Гран-при холма Гёрстон: рекорды, дебют юниора и финал сезона

There are few better ways to spend a summer Sunday than perched on the grassy banks surrounding the hallowed tarmac of Gurston Down, and the second-to-last meeting of the season at the famous Wiltshire hillclimb delivered exactly the kind of spectacle that keeps crowds and drivers coming back year after year. The beauty of a Gurston meeting is the sheer variety on show, and the first weekend of August was no exception. Alongside the regular BARC SW Championship runners, the hill welcomed guest entries from the Sevenoaks & District Motor Club Speed Championship, Triple M Motorsport's HSA Speed Championship, the Isle of Wight Car Club, the Healeysport Speed Championship, the Classic Marques Speed Challenge, and the BARC's own Speed Championship, alongside a strong turnout of Motorcycle classes. Read more - 'Local legend' paramedic retires after 50 years of service in Salisbury - Pictures - Sports-themed market returns to city centre as turnout disappoints - Dramatic drone photos reveal impact of drought across Salisbury - Woman angry after being left without toilet for a week due to repair delay Including a film crew from Quest in attendance filming a forthcoming documentary called ‘The Race Mechanic’ featuring Steve Butts in his Lotus, there was a wide array of nimble single-seaters, thundering sports-racers, beautifully preserved classics, road-going hot hatches, and vintage Austins on show, and the club-centric atmosphere that makes Gurston such a favourite with motorsport fans and families was on full display. Rounds 15 and 16 of the BARC’s South West Championship, combined with round 8 of the Top Ten Challenge, brought a packed entry list to the 0.6-mile course in Broad Chalke on the 1st and 2nd of August. With the heat wave(s) continuing unabated, the British weather played along beautifully; warm sunshine and a bone-dry track from first practices to the final timed runs meant drivers and riders alike could chase every last tenth without worrying about a slick surface catching them out on the notorious Karousel or through the tightening Ashes bend. Track conditions this good tend to bring the best out of both cars and drivers, and Sunday's times reflected that. Unsurprisingly, it was the specials and single seaters that set the pace at the sharp end. Steve Holland took fastest time of the day in his fearsome Force TA, blitzing the course in a lightning quick 28.14 seconds. Terry Graves wasn't far behind, with his Gould DJ55XD crossing the line in 29.32 seconds to secure second overall, while Nigel Pitt rounded out the top three in his Dellara F305, stopping the clock at 29.88 seconds. Three very different machines, three drivers right on the limit, and barely two seconds covering the podium; that's Gurston Down at its competitive best. Amongst the bikes, it was a clean sweep for KTM. Tom Short was fastest on his SVR, with a time of 32.87 seconds, whilst second was taken by Team GV’s Tommy Hodges with a time of 33.03. Third place was a thrillingly close affair, with the 33.25 second run posted by GV’s George Hodges, denying Callum Short a podium spot by just 1/10th of a second. The weekend also saw Gurston’s first ever junior entrant, with 16-year-old Aiden Ingram acquitting himself admirably on his debut. The talented youngster posted a highly respectable inaugural time of 49.05 in his MG ZR, thereby setting the new class record and instantly establishing himself as the man to beat in the 14–16-year-old bracket. The results capped off another memorable weekend at one of the country's most picturesque and best-loved speed venues, and organisers will be hoping for more of the same when the paddock gates open for the final meeting of the season at the end of this month. Mark your diaries, folks: Gurston Down's last weekend of racing this year takes place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August, and it promises to be the biggest event of the summer. With championships to be decided and a bumper roll call of entrants expected, it's the perfect chance for anyone who hasn't yet experienced the thrill of hillclimbing up close to head out to the Chalke Valley and see what all the fuss is about. Bring the family, bring a picnic, grab a glass of something cold from the bar, and get ready for some high-octane speed across the stunning Wiltshire downs.