3.5cc – With 2017 3.5cc Champion Mark Wraight electing to sit the event out to save wear and tear on his boat for 2018, Andrew Aykroyd took the win with an impressive 93 laps from Dave Hole and Robert Daniel. Andrew finally seemed to have solved this seasons reliability issues by fitting a new float and catch tank and his Ikarus 2.3 did not miss a beat. Andrew also took 3rd highest laps of the day. [Click images to enlarge]

7.5cc – Following his incredible performance at the GB Team Eliminators, race sponsor Dave Marles takes the win and highest laps of the day adjusted fro the handicap from Robert Daniel and Steve Clements. Dave elected to give half the cash prize to his pit-man Dean Lord and half to the 3rd highest lap scorer. Mick Szebeko finishes off the podium in 4th, but takes the 7.5cc drivers title with consistent finishes throught the season [Click images to enlarge]

15cc – Disaster for double-chasing Mark Wraight who just needed a start to take the title. He broke the engine in his borrowed sons boat in practice, allowing Terry Holmes to sweep to victory and snatch the title in a 4 boat 15cc race. Terry was as pleased as punch to take his first title and Mark was kicking himself over what could have been a record-equalling title haul. Dave Marles and Paul Adams took 2nd and 3rd respectively. [Click images to enlarge]

27cc – James Taylor in a super performance – Race Winner. 27cc Drivers Title. Since giving up the 15cc class to concentrate on 27cc, James has been unstoppable and cruises to victory with an incredible 105 laps, leapfrogging Mick Pain to snatch the 2017 27cc drivers title. James now holds the GB record of 8 National Drivers Titles in all classes. Ian Folkson takes 2nd a Steve Baxter 3rd.[Click images to enlarge]

3.5cc Junior – Thomas takes the win today and Miha wins the Junior Drivers Title. It’s been neck and neck all year with these 2 young racers and we expect they’ll be beating the seniors very soon![Click images to enlarge]

The last race of the UK season is the traditional Prestwich Classic sponsored by Dave Marles of Prestwich Model Boats

As well as this race deciding the winners of the National Drivers Championship, Dave will be offering cash prizes of £100 and £75 to the top 2 highest laps of the day. The event is run under a handicap system so in theory, a 3.5cc boat has an equal chance of winning it as a 27cc boat. Last year the £100 was won by James Taylor

National Drivers Championship
With the 3.5cc class already sewn up by Mark Wraight Dave Hole and Dave Clay will be after the runner-up spot. In 7.5cc, Mick Szebeko leads and looks a safe bet for the title after Gary Wraight announced his withdrawal following the water-filled radio box catastrophe at the MPBA GB Team Eliminators. Julian Waumsley will need to outscore Mick by 29 points to overtake him. In 15cc, Mark Wraight needs 10 points to clinch the double of 3.5 and 15. He has made this slightly more difficult for himself by selling his Boudicca after the eliminators, so he is planning to race his brothers old Costa design boat that Andrew-Aykroyd last won with at the 2015 Nationals! You only get one bite at the cherry in the Prestwich Classic (1 x 30min race) so he will need to Make sure the boat is in good working order as Terry Holmes will be ready to pounce and snatch the title! So all eyes are on the 27cc class where James Taylor needs to outscore Mick Pain by 12 points to prevent Mark Wraight from overtaking his record number of titles. This realistically means James needs to win and for Mick finish 3rd or below. This is quite possible if Ian Folkson and Steve Baxter both run.