Simon Bainbridge Crowned Champion in the 2025 BHC Tin Top - Top Ten Challenge

Simon Bainbridge at full speed through the kink on Ess Approach on his way to securing the 2025 BHC Tin Top – Top ten Challenge – Photo Credit: Stuart Wing @captureyourcarphotography

Shelsley Walsh hosted a double points round of the BHC Tin Top – Top Ten Challenge presented by AET Turbos and the conditions couldn’t have been better. A hugely exciting line of up fire breathing Hillclimb monsters were entered into the British Hillclimb Championship event including reigning Tin Top Champion Simon Bainbridge in the enormous and super quick SBR Chrono, the Shelsley Walsh closed car record holding Pikes Peak Subaru Impreza of Damien Bradley and the Wiscombe Park record breaking ‘Red Baron’ of Steven Darley. Shelsley regulars Stephen Moore, Paul Howells, Nigel Elliot (Triumph TR7 V8) and an impressive collection of super quick Porsches were all be fighting for a place in the top ten run off. 

Damien Bradley monsters the Esses kerbs at Shelsley Walsh in his Subaru Impreza – Photo Credit: Ben Lawrence

After a fierce qualifying round Bainbridge qualified top in the huge Audi. With double points on offer Bradley and Darley did all they could to take the win but it wasn’t enough, a super time of 28.19 seconds by Simon Bainbridge meant that he had done all he needed to wrap up the 2025 Championship. Darley and Bradley scrapped hard over second place with Stephen Moore secure in fourth. It was Porches galore from fifth to ninth. A good fight for fifth was resolved in Rodley Eyles favour by just two tenths of a second from Paul Howells in his rorty 911 RSR. Tony Adams did a great job to grab eighth in his Cayman.

The run off finishing order was as follows;

1^st Simon Bainbridge – SBR Chrono – Audi: 28.19 Seconds

2^nd Steven Darley – Subaru Impreza: 28.78 Seconds  

3^rd Damien Bradley – Subaru Impreza: 28.87 Seconds

4^th Stephen Moore – Mitsubishi Evo 6: 30.41 Seconds

5^th Rodney Eyles – Porsche 911 Turbo: 31.71 Seconds

6^th Paul Howells – Porsche 911 RSR: 31.91 Seconds

7^th Richard Andrews – Porsche GT4RS: 32.26 Seconds

8^th Tony Adams – Porsche Cayman: 32.90 Seconds

9^th Robert Lancaster-Gaye – Porsche 997 GT3: 33.26 Seconds

10^th Tim Elmer – Alpine A110: 34.10 Seconds

With the overall winner now decided we expect an incredibly exciting BHC Tin Top – Top Ten Challenge round at Prescott on September 6th and 7th. Can Steven Darley, Damien Bradley or Stephen Moore beat the monstrous Audi of now two times Champion Simon Bainbridge on the tight twist and technical Gloucestershire hill? Come along and witness these rapid machines at this amazing British Hillclimb Championship event. Early bird discounted tickets are available below.

PRESCOTT TICKETS - Sept 6/7 2025