| • Brand new Legends Cars Champion will be crowned next weekend • Spectacular season finale in store at Brands Hatch ‘Fireworks Finale’ • Series leader Will Gibson holds very healthy advantage of 430 points • Youngsters Luke Simmons, Oli Schlup and Ben Higgins head challenge |
| One weekend, two rounds and six races are all that remain in the battle to determine the winner of the 2023 Legends Cars Championship with allgrowth Ltd – and whoever does emerge victorious at Brands Hatch just over a week from now will enter the history books as a first-time Champion. Running alongside the British Truck Racing Championship on 4th/5th November at the annual ‘Fireworks Finale’ event on the Kent venue’s 1.2-mile Indy Circuit, the season finale for the 5/8 scale Legends Cars is set to be an absolute cracker as always. Will Gibson (Camberley), who played the percentages extremely well during the penultimate event of the season at Snetterton 300 Circuit earlier this month to extend his lead at the top of the points table, carries a very healthy advantage into the championship decider. Some 430 points ahead of closest challenger Luke Simmons (Lingfield) going into the final two rounds, Gibson is resolutely determined to claim the title which has eluded him the past few seasons and knows he is in the box seat – but is taking nothing for granted. As always, nothing in Legends Cars racing is ever predictable and with a massive 1,200 points available across the six Brands Hatch races there is ample opportunity for the young pretenders who complete the top four in the championship to make an impact. Simmons, a double race winner already this year and son of former Legends competitor Paul, has really come into his own in his sophomore campaign but he is only 75 points ahead of fellow second year Legends Cars racer Oli Schlup (Cuckfield), son of Mike who is 17th in the standings. Schlup Jnr is only a mere 20 points ahead of last year’s Rookie Champion Ben Higgins (Abermule), another two-time winner this year, and all three are set for a spectacular battle over the course of the six races. Higgins, of course, brings great form to Brands from his two victories last time out. Fifth in the standings, and just 40 points adrift of Higgins, is the 2021 Rookie Cup winner Andy Bird (Calne). With three outright wins to his credit this season, Bird is a proven front-runner and he has everything in his arsenal to mount a very strong bid. Completing the series top six is Chris Needham (Altrincham) who endured a luckless event at Snetterton, slipping from third in the points. Jack Parker (Wolverhampton), who drives the No.4 Team Car for Mickel Motorsport, has four wins this season and will race on Sunday only next weekend. Team principal John Mickel (Horsham) will make a welcome return to action, for the first time since his accident during the season opener at Cadwell Park, for Saturday’s round. Others looking to battle for a top 10 series finish are Charlie Budd (Henley-on-Thames), top Rookie Tyler Read (Weedon) and Nick Bridgeman (Baldock). Mark Beaty (Gosforth), Matt Knight (Shoreham-on-Sea), highest placed Masters runner Nathan Anthony (Horley), former Legends Cars Champion Rob Fountain (Boston) and Rookie racer Andrew Rogerson (Maidenhead) are all close behind. With thousands of spectators guaranteed for one of the biggest and most popular race meetings on the UK motorsport calendar, the Legends Cars competitors will also reap the benefit of all six races being filmed for future broadcast on the championship’s YouTube channel. Phil Cooper – Legends Cars Championship with allgrowth Ltd Owner: “It’s been another outstanding year of Legends Cars racing and we’re all very much looking forward to the final two rounds of the season at Brands Hatch. Will Gibson is going to be hard to catch with the lead he currently enjoys, but absolutely anything can happen. With six races and plenty of points available there are as many as eight drivers who could mathematically win the title. “The Indy Circuit at Brands is tailor-made for Legends racing. It always delivers the very best action from our 5/8 scale cars and as the spiritual home of the championship as well it’s the perfect place to crown our new champion – who will, of course, be a first time Legends Cars Champion too!” Qualifying for the final event of the Legends Cars Championship with allgrowth Ltd season is provisionally scheduled to get underway at 09.00 on Saturday, 4th November, with Heat One following at 10.55, Heat Two at 13.25 and the round seven Final at 15.40. On Sunday, 5th November, Heat One is set for 10.00, Heat Two at 13.45 and the round eight Final at 15.50. The Legends Cars Championship is supported by allgrowth Ltd, JLM Lubricants, Carless, Vital Equipment and MRF Tyres. 2023 Legends Cars Championship with allgrowth Ltd Points (after Rd6): 1st Will Gibson, 2655pts; 2nd Luke Simmons, 2225pts; 3rd Oli Schlup, 2150pts; 4th Ben Higgins, 2130pts; 5th Andy Bird, 2090pts; 6th Chris Needham, 1995pts |
