Saturday was bitterly cold and morning practice saw the Lauder lads have a spin at the hairpin, the report back was "No grip"! By the time the sidecars were due out for qualifying the sun had cracked through, just! Kershaw and Wilson stuck their Blinkbonny Quarry outfit on the second row with a superb 4th place on a mixed grid of F1s (1000cc) and F2's (600cc). More importantly they were first F2 with three other F2s in front of the championship leader.
A good start by the duo in race one but still dropping to 5th after the first corner, they soon re-took their position and held on to 4th, with an F1 dropping out in front the duo finished 3rd overall and 1st F2, a vital 25 points with their rivals picking up 13 points the gap was now down to 12 points…..
Saturday's second sidecar race had to be postponed till first thing Sunday morning due to a crash in a solo race resulting in both ambulances being away from the circuit.
Sunday morning brought the sun but still very cold, the sidecars were first on track with a few warm-up laps then straight into Saturday's second race. The pairing got away well this time holding 4th and pushing the 3rd place F1 very hard. They hung on with some supreme riding and slipped through into 3rd and proceeded to pull away from the F1, taking a fantastic 3rd overall and a clear win in the F2 class. The team now had one hand on the title. After returning to the paddock the duo were delighted to be told that they had broken the F2 lap record by 0.100 of a second!
In Sundays race one, Kershaw and Wilson needed to score highly for a chance to secure the title and gave it their all. Leaving all the other F2s in their wake, the duo got in a fantastic battle for 2nd overall pushing the F1's as hard as they could through the corners, forcing them to make mistakes and then slipping through, then they were passed back down the straights. The Lauder duo then drove around the outside to retake 2nd place on a very fast left hand corner. This battle continued all race long, un-known to Kershaw and Wilson the F2 championship title contender had crashed out! The duo came home in 3rd place sandwiched between the F1s. Now newly crowned, North East F2 Champions!
The final race of the day was a non-championship race with a cash prize fund provided by Express Tyres of Lockerbie. Grid positions were drawn out of a hat, it was going to be interesting! The team were on the front row and relaxed and ready for a great battle. Kershaw and Wilson gave it everything but were just unable to hold off the much more powerful F1 machines dropping to 5th place by half race distance but staying in touch with 4th and 3rd place machines, waiting for the tiniest mistake…unfortunately there was an incident on track resulting in an F1 machine busting into flames. The race was stopped with 4 laps remaining. The F1 involved was lying in 2nd at the time so the duo were promoted to 4th overall in the results. They collected a cheque for £100 for 4th place finish overall but more importantly broke the lap record that they set earlier that morning and became the first ever F2 to do a sub 1m. 4 sec. lap going round in 1.03.85secs.
Steve Kershaw said "Well done to all the team, a fantastic end to the season, bring on 2010!"
The team had never raced on the International circuit so first practice on Friday evening was very valuable track time indeed.
The duo were happy with the bike and Saturday lunch time headed out for qualifying. Kershaw and Wilson were looking to take 2 seconds off their time set on Friday evening which they needed to do to secure a top 10 grid slot. They were delighted to find that they had take 3 seconds off their time and secured 7th place on the grid.
Race 1, a good start from the duo but still dropping back to 8th place after the first lap. Once the field settled the pairing slipped back past into 7th place with a lovely out braking manoeuvre, the duo zoned in on the next outfit and soon slid passed into 6th. With 5th and 4th just 1 second in front the duo pushed hard but a tiny mistake leading to driver Kershaw having to ease the throttle off for a split second allowed the chasing outfit to come back past. Both outfits fought hard for the remainder of the race, they crossed the line in 7th 0.5seconds behind 6th place! Steve Kershaw saying "what a fantastic race, mind you I should have passed him on the last lap but I hesitated and the chance had gone!"
Picture by dcd-images.co.uk
Kershaw and Wilson made an ok start dropping to 9th place but the pack was very close and mistakes were being made, the duo were up to 8th after lap 1. Then another place as the outfit in front missed a gear and the team shot through. The pairing rode hard and hung with the leading pack, a few more outfits dropped out of the race and by ¾ race distance the duo found themselves in 5th place and pushing the fourth place outfit hard. A few mistakes made by the team in front meant that the duo drew alongside several times but the team found themselves losing out on the straights due to lack of power! Kershaw and Wilson dropped back slightly but every time they entered the stadium section of the circuit (a series of tight lefts and rights) the duo pulled the gap back in. It wasn't enough to make a challenge and the duo settled for 5th place 3 seconds back from 4th but a massive 26 seconds in front of 6th, their best ever finish and with 2 British Champions and 1 World Champion in the top four the team were delighted to still be in touch over the finish line.
