May Harewood Hillclimb Championship and British Championship Hillclimb
Report by Chris Bannister
6th & 7th May 2023
Saturday’s event for the May Harewood Championship Hillclimb meeting got under way about 20 minutes later than the normal 9am start, due to fog and the Marshals not been able to see clearly from post to post. Once the fog did clear the rest of the day was mostly overcast, until just after the start of the third timed runs, when it started to drizzle and then all of a sudden the rain did come down. Consequently, a large number of drivers did not take their third timed runs.
Due to the delayed start, drivers only had two practice runs before the lunch break. With the timed runs taking place in the afternoon. It is these timed runs which are used for the Harewood Championship scores.
Rob Spedding driving his Vector TF93K, car #145, leads the Harewood Championship from David Tatham driving his DJ Firehawk, car#138 with David Leach driving his Lotus Elise S1, car#86 in third.
In the Harewood Fastest Time of the Day Championship, Richard Spedding driving his GWR Raptor 2, car#7 leads from Lee Griffiths driving his OMS28, car#157, with David Tatham driving his DJ Firehawk, car #138 in third place. However it was British Championship leader Wallace Menzies driving a Gould GR59, car #1 who would set the fastest time of the day.
Sunday 3rd May. British Championship Hillclimb Rounds 5 & 6
The day would follow a different format for the British Championship Hillclimb. Championship leader coming into the event was 2022 defending Champion Wallace Menzies driving a Gould GR59, car #1. Matt Ryder driving a Gould GR59J, car #5 was in second place and six time British Hillclimb Champion Scott Moran driving a Gould GR59, car #3 was in third place.
The morning practice runs got under way on time but there was still a little mist about but nothing like yesterdays. With some light showers, leaving the track a little slippy.
After the normal two practice runs the event was a little ahead of time so some of the non British Championship competitors took to the track for their first timed run before the lunch break. The sun came out for the afternoon timed runs.
The first timed run for round five of the British Championship got underway with some nice warm sunshine, completed before a top twelve run off for Championship points, though only the top ten would be awarded points from ten down to one point for tenth place. This would be repeated for Round six of the Championship.
When the run-off for British Championship points takes place only one car is on the track at a time (unlike on the Saturday or any time during a normal Harewood Championship meeting, when three or four cars can be on the track at any one time), this is until post twenty, located after the finish, has reported on the radio that the car has cleared the finish and is in the paddock.
Scott Moran set a new record for the British Hillclimb Championship, he is the first driver to score over 4000 championship points.
Richard Spedding driving his GWR Raptor 2, car# 7 and David Tatham driving his DJ Firehawk, car #138, who are Harewood Hill regulars managed to get into both Top 12 Run off’s.
British Championship Hillclimb Top 12 Run Off Round 5.
1st Scott Moran. Gould GR59. Car#3. 47.71 Secs.
2nd Matt Ryder Gould GR59J, car #5. 48.02Secs.
3rd Wallace Menzies. Gould GR59. Car#1. 48.21Secs.
Top 12 Run Off Round 6
1st. Wallace Menzies. Gould GR59. Car#1. 48.12 Secs.
2nd Matthew Ryder. Gould GR59J. Car #5. 48.21 Secs.
3rd Will Hall. Gould GR59. Car#166. 49.14 Secs
Next meeting at Harewood Hill is the Classic and Vintage Hillclimb on Saturday 3rd June (this event is not part of the Harewood Championship). Followed on the Sunday 4th by the Jim Thomson Hillclimb, which is part of the Harewood Speed Championship.
Many thanks to BARC Yorkshire centre for the opportunity to be track side and not forgetting all the Marshals, Medical, Rescue teams including the Extractor Rescue unit without which the weekends events could not have take place.
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.
You can contact JCB Photography via his social media, website or email him directly.
You can share this report with your friends on Social Media using these links.
Follow us on Social Media: