TITLE WINNERS CROWNED AT MAZDA MX-5 NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS
James Blake-Baldwin receives his SuperCup trophy and portrait photo from special guest Paul O'Neill – Photo: Jon Elsey
This past Saturday, the good and the great from our pair of Mazda MX-5 championships descended on the Radisson Blu Hotel near East Midlands Airport and Donington Park for the annual awards dinner dance, dubbed this year as the Night of Champions.
Over 130 guests were in attendance featuring a mix of drivers, their families and both team and BRSCC Club personnel. Also making an appearance was the special guest for the evening, ex-BTCC driver turned part-time SuperCup racer Paul O’Neill who graciously gave a few words of praise and support for both championships, as well as assisting in handing out the awards to our drivers.
Of course, the 2016 Mk1 champion Tom Roche was present on the night to receive his championship trophy, along with a special framed photo of his bright green #125 Blendini MX-5, the car that took him to a unbelievable 16 race victories out of the 19 rounds in the 2016 season, along with a multitude of pole positions and fastest laps. Simon Baldwin and Michael Fisk were also there on the night to collect trophies for 2nd and 3rd place in the overall points standings.
Baldwin would be up on stage shortly afterwards, as he was crowned as the year’s Masters champion for the Mk1 Championship, a sub-series designed for more mature and experienced competitors alongside the main points table. Clive Powles collected 2nd place, while Paul Tucker’s son James would receive the 3rd place trophy on his behalf as Paul was unable to attend on the night.
In the SuperCup, James Blake-Baldwin took his championship trophy home, along with Jonathan Greensmith picking up 2nd place and Jack Harding a superb 3rd after a late charge at the end of the year. Ray Worley was crowned SuperCup Masters champion for the second year in a row with Garry Townsend 2nd and Simon Goddard 3rd.
The evening was compered by BRSCC’s Media & Marketing Executive Scott Woodwiss, who also fronted most of the Championship & SuperCup’s TV coverage as its presenter. While the provisional calendar for next year was unable to be ready in time to be announced on this occasion, it is close to completion and will be unveiled within the next couple of weeks, so hold tight!
A massive thanks goes to all who made the 2016 season a truly memorable one for the history books. Here’s to 2017 where we look forward to even bigger and better things – be sure to come talk to us at the Autosport International show at the NEC in Birmingham on January 12-15 2017 to find out how you can join next year’s grid!
