laps due to a small electrical fault, leaving them in ninth place.

And just before qualifying the heavens opened, making the track greasy.

After one lap the electrical gremlins kicked in again and the pair had to retire.

The problem still continued, which saw them miss the Monday morning warm up – this time a main fuse on their Kawasaki-powered machine causing the problem.

With more repair work the pair made it to the start line ready for the race.

In near perfect conditions for the televised Bank Holiday race, the team started well but their luck again ran out again on lap four when they had to retire, this time with clutch problems.

Speaking in the garage after the race, Shrewsbury driver Archer said “It’s so disappointing.

“The team worked really hard to fix the electrical faults – then the clutch goes.”

Fellow Shrewsbury sidecar competitor passenger Tom Bryant and driver Nev Jones, from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, were also in action.

Qualifying saw them starting the race in an excellent 10th place.

For Sunday’s race the pair set off on the sighting lap when the chain on their Yamaha-powered machine snapped, putting them out of the race.

Bryant said afterwards: “We are so disappointed.

“We knew in those conditions that we could have had a top 10 or better spot.”

Both teams have just over five weeks to fix their problems, returning to action for round three at Knockhill, in Scotland, from June 16-18.