CRAIGANTLET
Round 3
2nd May 2020
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2025 SEASON PREVIEW
After a thrilling 2024 season that saw Matt Ryder secure his first BHC title, the season ahead looks like it could be even better. The 2025 BHC is presented for a second season by the licenced manufacturer and global supplier of Avon Motorsport products, Nova Motorsport.
Matt Ryder returns to defend his hard won BHC title in the big Gould GR59-Judd that he shares with chassis constructor Sean Gould. After a season long battle with Alex Summers, Matt managed to secure the Championship win at the final round at Loton Park. Matt’s amazing performance at Wiscombe Park in July, where he twice broke the outright hill record, was probably where the tide turned in his favour. Fourteen run-off victories showed his consistency too in what was a fabulous season.
Mat Ryder
Photo by: Ben Lawrence
Matt will be hoping that his 2025 season starts well. A full chassis strip down and rebuild as well as an engine refresh over the Winter will help. His speed at season opening venue Prescott is well known, but his relative inexperience on the open roads of Craigantlet will give him an early season test. Matt has never scored particularly well in Northern Ireland. A fast start to the season will be key to his title defence.
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Alex Summers
Photo by: Paul Lawrence
2024 runner up Alex Summers is planning a relatively low key 2025 BHC season. The arrival of a new baby son to Alex and his wife Debbie has understandably changed the dynamic and priorities at home. Alex will still be seen competing in the 2025 BHC but mainly at Midlands based venues. As well as competing in the DJ we may occasionally see him on the hills in his very interesting self-designed, developed and family constructed single seater now called the AFS 8FT.
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Will Hall
Photo by: Stuart Wing
2024 was Will Hall’s best BHC season since 2018. His performances in the Judd engined Gould GR59 were a joy to watch and secured him third place overall in the Championship. Hopefully Will be able to build on what is now a well-developed car and take victories during 2025. The Gould has been rebuilt and is ready to go. A run of good early season form would give him the confidence to push on to challenge for the Championship. One to watch.
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Wallace Menzies
Photo by: Paul Lawrence
Four time BHC Champion Wallace Menzies had a character building 2024 season. A high speed accident at the season opening Craigantlet event resulted in serious damage and an early season rebuild. The accident destroyed the gearbox, damaged the Cosworth engine and also resulted in some chassis damage to the beautifully prepared Gould GR59. Long hours and hard work by preparation expert Tom New and the team got the car back out on track without missing too many BHC rounds. It was however a long road to get the car to handle in a consistent way. This resulted in a fourth place overall BHC finish.
With no run-off wins during the 2024 season Wallace will be determined to start the season in a positive way. The late season signs were encouraging that the car back where Wallace and the team wanted it. An ice driving session in Sweden and a team building cycle expedition in Spain have formed part of the team’s pre-season preparation. Watch this space for Wallace to come out of the blocks fast. Surely he will be competing at the sharp end and challenging for a fifth BHC crown in 2025?
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Trevor Willis
Photo by: Stuart Wing
Three time former BHC Champion Trevor Willis will be competing once again in a full BHC season in his Powertec engined OMS28. A welcome run-off victory in Jersey, amazingly Trevor’s first BHC run-off win for over five years, was the highlight of his 2024 season. With no major modifications completed over the Winter, Trevor has a known package and will no doubt have consistent speed. A run-off victory or two and another top five position overall would be a good result in 2025.
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Dave Uren
Photo by: Paul Lawrence
Dave Uren will also be returning for a full BHC season in 2025. His Nicholson McLaren engined Gould GR55 is now over twenty years old, nearly vintage! Dave continues to peddle hard and secured a couple of top three run-off results during 2024. This allied with his consistency resulted in a strong sixth place BHC finish overall.
Dave will be looking to build on this and challenge for more podiums and a top five finish in 2025. A total strip down and a refreshed engine should help Dave push on. After many years in red the car has had a colour change over the Winter too! Dave will be sharing the car once again with Nicola Menzies. This will be their fifteenth season driving together. Nicola is a super driver and no doubt she will be challenging for BHC points wherever she competes. With enough events she could perhaps challenge for an overall top ten number.
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Dave Warburton
Photo by: Ben Lawrence
Eighth place finisher Dave Warburton will be back for more in 2025. Although Dave will not be taking in a full BHC season, he is sure to feature well in the little 1600cc Hayabusa engined Gould GR59. He qualified for an amazing twenty one BHC run-offs in 2024, with the highlight being a fantastic third place finish at Doune. Watch out for the silver projectile, Dave’s commitment really is amazing to see.
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Jack Cottrill
Photo by: Benl Lawrence
2024 was a breakthrough year for Jack Cottrill in his Cosworth engined DJ Dallara. He finished the season in a well-deserved ninth position, the first overall top ten BHC finish for the Midlands based youngster. A strong start to the 2024 season and a best ever third place finish at the July Harewood were the highlights. Work over the Winter to lighten the car and to make steering into tight corners more precise should help Jack in his quest to improve his top ten position in 2025. A top five finish overall might be too much to ask. A first trip to Northern Ireland for the Craigantlet BHC round will help his quest.
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Paul Haimes
Photo by: Nigel Cole
Paul Haimes will be looking to finish in the overall top ten of the BHC for a fourth successive season. His tenth place finish in 2024, from what was a restricted season, was a great result. The Gould GR59 has been on a bit of a diet over the Winter. This alongside some front suspension tweaks and a full engine and gearbox rebuild should help Paul start a planned full BHC season on the front foot.
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Alex Coles
Photo by: Ben Lawrence
Two drivers who will be snapping at the heels of the current top ten are Richard Spedding and Alex Coles. Although Richard has yet to finalise his plans for 2025, when he competes he is sure to be on the pace in his beautifully prepared motorcycle engined GWR Raptor. Alex is planning to compete in all of the mainland BHC rounds in 2025. The 2022 BHC Cup winner is fast. Having qualified for eleven of the last twelve BHC run-offs of the 2024 season the Plymouth based youngster should be on the pace straight away. A refresh for the supercharged 1300cc motorcycle engine in the Force TA should help too. Who would bet against Alex securing a top ten number in 2025? I wouldn’t!
Richard Spedding
Photo by: Paul Lawrence
Johnathen Varley
Photo by: Nigel Cole
Adding to the excitement will be the appearance of Hoosier as a tyre supplier. 2025 will see them being run on a selection of the smaller engined single seaters. It is well worth keeping an eye on this development.
The class based BHC Cup presented once again by Midlands based tyre servicing specialists BMTR Motorsport Tyres in partnership with Hoosier is always well supported. 2025 will be no exception. Two time BHC Cup winner Johnathen Varley will be looking to make it three in a row in the beautifully engineered GWR Raptor. Can he do it? Competition will be tough, but who would bet against it?
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The BHC Tin Top-Top Ten Challenge presented by AET Turbos is back on the menu at selected events for the 2025 season. The five event series is scheduled to take place at Harewood, Wiscombe Park, Shelsley Walsh, Prescott and Doune. 2024 Champion Simon Bainbridge will be looking to continue to surprise in the big Audi engined SBR Crono. Steven Darley is sharing his Subaru Legacy with 2023 Tin-Top Champion Damien Bradley. They will both be desperate to knock Simon off the top spot. Snapping at the heels will be Roger Moran and maybe six-time former BHC Champion son Scott. Roger’s Skoda Fabia R5 proved to be very competitive in 2024. He has a very powerful Mitsubishi Evo in the garage too. Now that would be very interesting to see!
