Club racing’s top 10 2017 rivalries

From title battles that were decided by the National Court to series where two or more drivers have tied on points, and from drivers raging about controversial rules to staging a pre-race protest, there’s been no shortage of contention this year

10 Mickel v Power BARC LEGENDS SERIES SPECIALIST UP AGAINST A YOUNG CHARGER

It looked at times as though the wily John Mickel could be defeated in the Legends Championship – there was a roll at Donington Park and three engine changes at Anglesey. That gave Ben Power (chasing Mickel, below) his opportunity, Mickel saying he was “always keeping an eye” on the Welshman. A crushing blow was dealt by Mickel’s late run of form as he snuck ahead to claim his third consecutive crown, and Power was left second best after a rough Rockingham put him on the back foot in October. Power did at least pick up a prize test in Rob Austin’s BTCC car as some consolation. DM

9 Plant v Coffey v Shaw HSCC HISTORIC ROAD SPORTS THREE DRIVERS, THREE CLASSES, SAME NUMBER OF POINTS

A three-way tie atop a club championship after dropped scores is rare, but it happened in the HSCC’S Historic Road Sports. Peter Shaw (Lotus Elan) needed another class win at Silverstone’s finale for an unassailable total, but was beaten into second place. With the same number of wins and fastest laps on countback, former GT Cup racer Will

Plant (Morgan +8, below) and Dick Coffey (Turner Mk1) shared the crown with Shaw. Coffey also split top honours in 2005, with Colin Sharp (Triumph TR5), and was champion in ’03 and ’16 in the Alexander team car in which Chris Horner won the 1996 title. MP

8 Drivers v Castle Combe CASTLE COMBE FORMULA FORD 1600 TRACK-LIMITS DISPUTE TURNS INTO PROTEST AT OFFICIALS

Mention driver strikes and thoughts of 1980s Formula 1 and safety fears come to mind. So it was a surprise to see Formula Ford drivers stepping out of their machines on the dummy grid for Castle Combe’s Carnival race to stage a mini-protest. Their bone of contention centred on track-limit penalties in the day’s earlier race – the top four drivers were penalised – but other issues from the season meant that boiling point was reached at the final meeting. The drivers eventually got back in their cars and the race was run, but not before sending a stark message to the track’s officials. SM

7 Gamble v Priaulx v Harper GINETTA JUNIORS THREE EVENLY MATCHED STARS AND AN ENTHRALLING SEASON

This was a Ginetta Junior season that had it all: bucketloads of controversy, some brilliant racing and three incredibly talented drivers fighting for the championship. JHR Developments’ suspension mid-season while its conduct was investigated – following alleged engine irregularities earlier in the year – did not derail Tom Gamble’s bid as he beat former team-mate Seb Priaulx and reigning rookie champion Dan Harper (below, behind Gamble). Three wins at Silverstone for Gamble meant he won surprisingly easily in the end and denied us the chance for an even closer finish. SL

6 Eastwood v Zamparelli v Cammish PORSCHE CARRERA CUP GB TWO DRIVERS WHO TIED AND ONE WHO PUSHED THEM ALL THE WAY

You can’t have a much closer rivalry than one that ends with two drivers tying on points. In the end Charlie Eastwood (third in pic) just got the edge over Dino Zamparelli (second) in a thrilling Carrera Cup season because he won more races, after a finale during which the destination of the title changed repeatedly. Following two seasons of Dan Cammish (leading) domination, it was a refreshing change. Cammish was well in the mix and could have won a record third crown, until Eastwood forced him off at Knockhill and he suffered a fire at Silverstone. SL

5 Cowley v Gearing 750 FORMULA A RIVALRY THAT CRASHED OUT OF CONTROL

Robin Gearing was defending his title while Bill Cowley (leading Gearing, below) was aiming for his first crown, having been there or thereabouts for years, and stymied in his 2016 challenge by a big accident at Mallory Park. The antagonistic relationship developed at Anglesey in July, with incidents on the last lap of both races. Three weeks later, at Cadwell, there was another clash between them at the hairpin, in a race that went in Cowley’s favour. The post-race interviews were less than edifying, and Gearing sat out the rest of the campaign, leaving Cowley to claim his maiden title. IS

4 Club motorsport v Code 60 BRSCC AND, IN PARTICULAR, CATERHAM ROADSPORT A BATTLE AGAINST A HATED RULE THAT WAS QUICKLY AXED

Winners stripped of celebrations, mass driver protests, confused restarts and one purple flag to blame. It’s fair to say the British Racing and Sports Car Club’s introduction of Code 60 to deal with certain incidents instead of a safety car was somewhat divisive, and no drivers were more outspoken than a selection from Caterham Roadsport. The top six were all penalised in the Caterham 60th Anniversary celebration race, forcing an emergency anti-code 60 meeting where some even refused to race if the rule remained in place. Their words were heard, and the club stopped using Code 60 soon after. DD

3 Ward v Traynor 750MC MR2 A TITLE FIGHT THAT TURNED NASTY AND WAS SETTLED IN COURT

Former champion Shaun Traynor was six wins to four up over the less experienced Lewis Ward (leading Traynor, below) going into the final round, but Ward enjoyed a more consistent season. Traynor seemingly did enough to wrap up the title with victory in the final round at Snetterton, but Ward elected to protest the victorious car’s legality. With the camber angle on one of Traynor’s wheels found to be marginally greater than that specified in the regulations, Ward was provisionally declared champion but, after a protest, the National Court ruled in favour of Traynor. It all left a rather nasty taste. IS

2 Tarling v O’brien v Grant HSCC HISTORIC FORMULA FORD 1600 AN INSEPARABLE TRIO OF CONTENDERS IN A CLASS FIELD

It’s almost becoming the cliche of club motorsport but, in case you didn’t know, the Historic Formula Ford 1600 Championship is one of the most hotly contested and exciting series to watch in the UK. This year, a horde of young pretenders took on 1999 Formula Palmer Audi champion Richard Tarling (below, leading) and three-time champion Callum Grant (orange car). Michael O’brien was impressive, and has since been signed to a Mclaren factory GT deal, but a puncture in the final round ruled him out. Grant suffered a nightmare at Croft, leaving Tarling to seal the win in the finale. JB

1 Fisher v Moyers CASTLE COMBE FORMULA FORD 1600 TWO DRIVERS WHO JUST COULDN’T SEE EYE TO EYE

Former British Formula 3 racer Josh Fisher had won the Combe title before, but for Michael Moyers the aim was sealing a first FF1600 crown. The pair were equally matched, but twice in eight rounds they clashed. On the first occasion, Moyers (below, left) was ruled out but Fisher (right) – decisively for the championship – won the restart. Each driver protested the other during the season, but Moyers had the last laugh, winning arguably the bigger prize in the form of the Walter Hayes Trophy, although even then Fisher pointed to the winning pass allegedly happening under yellows. IS