Victory at Lydden Hill for Falken drifter Paul Cheshire
Proving that quality not quantity counts, Falken drifter Paul Cheshire triumphed in the fourth round of the British Drift Championship at Lydden Hill; despite Team Falken UK being down on drift drivers. While teammate Kirsty Widdrington failed to qualify, Cheshire took the top podium position in the Pro class and even made it into the top eight of the Super Pro class; he now sits in contention for the Pro season title.
“After my second place at Teesside I’m delighted to be back on the podium at round four – and to be on the top step!” says Cheshire.
Absent from the team were Alan Green, who had to forgo racing for the birth of his daughter, and former champion Matt Carter, whoseNissan Skyline R32 was suffering from electrical gremlins preventing it from being race-ready.
While he was on form from the very start, a worn gearbox synchro on Cheshire’s car caused it to keep jumping out of fourth gear, straightening the car out of its drifting stance. Sacrificing speed on the last corner, Cheshire opted to keep the car in third gear to ensure a solid drift run; the tactic worked, allowing him to net ninth place during Pro Class qualifying. Flawless driving then saw Cheshire defeat a host of worthy opponents – including class points leader Jay Green – to claim first place in the Pro class.
After a quick change of tyres, Cheshire went on to battle in the Super Pro class. Further impeccable driving from the Falken drifter saw the defeat of top qualifier Simon Perry, leading Cheshire to face Mike Marshall. Two close runs between the well-matched drifters followed, concluding in the judges spotting a slight error from the Cheshire and deeming Marshall to be the winner; leaving Team Falken UK to claim eighth position in the Super Pro class.
“The car ran amazingly well with the exception of the gearbox problem, and I’m stoked about my performance in the Super Pro class too!” summarises Cheshire. “I’ve yet to work out the points total but a good finish at the next round in Scotland should see me complete the season in a strong position. Huge thanks to my team for being on hand and to all of my sponsors and fans for your support.”
Team Falken UK will be competing in the next round of at the fifth round of the 2013 British Drift Championship at Knockhill Circuit in Scotland on September 21 and 22.