Massive crowd packs into Adrian Flux Arena short oval racing venue
Willie Skoyles Jnr made his first foray into BriSCA F1 at Lynn's Adrian Flux Arena on Saturday – and delighted fans with a performance which gave great promise.
The Heacham ace showed that once he gets fully to grips with V8 power and gets a few meetings under his belt that he will more than stand his own in the elite class of short oval racing.
A massive crowd packed into the venue with a queue the length of the car park from when the turnstiles opened until the start of the meeting which set the tone for a very special night.
Regardless of previous racing experience new drivers in F1 have to display to the meeting steward that they are able to handle the 650bhp of a monstrous V8 Stock Car around the tight confines of the 320m oval, so despite being the current Saloon Stock Car National Points champion Skoyles had to start the night powersliding.
He more than demonstrated his capability behind the wheel with probably the quickest laps that King’s Lynn has ever seen put in during a “novice test”.
It would be a tough task though for Skoyles to qualify for the final at his first-ever meeting, and so it proved. Clutch damage saw Skoyles retire in his heat.
He then put in a spirited performance in the consolation to rise to 10th place from his 21st starting position on the grid only to clash with veteran performer Geoff Nicholls to drop a little down the order and, just as he was starting to regain lost ground, he pulled off with a puncture.
An 11th place finish in the Grand National did see Skoyles register some National Points on the board – an achievement which not many drivers do in their first F1 Stock Car meeting!
The 2017 world champion Nigel Green set down his marker for the season as he stormed to a fine heat and final double.
The 2L Stock Cars saw Jake Banwell produce his best drive since returning to the formula in the meeting final.
Since coming back to the formula following injury, Jake has been finding his feet and being saddled with the handicap of a red roof has hampered his progress somewhat.
However the final on Saturday saw a great battle with Jake and champion drivers Michael Allard and Deane Mayes.
The trio used the bumper and were swapping places all throughout an enthralling race which saw Jake eventually come home in fifth place – his best place to date since his return and no mean feat coming from the very back of the grid and will no doubt have been a massive confidence-booster.
Norwich's Trent Arthurton was victorious in a career-first final win.
Banger racing takes centre stage at Lynn this Saturday (5.30pm) where a triple bill sees a special All Sunny / Mk 1 Almera meeting with the Micro Bangers and Junior Bangers also in action.
Another busy meeting is fully booked and there will be a lot of local drivers involved.
Callum Gill, Kieran Bowman and Ashley Garrod will all race in both National Banger formulas whilst just racing the Sunny / Mk1 Almera Bangers are Darren Fendley, Davey Cox, Russell Gill, Robert Betts, Steven Pope and Alex Smith.
Just racing the Micro Bangers are Ryley Freestone, Shaun Clarke and Ben and Josh Green. Looking to continue their good starts in the Junior Bangers will be Harry Cobb and Robbie Dillon.
