The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Russell gets ready for big world final
Brechin’s Barry Russell has an important date on Saturday evening when he lines up alongside pole sitter Diggy Smith for the Saloon World Final at the Cowdenbeath Racewall.
Russell has had a successful season’s racing, often competing south of the border.
At this stage the grid consists of seven Scottish, 17 English, five Northern Ireland and one driver from the Netherlands, with the last six places to be decided from a last chance qualifying race.
The top 24 places on the grid are taken from selected championship and track events, with the Dutch and Irish drivers seeded on to various grid slots.
At this stage there are more than 60 drivers booked in for a weekend’s racing.
The grid includes the defending world champion plus two past world champions, the European, British, Scottish, English and Northern Ireland Champions.
However, the race will see 36 cars lining up to do battle.
The first few bends are critical as often a challenge from behind can send those ahead crashing out of the race in spectacular style.
Both Smith and Russell must make a good start to the race as if they are on the receiving end, their race may end prematurely. Many a fancied runner has fallen foul to an opening lap challenge.
The English champion Deane Mayes will start behind Smith while on row three is the racewall track points champion Graeme Shevill from Motherwell, with the European champion Daniel Parker (Norwich) alongside. Parker won the title at the racewall in 2017 and has been in good form of late.
On row four we have the first of the visiting drivers, with the Irish Points Champion Kieran McIvor and the Dutch Points Champion Jeremy van de Kraats, while the defending champion, Max Stott from Wisbech, starts the defence of his title from row six.
Other Scottish drivers on the grid are Ross Watters (Kennoway), double Scottish Champion Ian McLaughlin (Auchterarder), ORC Champion Barry Glen (Dundee), Tam Rutherford Jnr (Dunipace), Kyle Irvine (Glenrothes) and Euan Mathieson (Lochgelly).
The last-chance qualifying heat could grid up to 30 cars, with the first six home claiming a spot at the back.
Among those will be the last Scottish driver to win the World Championship, Stuart Shevill Jnr (Cleland) who did so in 2013.
Holly Glen (Inchture) will also be in the lastchance qualifying race where she is hoping to repeat the feat of Gillian Philp (East Calder) by qualifying for the main race.
Also racing over the weekend are the Brisca Formula IIs, the 1300 Saloons – although they are only racing in Sunday whilst the Mascar and Jascars, scaled down Nascar cars, are on both days.
There are practice sessions during the afternoon plus a grid walk where you can meet your favourite driver, with the action starting at 5pm on Saturday and at 1pm Sunday.