ROOKIE RILEY HAS A NEAR PERFECT DAY

Organiser: Incarace When: May 21 Where: Birmingham Wheels Raceway Starters: 31

Ben Riley had an almost perfect evening at Birmingham Wheels Raceway last Saturday.

Riley comfortably won his first heat and was on course to pick up another win in his second heat when he inexplicably spun his machine coming off turn four for the last time.

It meant he fell just metres short of the finish line, handing the race win to Aaron Leach.

Riley made amends with a faultless drive in the finale to chalk up his maiden BRISCA F1 final victory.

Leach grabbed the early lead in the final. Further back, Riley was making steady progress through the field and began to close in on the leader.

Riley nudged Leach wide for the lead with five laps to go. Then Mat Newson barged his way into second place with three laps remaining, but could not get close enough to mount a challenge for the lead.

“I needed that after heat two. We all make mistakes and I will learn from it. I saw Newson closing in but I just kept it steady over the last few laps,” said Riley. “A heat and final double, what a night, Bring on the British Championship!”

The next Tarmac meeting is at Skegness on June 11.

“Riley didn’t spin out when I was behind him,” joked Newson. “But he drove a perfect race and didn’t make any mistakes. I was on a charge at the end but would have needed another five laps to get close.” Leach finished third. After his first-ever race win earlier in the night in his heat, he hung on to claim his best finish in a final so far in his first season in BRISCA F1.

“I am well pleased with that, who wouldn’t be?” said Leach. “To be a novice driver and get a third place is great. I was hoping I could hang on for the final win, but I saw Riley behind me and I knew he was fast.

“I would just like to say a massive thanks to Stephen Leach, Craig Leach, Team Fairhurst and Team Steward,” said Leach. “I couldn’t be on track without them. ”