The team compete once more this year at their home track of East Fortune for the final rounds of the North East Club Championship in which the team lie 2nd just 19 points behind the leader and with four races over the weekend and 100 points up for grabs it's going to be a nail-biter!
Photo by Tim Kershaw
Driver Steve Kershaw says of Cadwell Park, "There's nowhere else like it in the UK". Nestling in a fold of the Lincolnshire Wolds the circuit features some challenging fast straights and some very technical sections including the infamous 'Mountain', a steep climb (which leads to at least one of the three wheels off the ground!) into the challenging Woodland section.
Saturday's race began with a fast start and settled into a series of small struggles for places in some glorious sunshine. Kershaw and Wilson managed to claw their way up to 8th place overall But took 2nd in the Clubman's Cup, crossing the line right behind cup leaders Henry and Smith. The gap to the first place team was now 24 points.Sunday's race promised to be exciting. The duo needed to win and their rivals to not finish. A tall order. First corner was a huge melee and Kershaw and Wilson came out of it in 14th place. The first outfit was disposed fairly quickly then came the outfit of cup leaders Henry and Smith, the Duo slipped by, gaining another position the following lap with some smooth overtaking. Despite some scorching laps, the team were unable to catch the lead cup rider. 9th overall and 2nd in the Cup meant Second position in the Clubman's Cup just 17 points adrift of Henry and Smith who did enough coming home 4th. After their two previous seasons in the British Championship were blighted by injury and illness, the team was delighted with their results taking 12th out of 40 in the overall British Championship and 2nd in the Cup Champion.
Kershaw and Wilson return to England once more this year to take part in an invitation race at Silverstone during a British Superbike round.
On the podium for the second time Stephen Kershaw (left) and Robin Wilson display their 2nd place trophies. Photo by Rob Evans
"Late notice I know but we are now racing at Silverstone with the BSB on the International track on 25,26,27th of September. Last minute from BSB, they want the sidecars there. It will be run as a non-Championship Round, the title is National F2 Challenge. A little twist, where you finish in Saturdays race will be your grid slot for Sunday, but with the first 8 places reversed!"
For the third weekend in a row Team Kershaw Racing packed the van and headed off, this time for north Wales to the circuit of Anglesey.
A gorgeous Saturday morning met them as the team prepared for their 20 minute free practice session - this was also their first time on this track.
The duo stayed out on track for the full 20 minutes putting in 16 laps to get as much feedback as possible. A couple of tweaks here and there and the lads were happy and ready for qualifying. Again, this was to be a 20 minute session giving the duo plenty of time to learn more about the track and settle in with the bike. As a result the boys found themselves on the 3rd row of the grid in 6th place and also the leading cup competitor! Their best ever qualifying position in the British Championship, they were delighted with their result.
The lights go out and it's show time! After 2 corners the duo, who had made an OK start, found themselves in 9th place but still well in touch with the leading pack. On this tight and technical circuit making a breakaway was very difficult, this made for fantastic racing. After a few laps the duo had got back past the two outfits in front with some great overtaking manoeuvres and were now lying in 7th place, but the top 6 riders had pulled away!
A quick decision from driver Steve Kershaw (there was no chance of catching the next rider and with them holding 1st place in the cup giving them a much needed 25 points and their first win) he decided to pace himself and control the gap from behind. Sitting with a comfortable 3.5 second gap over 8th with 8 laps to go, the duo stepped up a gear and opened the gap up to 6 seconds and crossed the line in their best ever finish of 7th place and their first win of the season in the British F2 cup.
A good start from the duo just slipping to 7th but holding that position and hanging with the lead bunch. The pairing holding tight for a couple of laps until things settled down….. slightly!
This was then to be 20 laps of ding-dong battling from 4th to 8th place swapping positions lap after lap!
Kershaw and Wilson dropped to 8th mid race distance as the flying Bill Currie charged through, then a big slide from 2004 British champ Roy Hanks left the door open and the duo didn't need a second chance and 'stuck it up the inside' back into 7th place. Kershaw and Wilson tried to find a way back past Currie but ran out of laps taking 7th but just 0.5 of a second covering 5th to 7th as they crossed the line! A Fantastic race taking 7th overall and their second win of the day in the Cup. They were a huge 20 seconds in front of 2nd place. So the Team was delighted with the weekend, the duo's confidence growing with every race. They arrived at Anglesey with a 32 point gap to British Cup leaders Henry & Smith and come away with it reduced to 19 points.
