Max5’s and Classic Formula Ford primed for Mallory Park

The Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship and the Max5 Racing Championship are gearing up for a flat-out days racing at Mallory Park this Sunday (August 5), where title battles will resume.

Welcoming two British Automobile Racing Club championships to tackles its challenging layout, the Leicestershire venue is set to play a pivotal role in the outcome of both categories come the end of the season.

Boasting the biggest grid on the day, the Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship will undoubtedly provide plenty of edge-of-the-seat thrills with two race set to be run.

Taking a spirited trip down memory lane to a bygone era of open-wheeled racing, the championship is split into two classes. Class A is open to those competing in cars built between 1st January 1974 and 31st December 1981 whilst Class B is for those competing cars built before 1st January 1974.

Five different drivers have scored wins in Class A so far but it is Mike Gardner who leads the way, holding a slender two-point advantage over Mark Armstrong. The pair have taken a win apiece but missed the last round at Donington, allowing Ben Tinkler to score a double of his own.

Throw into the mix the likes of Kevin Mansell, Adriano Medeiros, Scott Mansell, Jordan Harrison, Steve Pearce and a host of others and you begin to see why the championship is as competitive as it currently is.

In Class B, Benn Tilley is currently the man to beat as he holds a 16-point advantage virtue of his four victories so far. At the wheel of his Merlyn Mk20, Tilley has momentum on his side and he will be keen to stretch his legs ahead of Stuart Kestenbaum, Ian Jeary and Simon Hadfield in the race for the title.

The Max5 Racing Championship will head into the second of its season look to pick up where it left off at Donington Park last month, delivering high-octane entertainment.

Open to different marks of the popular Mazda MX5 machine, the championship has enjoyed a fruitful campaign to-date, with numbers remaining strong as each round has passed.

Despite not winning a race yet in Class A, Andrew Pretorius will be looking to extend his ten-point lead over Josh Malin in the day’s two races. Malin has been the form man, winning every race he has finished – with a single non-finish being his only downfall and the reason why he trails Pretorius.

Other names to keep an eye on in the top tier include Matthew Tidmarsh and Lee Hollin, both of whom are capable of winning on their day.

Richard Smith has underlined that consistency is key in Class B as he sits atop the standings, despite being another driver to have not won yet. Picking up solid points in every race, Smith has slowly chipped away whilst watching Jordan Johnson, Adrian Johnson, Bryan Bursey, Nicholas Bailey and Phil Little all pick up victories.

All eyes will arguably be on the scrapping pair in Class C, Paul Roddison and Jeremy Shipley. Both have been the benchmark drivers in the races this season, battling it out towards the front of the field, and the pair will resume their duel for honours around the challenging Mallory layout.

Also joining the action this weekend will be a pair of races from the Racing Ford Series.