Published April 13, 2011 15:00
Long time championship contenders Bath finally break through to win the BUKC for their first time at Whilton Mill whilst Oxford Brookes fall apart and Loughborough run out of luck.
Chris Bell from Bath University has been studying at Bath and competing in the BUKC for 6 years. Yes, six, that is SIX years. In all those many years of expanding his mind in a multitude of different educations it has been his burning ambition, more than anything else, to win the BUKC. And finally after 6 years of trying, and only coming as close as 4th last year, he has finally realised one of his dreams. Well done Chris, you dream achiever!
For it was Bath A who were the victors in the 9th and final round at a sunny Whilton Mill Kart Circuit in Northampton. The awesomely fast flowing circuit - a firm favourite among BUKC drivers and just up the road from Silverstone - was to see an action packed final round to the BUKC 2011 where any of the top 3 teams could have taken the title.
The top 3 teams of the BUKC 2012. 1st: Bath A (middle). 2nd: Loughborough A (left). 3rd: Coventry A (right).
Going into the final round it was Loughborough A who had the advantage leading by 2 points ahead of both Oxford Brookes A and Bath A.
| Pos | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Loughborough A | 352 |
| 2nd | Oxford Brookes A | 350 |
| 3rd | Bath A | 350 |
| 4th | Coventry A | 345 |
However, having dominated the first half of the championship, it was Loughborough who began to run out of luck in Round 9. First of all they were kept out of the top 3 in race 1 by some fierce competition from mid pack runners Leeds who took the victory, closely followed by Hertfordshire A and Coventry A. Loughborough won race 2 but again in race 5, some strong competition from Bath A, Oxford Brookes B and Brunel A kept them out of the top 3 again meaning they had to get a decent result in the final race of the day to win or at least come 2nd which would guarantee them the championship title.
Alas, Loughborough's poor day (by their standards) got worse as they received a black flag in the final race whilst Oxford Brookes A equalled their worst ever round result by finishing 12th throwing their chance of winning the BUKC for a record 4th time.
Meanwhile it was Coventry A who upset the expected running order by finishing 2nd overall in round 9 equalling their best round result of the season with Loughborough languishing in 3rd. Not a good day for Loughborough but a joyous one indeed for Bath as it meant that they were tied on points with Loughborough for the championship.
Yet again the BUKC had gone down to the last race of the last round of the championship!
However because Bath A had scored 3 round victories over the course of the 9 rounds compared to Loughborough's 2, it was Bath A who took the championship for their first ever time which made Chris Bell from Bath very happy indeed as he was contemplating a 7th year at uni if he failed to the win the BUKC this year. After 6 long gruelling attempts it shows that it pays to keep on going - just like Jenson Button!
| Pos | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Bath A | 410 |
| 2nd | Loughborough A | 410 |
| 3rd | Coventry A | 404 |
| 4th | Oxford Brookes A | 400 |
