Lings Racing and Negotiator were declared winners of the 2007 Honda Formula 4-Stroke Series on Sunday after a thrilling weekend on Liverpool’s River Mersey.
The 150hp class race did not fail to produce a few surprises. Brothers Tom and James Plant in Quality Job led the first half of the final race but eventually lost the lead to Salcombe Racing with championship leaders Lings Racing – crewed by David Cowley and Paul Barkshire – trailing fifth place. Salcombe Racing went on to take the chequered flag ahead of the dark horses Jak Cockman and Andy Phipps in Cider Daze who crossed the line in second place while Lings Racing pulled out all stops to clinch third podium position and the 2007 150hp championship.
“We’re gutted to lose the championship,” said Salcombe Racing’s driver Jerry McArthur, “but it was something of a consolation to win today’s final event. It was a thrilling race and other teams put up a great fight. It’s been a fantastic championship and we will be pushing for the title next year”.
Norfolk-based team Lings Racing, in only its second season in the sport, secured the 150hp class crown with a well calculated third place finish in the final round.
Barkshire, navigator of Lings Racing commented: “Sunday’s race was really tough. Tactically we opted to stay out of the mix but halfway through we decided to push harder – we had the championship to win. It’s been a long season but all our hard work has paid off, we are over the moon. We told spectators in Lowestoft we were going to win and we refused to let them down.”
The 225hp final also surprised spectators with 2007 newcomers Screamit.Com taking an early lead until mechanical gremlins let them down. Eventually, the race became a battle between Rupert Pugh in ITV4 Fearless and Gavin Parsonage in Negotiator. But it was ITV4 Fearless that finished the series in style, taking the chequered flag for the first time this season.
“Sunday’s sea conditions made the race really tough” said ITV Fearless driver,Pugh, “but we are ecstatic to have won. We couldn’t ask for a better end to the season.”
225hp championship winners, Negotiator, which had already wrapped up the
series in Saturday’s race, maintained the pressure throughout revelling in the conditions and the competition.
Nathan Libby, navigator of Negotiator commented: “We are both really pleased with how the whole series has gone this year. We had great fun today in the choppy conditions and Rupert drove fantastically for ITV4 Fearless. We are looking forward to coming back next year; there isn’t a better series out there.”