With 2 races left at Cadwell Park and 50 points up for grabs its sure to be one heck of a finish to the season!
The team had only ridden this circuit once in 2005 on the bike they started their career on, a 1956 Triumph big wheeler! After the first 20 minute practice session the boys confirmed that it's " slightly" faster on the modern outfits!
The duo headed out for qualifying but half way through the session they were losing traction from the rear wheel. Once back in the paddock the team discovered that the rear tyre was down to the canvass thus causing the lack of grip!
The pairing qualified 12th out of a full grid of 24. The team were happy with that knowing there was plenty more speed with a new tyre.
Race 1
The lights go out and its all go! Kershaw and Wilson making a poor start getting shut out into the first corner and dropping to 16th place, with a 15 lap race the duo had a real fight on there hands and fight they did!
From 16th back up to 14th then a spin at the harpin dropping them back down again. For the next 13 laps they fought hard, rubbing fairings and swapping paintwork, at times being 3 abreast inches away from, if not on, the grass!
Kershaw & Wilson managed to fight through to 10th place taking there last victim on the last lap and securing 2nd in the cup. Steve saying "the hardest race I have ever had."
Race 2 was due to start at 5:30pm on Sunday but unfortunately 30 minutes before the start the heavens opened, so much so that the track was flooded and the officials deemed it un-safe to race and due to the lack of time cancelled the remainder of the meeting. On to Donington MotoGP….
Mallory Park action
Racing by invitation only, this race boasted the worlds best F2 teams. The team headed down on the Wednesday night because on the Thursday they had volunteered to do the taxi rides for charity along with other sidecar crews on the Day of Champions. This was a great success, raising just over £1000. A very enjoyable day had by all.
The team had qualifying on the Friday night at 6:45pm, one 25minute session! With no 'untimed' practice, settings were vital for a good grid slot. Heavy rain just before they were due on track meant it would be a real gamble with tyres! The sun came out and they were straight back out. The track was dry in places but still damp in the shade and with the odd puddle here and there it was going to be very tricky!
The Team made their choice and headed out, a few steady laps under their belt and then they pushed as much as they dare. 8th place out of 28 was the results of their efforts!
Steve and Rob were delighted as they reckoned that it felt slow!
Race day, racing at 5:00pm on Saturday evening in the beautiful sunshine and with around 30,000 spectators all the sidecar teams took the place on the grid. A good start from the duo getting away with the front pack but dropping to 10th then firing straight back to 6th within several corners. Battling hard the duo were scrapping for 7th up to 5th. But on the second lap disaster struck as they entered the harpin, the boys were side swiped by another outfit in a very controversial move which caused damage to the gear change making it impossible for Steve to change gear ending there Grand Prix hopes. A very disappointing and short end to what was lining up to be a epic battle. But that's racing!
Donington Park action
Race 1. Not a great start as the pairing found themselves down into 4th place but after a couple of laps the duo got settled in and charged their way back to 2nd overall and 1st F2. This is how it stayed to the flag.
Race 2. The heavens opened Saturday afternoon and the wets were required for the second race, the team tried a new wet set-up on the bike which they were very happy with, conditions were tough though. Steve had to wipe his visor clear at every opportunity to see where he was going! The duo finished four overall and 2nd F2, but after the race they found themselves promoted to 2nd overall and 1st F2 as the two machines in front had both jumped the start and were penalized 10 seconds.
One of those photos that proves phones are for calling people, not taking photographs!
The final race of the day saw the pairing fighting for 2nd overall and making a great out-braking manoeuvre into the hairpin and then breaking away but they were unable to reel in the leader (a Formula 1 outfit) so they settled for 2nd and another 1st in class.
So the team came away with maximum points in the F2 class with 4 wins out of 4. Job well done.
In cold and damp conditions the F2 sidecars were first on track for untimed practice. They had a steady run to make sure all was OK with the bike and to allow Steve and Rob to familiarise themselves with the circuit again, as their last visit was short lived 12 months ago.
Qualifying.
With a dry track the duo headed out feeling confident to be able to put the times they needed in for a high grid slot. After 4 laps the session was stopped as a sidecar had crashed, the debris was cleared and the session was re-started with 7 minutes remaining.
Steve and Rob managed another four laps but were stuck in traffic and never got up to speed but were sure they had done enough for a top 15 start.
To our surprise when the grid positions were published the team found themselves 21st out of 26 qualifiers and on making enquiries as to how they found themselves in such a lowly position the timekeepers reply was that there had been a computer glitch and due to time restraints they were unable to rectify the timings!
The Duo took their place on the grid for race one. The lights went out and off they went!
