PICKHILL racing driver Tracey Taylor West completed the final round of the Harewood Hillclimb Championship last weekend in her road-going 1.8 Lotus Elise and came away with the 2015 title.

The championship covers rounds from April to September at the venue just outside Harrogate, near Harewood House. Tracey has been a regular competitor for a number of years and, although winning her class on numerous occasions, the overall championship has always been difficult to win due to stiff competition from other drivers of cars ranging from everyday road cars to high-power single-seater race cars.

Tracey went into the final round with a lead in the overall championship and finished the Saturday event by setting a new class record on the track for a Lotus Elise of 62.51 seconds, taking a maximum championship point score. Although delayed by fog on Sunday, Tracey almost matched her previous day’s record-breaking time with a timed run of 62.53 seconds. It was enough to again score maximum points and secure the overall 2015 Harewood Hillclimb Championship.

EXELBY kart racer Megan Stephenson was in action recently at Wombwell for the sixth round of the NKF series, making her debut both at the Yorkshire track and in her new Ben Gautrey Foundation-supported kart.

From 20th place on the grid in race one, she made it to 17th at the flag and, despite a mistake in race two, she ended up improving to 15th. A good start in race three was ruined by a turn one collision, but she recovered to finish 12th. That qualified her for a 13th place start in the final, in which she drove brilliantly to claim 16th overall.

In order to boost her career, Megan has since teamed up with European Championship racer John Stewart, who will coach the youngster. They hope to see some improvements at the final NKF round at Fulbeck, in Lincoln, next month.

HUTTON Rudby driver Chris Pearson recently took part in the Pre-War Challenge with the Aston Martin Owners' Club on the full GP circuit at Brands Hatch, where he came away with a victory in his Austin Seven.

The car was liveried to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Grand Prix held in Paris on September 15, 1945, and paid homage to the 42 female spies who went to France during the Second World War and two Grand Prix drivers, Willie Graver Williams and Robert Benoist, who ran the allied spy operation from the Bugatti dealership in Paris during the war.

Chris has written a book about the subject entitled Muriel’s Diaries, First Tears.

THIS weekend, Croft Circuit will join in the recent wartime commemorations when it hosts the popular Battle of Britain Race Meeting more than three decades on from its last edition.

Having originally been staged at the North Yorkshire venue when it was known as Croft Autodrome in 1964, the Darlington and District Motor Club-organised event was unique in its appeal as it showcased both car and bike racing.

A traditional August bank holiday highlight, the Battle of Britain Race Meeting regularly drew crowds of up to 30,000, who were wowed by a blend of two, three and four-wheeled on-track thrills. The event raised substantial funds for charity and local heroes always featured prominently, including motorcycling ace Ken Redfern, car racing front-runners Andy Barton and Ron Harper and sidecar stars Matt Hobson and Colin Appleyard.

It became so well-established on the annual motorsport calendar that, by the 1970s, it was attracting drivers of the calibre of legendary world champions James Hunt and Barry Sheene and multiple Grand Prix winner Patrick Tambay to perform demonstration runs and present trophies.

Since re-opening in 1995, Croft has gone from strength to strength, and the re-introduction of one of the most illustrious dates on its schedule maintains that burgeoning momentum.

“It’s fantastic to have the Battle of Britain Race Meeting back here at Croft,” said circuit manager Mike Cantelo. “For a long time, this was one of the most prestigious motorsport events to be hosted anywhere in the country, and to be reviving it in such a significant year is fitting indeed.

"Both the DDMC and NEMCRC have worked tirelessly to put everything together, and it is entirely appropriate that we have a tremendous variety of bikes, cars and sidecars on the bill. A superb weekend of racing and family-friendly entertainment is guaranteed.”

The packed programme will include solo motorcycles, the final round of the British F2 Sidecar Championship, the Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship, the Porsche Club Great Britain Championship and the MG Cockshoot Cup, in which a coveted Battle of Britain Trophy will be awarded to the overall winner.

Tickets are available at £10 in advance for either tomorrow or Sunday, or £13 at the gate. Accompanied children aged 15 and under will be admitted free. For further information, visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk or call 01325 721815.