Trackstar’s annual Christmas bash was full of action-packed racing from the Micro Bangers in three-a-side team action where the Dover Boys took the title for the second time in four years. The Saloon Stock Car track championship reached its climax, with Ryan Santry taking the crown, while Marcus Gilbert proved the man to beat in BriSCA F2 stock cars and William Cartwright won the afternoon’s Junior Banger final.

Micro Bangers

The annual Christmas three-a-side team meeting drew a strong entry of 71 cars across 28 teams, and they served up non-stop action from start to finish.

They served up a lively opener with Team White and Team Bash among much of the thick of it. While many had tried and failed to stop long-time leader #678 Alex Ward (Bash), it was the Gladiators’#560 Andrew Milner who finally did the deed within sight of the chequered flag. That let in #33 Charlie Green (Dover Boys ‘C’) for victory with Ward still classified second after being blown up and pushed across the line.

Heat two began in very lively fashion with #710 Sean Unwin (Team No Hope ‘A’) taking some heavy hits as his squad traded blows with Team Ouch. Among the latter’s roster, #215 John Webster also took a big hit which required a stoppage. The restarted race was quieter, albeit still having its moments. They included #350 Tommy Parrin (Numpties) removing #330 Karl Jones (Team Mates) head on, having just been followed in himself, and #69 Brad Bartram (Dover Boys ‘B’) following in #71 James Unwin (No Hope) as the chequered flag dropped on #673 Darren Fendley, who took a comfortable win for the Dover Boys ‘B’.

Amid the action in heat three, Brad Bartrum’s stiff shot on the already-hobbled #726 Calvin Pendry (Fan Boys ‘B’) drew cheers, as a red-and-chequered finish gave victory to #117 Lee Reynolds (Team White ‘B’).

Ahead of the all-in final, the Dover Boys ‘B’ team held a commanding lead over Team Bash, while in the day’s Entertainers’ League it was much closer at the top between First Team ‘A’, Dover Boys ‘A’ and Team Mates. With 40-odd cars on track, the action continued with big hits on the roadside turn and back straight. #51 James Licquorice (Dover Boys ‘A’) was in the thick of the action on the back straight, while Fan Boys ‘A’ pairing Lee (#29) and Ricky Hodson (#260) were among those piling in to the wrecking train on Turns 1 & 2, along with the Dover Boys and Team Mates’s #28 Mac Bell. #869 Jamie Steele (First Team ‘A’) was setting the pace out front but somehow got pushed into a parked car by his team-mate #920 Rhys Medley. So it was #155 Sam Coote (Team Bash) who snatched the win from #30 Bradon Mayes (THP7) and Medley. Fourth for Fendley was enough to secure the title for the Dover Boys ‘B’ team, with his regular Team Bash team-mates the runners-up.

Saloon Stock Cars

The Saloons were making their first Festive appearance for five years with a 26-car turnout and the track championship on the line. European champion #131 Timmy Barnes held a 17-point advantage over #389 Ryan Santry coming into the meeting.

Santry made a flying start in heat one, quickly rising to second then taking the lead before a caution period. But #120 Luke Dorling and then #238 Alfie Aldous demoted Santry before he was pushed back down the order. Aldous took the lead from Dorling and went on to win from #214 Tom Yould and the #120 car. Santry survived a late attack from Barnes to come home fifth and, with Barnes out of the top 10, he reduced his deficit to 11 points.

Santry cut the margin further to just two points as he raced to second place in heat two, with Barnes again unable to break into the top 10. Local white-top #192 Robert Heanes led pretty much from start to finish, having got the better of one-time Banger world champion #78 Kieran Bowman’s smart car. Heanes was happy to spin traffic out of his way and while Santry was narrowing the gap in the closing stages, Heanes had too much of a margin as he claimed his first win of the season.

Santry was just ahead of Barnes in the queue at an early restart in the final and then duly charged inside his rival on the roadside turn. But as the pair skated into the wall, it was Santry who got the better drive out of the corner and it soon became apparent that Barnes had damaged his car. Hobbled by a puncture – at least – Barnes dragged his machine around for a few laps before pulling onto the infield. Out front, #341 Austen Freestone relieved Bowman of the lead and charged to victory followed by Santry – more than enough to secure the King’s Lynn track championship for the third time in four years. #525 Wes Starmer completed the top three.

BriSCA Formula 2 Stock Cars

It was a similar period since the BriSCA F2 stock cars last had an off-season outing too, 23 cars contesting a non-points meeting for the single-seater specials.

Outgoing track champion #414 Josh Rayner took a comfortable win in heat one, passing partner #116 Courtney Smith to take the lead before half-distance and never looking back. He was chased home by #344 Luke Woodhull and #43 Marcus Gilbert as Smith dropped to fifth behind the brand-new car of #147 Aidan Derry.

Heat two looked set to go to #156 Danny MacVarish until he tangled with backmarkers with just three laps to go. MacVarish had nudged Courtney Smith wide to take the lead in the first half of the race and looked untroubled out front. But his tangle launched the #156 into the air and then the wall, with a puncture to boot. That handed hometown man Gilbert victory, while Rayner snatched second by spinning Woodhull on the final bend. Star men #992 Harley Burns and #213 Tom Bennett completed the top four.

#421 Simon Osborne was in the thick of action in the final. He led it at first before giving way to Derry, who also came a cropper before yellow flags were required to assist #111 Charlie Payton. Long-distance traveller #524 Michael Wallbank had moved ahead and built a gap back to the chasing Gilbert and Burns. But Gilbert was nibbling away at the Lancashire driver’s advantage and drove inside to take the lead shortly after half-distance. The backmarking Osborne then caused chaos among the leaders but they somehow all managed to survive, albeit with greater gaps between them. So Gilbert completed a heat-and-final double and will start next season with a red roof. Wallbank and Burns followed him home, ahead of Woodhull, #707 Daniel Vaughan and Bennett.

Junior Bangers

A 26-car turnout of Junior Bangers had their last outing of 2024 with sidelined points leader Levi Murkin unable to be caught in the race for the silver roof.

A lively opening heat was led for much of the way by #335 Tyler Sudbury. The Spedeworth visitor held off challenges from #41 Archie Horwood and #389 Aiden Garrod before getting taken out by the backmarking #346 Jayden Lown. Garrod was also caught in the incident, letting #517 Rylee Taylor in for the win, with Sudbury recovering to second and #478 Morgan Bailey third.

Sudbury looked set to claim victory in heat two, leading almost the whole race before #312 Daisy Reynolds caught him in the closing stages. Reynolds spun Sudbury on the final lap to take her maiden victory from #70 Manson Arnold and Lown.

Sudbury’s challenge in the final didn’t last as long as he took several hits early on. That left Aiden Garrod alone out front before #669 William Cartwright put the pressure on. Cartwright got ahead with three laps to go and then sped to victory from Garrod and Bailey.