UK Ministox World Championship
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NZ8 Jack Miers
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NZ71 Sam Barry
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Published 15-09-2009
UK Ministox World Championship Qualifying
Skegness Stadium, Lincolnshire England
At the Skegness Stadium, Lincolnshire England, Jack
Miers from Palmerston North had his first race meeting of the UK tour.
In the practise session Miers was impressive, which he followed through
in the first race. Starting from the back of the grid Miers finished 5th
and then went one better in the next qualifying heat.
In the main event of the night The Grand Final Miers again from the back
of the grid drove an excellent race, moving the currently ranked UK no1
driver wide in the first lap Miers worked his way through the field and
by lap 5 was in the lead. With 4 laps to go a race caution slowed the field
and the lead Miers had gained was reduced as the grid formed for the restart.
As the green flag dropped the UK no1 Aldridge
was on Miers back bumber, but this did not detire the Kiwi as he powered
away and took a well earner victory.
Jack Miers is the only NZ driver to have won a Grand Final race in any
class at a UK speedway
Next stop on the tour is Birmimgham on
Saturday where Jack will be aiming to increase his Qualifying Points for
the big race at Kings Lynn on 19th.
UK Ministox World Championship Qualifying Birmingham
What a night at Bham, brilliant.
The tour moved on to the UK's second biggest
city, Birmingham, on Saturday for the last World Championship Qualifying
round for the Worlds on 19th Sept.
An addition to the the New Zealand contingency
was Sam Barry NZ71 who along with Jack Miers needed to gain places in the
2 qualifying heats and gain those valuable points and guarantee their place
on the World Final grid.
In Practise Sam recorded consistent fast
lap times and adapted well to the UK ministoxs.
In race one Sam started from the back
of the 25 car grid, as soon as the green flag dropped Sam worked his way
through the field and in to the top 5 to gain 6 points and his place in
the big race next week.
Race 2 fielded both NZ drivers and again
due to their good performances were gridded on the back row of each race.
it was now Jack's turn to finish in the top ten and guarantee his place
and make history by having 2 international drivers in the Mini Stocks world
final. Keeping his head as he was pressured by some of the UK drivers who
tried to spin the Palmerston North Ace, Jack powered through the grid and
took another well earned victory.
Race 3 saw the sparks fly as Jack Miers
and Jack Aldridge (UK's no1) battle from the start. Aldridges dominance
of the sport was being eroded as Miers took the battle face on to the delight
of the capacity crowd. Aldridge spun Miers but this was not the end of
it, Miers re entered the race and latched on to the Aldridge car, as they
entered turn 3 Miers Forced the current World Champion wide and then came
through on the inside, Aldridge retaliated but Miers attacked again coming
off the bend, launching Aldridge in to the fence.
In the meeting final the UK drivers made
sure that there was not going to be a NZ winner tonight in the main event.
Both drivers got away well in the first few laps and had passed the top
drivers, Aldridge repaid Miers on laps 3 when he was moved wide into a
spinning car which slowed Miers. Sam Barry then took up the fight and was
up in to the top ten until a crafty manoeuvre from the Hertsog team spun
Sam.
As the laps counted down Miers regained his pace
and on the last bend moved 2 cars wide to gain 8th, Sam came home 11th
after restarting the car and battling through the grid for the second time
in their race.
Miers recorded the fastest lap of the night,
with Barry gaining a credible 5th fastest lap.
The tour moves on to King Lynn on Saturday 19th
for the finale, THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, of the MiniStocks, as part of the
Formula One Stock Car World Championship.
Footnote: Word is the winner of the UK
Ministox World Champs could be receiving an invite to attend the Ministocks
in Paradise meeting at Rotorua in New Zealand this upcoming season as part
of a reciprocal arrangment yet to be finalised .
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