THEPOINTSCHASE– WOODGAVEDUEWARNING

WHAT: HOTRODSPOINTSCHASE WHERE: FINISHEDAT ALDERSHOT WHEN: JUNE10,2018

Those unfamiliar with National Hot Rods would undoubtedly find its points championships somewhat perplexing. Uniquely in the world of motorsport, due to the series also determining who will qualify for each year’s World Final, the battle to be points champion always spans two years. Points garnering begins directly after each year’s big July race and ends shortly before the next.

So in England, the first half of 2018 was all about finishing the 2017 season. Somewhat unusually, the same driver had been out front ever since round three, that driver being Billy Wood. He gave warning that he was quite likely to be a world championship contender once he’d wrapped up the points. He may have needed a bit of luck to grab the World Final but that points title showed it was no fluke.

Equally tough to win is the equivalent Northern Irish title. For almost all the first half of the season it was Derek Martin who led. But by round six, Adam Hylands had taken over and stayed in charge till the end.

Rob Mcdonald in Scotland and Jeff Riordan (Republic of Ireland) had rather easier championship victories.

It follows that we are now at the mid-point of the 2018-19 series. In England, no obvious frontrunner has emerged, the lead changing hands at almost every round. Presently top is Mcdonald, (back in the English series since July) while over the Irish Sea, John Christie has a scant lead over Glenn Bell. Billy Bonnar and Riordan are in charge in Scotland and Ireland respectively.