Steve and Rob made a great start and at the end of lap one they were up to 18th place, then 16th… then 14th the pair carving there way through the field. After the 12 lap race Steve and Rob had managed to climb to 12th place overall and a great 2nd in the cup.
Race two on Monday was a replay of race one.
They made another great start by passing four sidecars in four corners (not easy around Cadwell Park). With their heads down the duo pushed on, fighting their way through to 10th overall and 3rd in the cup. A great result from what looked an impossible task.
2nd place in the F2 category after a poor grid position not of their doing!
With 6 rounds still to go and 150 points up for grabs, it's definitely not over yet!
Practice on Saturday was hampered by fog and qualifying was cut short by an accident but they still managed to qualify 16th in a grid of 36. In Sunday's race a poor start left them well down the field at the end of the first lap. Hard driving got them back to fifteenth place by the end of the race. This gave them a third place in the Clubman's Cup, which is the part of the British Championship they have entered.
Monday saw another hard race in a very competitive field and they had just passed an outfit to take fourteenth place when the race was red flagged (stopped) because of an accident. Unfortunately, final positions were taken from the previous complete lap giving them another fifteenth place overall and second in the Clubman's Cup.
On the limits of adhesion and balance, F2 (600cc) racers Kershaw and Wilson lead a larger F1 (1,000cc) sidecar into the Hannah's complex at East Fortune.
There were three races on Sunday; in race one they were forced down to fourth place by another of the faster F1 outfits. They came to the second race (the second Scottish Championship race) looking for redress and found it. In a start-to-finish thriller they swapped positions frequently but crossed the finish line in third place. Combined with their first place on Saturday this meant they had won the Championship round.
Race three was, if anything, even more fast and furious. The field had been reduced by accident and breakdown but competition at the front was still fierce and it was only a last-lap out-braking manoeuvre on the hairpin which enabled them to take second place in a field composed entirely of F1 outfits and, incidentally, set their best ever time round East Fortune.
The team's next outing is at Cadwell Park for the British Formula Two Championship on the 3rd and 4th of May. Kershaw Racing is always interested to hear from new sponsors - please contact us via the Contact Us page of this website.
At the circuit, Thursday morning dawned with a freezing cold wind and hail showers. Donington circuit is notorious for its lack of traction at the best of times and as the team had never raced there before they were certainly going to find out first hand just what it was going to be like.
Four 25 minute track sessions throughout the day proved invaluable. The team tried many different settings to find grip and master the technical turns and elevations of this superb track.
Saturday, no rain first thing but a very cold wind. The team made the right tyre choice for their first qualifying session, they rode well and the duo qualified 12th out of 36 competitors and were placed on the grid with the world's best F2 sidecar teams. There was a second qualifying session but rainfall just before the start made it impossible for anyone to better their earlier times.
Race one on Saturday afternoon was dry but cold. A good start was made by the duo holding onto their place into the first corner. But Kershaw and Wilson found themselves dropping to 15th by the end of lap 1. For the next 8 laps the duo had to race hard to battle their way back to 12th place where they took the chequered flag, also managing to seal 2nd clubman. A great deal was learnt from full race conditions improving their qualifying time by over a second. The team was ready for Sunday.
The duo held their position and began to make their way forward, on the second lap they were up to 10th with ex TT winner and 2004 British Champion Roy Hanks snapping at their heels. The duo rode hard latching onto ex-World Championship contender and former British Champion Andy Laidlow. By the next lap they had all moved up one place putting Kershaw and Wilson into 9th still with Laidlow in front and ever closer Hanks behind. Over the next 4 laps the duo managed to break clear of Hanks and it was time to concentrate on passing Laidlow for 8th place.
The boys showing off the Melville Club Trophies (They missed the dinner so received them at the circuit on Sunday)
Rob Wilson - Usually the passenger on the F2 outfit
Steve Kershaw - the driver of the F2 outfit, getting a bit out of shape.
Ian Wilson - Brother of Rob Wilson
Rob Kershaw - Brother of Steve, trying an audacious overtake on a two-wheeler!
A motley crew if ever there was one!
.....and again
Rob Wilson consulting Mary (his wife and purveyor of the famous 'Mary Cakes') about cooking times for chocolate cake?
Father Christmas, having finished his round, being roped in to help refuel. Actually it's Roger Kershaw, patriarch of the team, finding himself useful for once! :)
Ian Wilson again
Steve and Rob Kershaw out playing
Kyle Oliver
Ian Wilson really trying now
Kyle Oliver suddenly grew very large - or could he be riding a very small bike?