SEASON REVIEW: CFT SERVICES FORD XR CHALLENGE

2012 started positively with news at Autosport International that the Ford XR Challenge had a new sponsor, CFT Services, and would be run by a Northern based co-ordination team headed up by David Fairclough.

The first race of the season saw fourteen cars line-up at Oulton Park. However, entry levels increased steadily as the season progressed and perhaps of greater significance is that we attracted more and more registered drivers. Last season we had twenty but by the last race of this year, that number had risen to thirty-two. This influx has come from old members returning to the fold, new drivers wanting to race for the first time or drivers' switching series.

Encouragingly, we also have a registered ST car and driver. Michael Ellis competed in two meetings (four races) and he will be back next season with some more STs to race against. This bodes well for the future as it brings a younger generation of Fiestas into the Challenge and should extend the life of the series over the next few years.

At the end of the fifteen rounds, Nantwich’s Craig Brookfield came out on top of the XR2 class, scoring 223 points. Mike Heath was second with Steve Poole third. Anglesey’s own John-Ifan Jones took the XR3i honours, accumulating 220 points, ahead of Terry Kellaher and Peter Futers.

During the season we attracted the interest of Magic Radio1548 (a Merseyside radio station whose website attracts a 100,000 hits per week). This prompted the station to broadcast information prior to the race meetings and hold on-air competitions for their readers to be guests of the BRSCC and the XR Challenge at the circuits.

We also engaged Pro-Active Television Ltd to produce an hour-long programme focused on the final three races of the Champion of Anglesey award. The programme is being transmitted on Sky Sports’ Racemax programme and on Motors TV. With the repeats, this will provide us with over six hours of airtime.

We have enjoyed working with all the BRSCC personnel, we thank them for their patience, co-operation and understanding, and we look forward to an even better year in 2013.

Anyone interested in the CFT Service Ford XR Challenge should contact David Fairclough on 07889 912680 or email davidfairclough14@btinternet.com. For sponsorship or media enquiries please contact me, Ken Mellor, on 07831 123445 or email ken.mellor1@ntlworld.com

More information can also be found at www.xrchallenge.com