Round 18 & 19 - Rockingham

Pete Stevens takes maiden Rockingham championship

Pete Stevens clinched the Rockingham Championship yesterday following two enthralling races at the Northamptonshire oval.

The 59-year-old driver of the Sertec sponsored #4 certainly put in the work to secure the title, winning by just five points from second placed Phil White. The pair certainly took their battle all the way to the final chequered flag of the season on the oval, going into race two of the day they were level on points, and were level on the circuit too with places only decided going into Turn Four on the final lap.

It was a busy day for drivers, teams and officials with this just a one day meeting. Qualifying took place at 10am which put Carl Boardley on pole for the first race and John Mickel in second place.

Race one saw Antony Hawkins take up the initial lead, having started from row two, with Nic Grindrod, Carl Boardley and Pete Stevens behind him. By lap three it was obvious this was to be a cracking race as Phil White took up the lead of an eight-strong pack of trucks, all vying for the top places. In the train were Phil, Michael Smith, Nic Grindrod, Pete Stevens, Antony Hawkins, Simon Carr, Carl Boardley and Gavin Seager who were in need of trusty information from their spotters more than ever to keep them in contention.

Phil retained just enough advantage until lap 15 when Michael Smith moved out in front and he also had Pete Stevens on his tail to watch out for as the three of them were heading into corners three wide. These were not the only ones taking on the risky moves with Antony Hawkins, Simon Carr and Gavin Seager among those also going three wide into corners.

By lap 16 Phil White was back in the lead with Michael on his tail again just ahead of Pete Stevens. Michael did have another brief spell in the lead before Phil was to take charge for most of the remainder of the race, Pete was ready to make his moves as he slid into second and was ready to take the fight all the way to the chequered flag.

Steve Dance also joined the top three party on lap 19 but was edged out by Simon Carr on lap 24. With Simon settled in third, Pete flirted with the lead from time to time, but as the chequered flag fell at the end of 35 gruelling but amazingly spectacular laps, Phil had just edged Coventry-based Pete out to take the spoils for race one.

There was every chance race two would be an anti climax following the exhilarating battle of race one, but this was not the case and a second breath taking display was to unfold.

Nic Grindrod was able to put the disappointment of a race one non-finish behind him to head straight into the lead on lap one while behind him was a pack of eight trucks – Nic, John Mickel, Phil White, Gavin Seager, Simon Carr, Pete Stevens, Michael Smith, Carl  Boardley and Antony Hawkins - all wanting the same piece of tarmac.

By lap three Phil White was at the helm again ahead of Gavin and Michael. With every corner seemed to be a change of positions among the eight. Nic Grindrod was back up to second but had Gavin, Pete Stevens and Michael traded places behind him.

On lap 14 Nic lost momentum to allow Gavin through and he then took up the lead a lap later and remained so with an ever increasing gap to the pack behind for the remainder of the race. But whilst Gavin had shot off into the lead, there was a small matter of two more podium places and the championship to be decided which certainly would not mean a boring second half to the race.

As Pete Stevens fell to the back of the lead pack, it seemed as if Phil, Michael or Nic would make up the remainder of the podium but then at lap 22 it was all change again with Simon Carr back near the front of the pack again.

On lap 25 Pete was back in third but not for long and the merry-go-round continued with Nic and Michael up there once again. Steve Dance moved through into third on lap 29 but was to lose the place to Phil White on the final lap. Pete Stevens second place finish took him five points clear of Phil, which was enough to secure the Rockingham Championship crown.