Opening stock car meeting of the 2024 season is held at King’s Lynn

A large number of south Lincolnshire drivers were in action at the opening stock car meeting of the 2024 season at King’s Lynn on Saturday.

There were drivers from across the area in all three formulas on duty – the F2 Stock Cars, 2L Stock Cars and 1300 Stock Cars.

The BriSCA F2 Stock Cars saw the largest local contingent in action but uncharacteristically it was a night when they struggled to make a big impact in the results.

Charlie Tomblin had the best drive with a runner-up finish in his heat to the flying Marcus Gilbert.

Daniel Vaughan also qualified for the final through that race with Jack Issitt making the final with a ninth place finish in the next heat.

Unfortunately Pat Issitt, Steve Wycherley and Jason and Barry Clow all missed out on qualifying for the final.

Barry, in particular, had cause to rue his luck with race stoppages costing him a good finish on more than one occasion.

Unfortunately none of the drivers then completed the distance in the final with Tomblin retiring in the early stages with damage and Jack Issitt pulling out at halfway after battling his way up to eighth place from towards the back of the 40 car grid.

Diss' white top driver Connor Blake produced a great drive to win his first ever final.

There was a bit of good news for Barry Clow in the Aaron Patch Memorial when he won the award for best white top winner and Jason Clow also won an accolade - but not perhaps one he would have wanted.

It was for the biggest crash of the race, although Charley Tomblin had a big shout for that after doing a 'Wall of Death' daredevil manouvere in the early stages but which seemed to be missed by officials.

Jack Issitt did also show how unlucky he was by posting the fastest lap of the night in the F2 Stock Cars.

Rob Heanes and Rowan Venni both picked up a trophy in the 2L Stock Car white and yellows when they followed winner Dan Weavers over the line.

Wes Starmer’s ninth place in the third heat was the only other spot picked up by local drivers with Tom Yould – who won the Charlene Kingston Memorial last year - having a frustrating evening in his super smart machine with Ryan Santry winning this year’s race.

Former F2 racer Joe Bamford was in action in the 1300 Stock Cars and Reece Crane also debuted a smart new car.

Bamford was delighted to be in the silverware from the off with a great third place in the white and yellows race while Crane showed that it won't be long before he has his new car challenging for top honours.

Racing returns to King's Lynn on Saturday, March 16, when the 2L Stock Cars are back in action but joining them this time will be the BriSCA F1 Stock Cars and MiniStox.