July British Hillclimb Championship - 6th & 7th July 2024
Report by Chris Bannister of JCB Photography
Competitors from The British Hillclimb Championship returned to Harewood Hill for rounds 13 and 14 of the British Hillclimb Championship. The event was not a round of the Harewood Hillclimb Championship but a number of regulars did take part against the cream of the British Hillclimb Championship contenders, making the event a full entry of 150 competitors.
Also joining in this weekend would be competitors from the Porsche Club Speed Championship for two rounds of its championship.
This would be the Inter-club class 14 which was won by Richard Andrews driving a Porsche 718 GT4 car #164.
Two Practices runs and up to three timed runs were completed on the Saturday for the Inter-club classes. Along with two Practice runs for the BHC competitors and a couple of timed runs.
However, these timed runs did not count for any points in the Championship. It was during the timed run after lunch that it started raining, though it was nothing like the rain that was forecast for Sunday. We can all hope that the forecast and weather apps are wrong.
Inter-club Timings and Results for Class 14
Inter-club Timings and Results for Class 42
Sunday
Alex Summers driving the DJ Firestorm comes to Harewood leading the Championship by 16 points from Will Hall and Matt Ryder. The weather or rather the rain, would have a very large impact on the event, which it seems to have managed at some of the other rounds of the British Hillclimb Championship (BHC) in 2024 as well. With a number of downpours throughout the day.
After one of the downpours, which was so heavy it resulted in standing water at Willow corner. Once this was cleared by the Marshals and inspected by the Clerk of the Course. The track was still wet but no standing water. The next issue was that a number of single seaters, who had left the paddock when it was nice and dry were now waiting on the start line area all on slick tyres. These drivers were given the all clear to very carefully drive back up to the paddock area to change onto wets.
The fastest twelve would have a run off for British Hillclimb Championship points, though only the top ten would be awarded points from ten down to one point for tenth place. This would then be repeated for the next round of the Championship.
When the run-off for BHC points takes place, only one car is on the track at a time, once the competitor has past the finish line, will post twenty, located after the finish and reports on the radio that the car has cleared the finish and is in the paddock, will the time keepers set the timing for the next competitor and the start line marshals signal to the driver to watch for the green light.
After the Practice runs and the first of the timed runs for all competitors. The all important run-offs for Round 13 of the BHC and Round 1 of the Tin Top Ten Challenge were completed.
Top 3 in the First Run-Off Round 13.
1st Car #3, Matthew Ryder driving a Gould GR59J
2nd Car #1, Wallace Menzies driving a Gould GR59
3rd Car #5 Will Hall driving a Gould GR59 Judd
David Tatham driving his DJ Firehawk Car# 108 was the only one of the Harewood regulars competing to make it into both run-offs. Though Ben Hamer driving a OMS28 Car #803 also managed to get into the first run-off.
Full Results of the Top Twelve. First Run-Off
Then after a very late lunch break, the second of the time runs were completed with another downpour during this timed run. The all important second run-offs were completed on a wet to damp and drying track. Which was when the three fastest times of the day were set, some 4 seconds off the hill record set by Matthew Ryder.
Top 3 in the Second Run-Off Round 14.
1st Car #3, Matthew Ryder driving a Gould GR59J
2nd Car #4 Alex Summers driving a DJ Firestorm
3rd Car #150 Jack Cottrill
Full Results of the Top Twelve. Second Run-Off
Alex Summers still leads the BHC leaving Harewood, with Matthew Ryder moving up to second after his two wins this weekend. While Will Hall drops to third place and Trevor Willis is still in fourth place, now 22 points behind Will.
British Hillclimb Championship positions after Harewood can be found here: Results after Harewood round 13 and 14.
“Here comes the Rain Again.”
The next rounds of the 2024 British Hillclimb Championship is due to take place at Bouley Bay, Jersey on Wednesday 17th July followed by Val Des Terres, Guernsey on 20th July. Both these events are organised by The Jersey Motor Cycle and Light Car Club.
Tin Top Ten Challenge
This weekend was also the opening round of the British Hillclimb Championship (BHC) Tin Top-Top Ten Challenge. This Challenge has been expanded to ten rounds for the 2024 season.
Reigning 2023 BHC Tin Top Challenge Champion, Damien Bradley Car #78, along with runner up Steve Darley, Car #778, who shares the Subaru Legacy with Damien. Former BHC Champion Roger Moran was driving his Skoda Fabia R5 Car #84, also in a Skoda Fabia R5 was Eynon Price Car #83. Eynon a former BHC single seater driver and rally driver was taking part for the first time in the Tin Top Challenge.
The fastest ten would have a run off for Championship points, from ten down to one point for tenth place. This was then repeated after the second timed runs for round two of the Championship.
Top 3 of the Tintop Challenge. Round 1:
1st Car #84 Roger Moran driving a Skoda Fabia R5
2nd Car #78 Damien Bradley driving a Subaru Legacy GL
3rd Car #83 Eynon Price driving a Skoda Fabia R5
Top 3 of the Tintop Challenge. Round 2:
1st Car #93 Simon Bainbridge driving a Crono V8
2nd Car #78 Damien Bradley driving a Subaru Legacy GL
3rd Car#778 Steven Darley driving a Subaru Legacy GL
Damien Bradley leads the Tin Top Ten Challenge after taking two 2nd places in the run-offs. His co-driver Steven Darley also qualified for the first of the BHC top 12 run-off for Round 13 and also scored points in that championship.
Steve managed this with a number of factors, been in his favour, as well as been a very quick driver, having four-wheel drive in the Subaru Legacy and the track conditions to match. He is also a Harewood regular.
Full Results of the Top 10 Tintop Challenge Round 2
The next month is very busy for the competitors of the Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship with the Yorkshire Speed Hillclimb on Saturday 3rd August then on the Sunday, the Montague Burton. Followed just three weeks later by the rescheduled, from 14th April, the Spring National event on Saturday 24th August and then the Summer Championship on the Sunday.
Many thanks to BARC Yorkshire centre for the opportunity to be track side. Also, not forgetting all the Marshals, Medical and the Darlington and District Rescue team, along with all the back-office staff without which the events at Harewood Hill could not take place.
Hillclimb Events at Harewood Hill 2024
3rd August. Yorkshire Speed Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
4th August. Montague Burton Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
24th August. Rescheduled date for the Spring National Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship.
25th August. Summer Championship Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
21st September. Greenwood Cup Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
22nd September. Mike Wilson Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
Harewood Speed Hillclimb course track details.
Harewood Speed Hillclimb is located between the villages of Harewood and Collingham just off the A659. SatNav postcode LS17 9LA. What Three Words. admit.uncle.piston
Harewood Hillclimb is the longest speed hillclimb in mainland UK with a track length of 1448 metres. The all tarmac track is set against the beautiful backdrop of the Wharfedale valley in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire.
The fastest cars can complete the course in under 50 seconds with top speeds in excess of 130 mph.
Harewood Hillclimb record is 46.39 secs. set by Matthew Ryder driving a Gould GR59J on 03/07/2022.
Ladies Hill record is 50.74 secs. set by Nicola Menzies driving a Gould GR55B on 03/07/2022.
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