History repeats itself as West Norfolk driver is runner-up in world final

History repeated itself as West Norfolk driver Willie Skoyles finished as runner-up in the 38th running of the two-litre stock car world final at the weekend.

Skoyles – second the last time the event was staged at Lynn back in 2014 – repeated the feat at the Adrian Flux Arena following one of the most chaotic starts ever witnessed.

“I am happy with getting second but disappointed at the same time,” said Skoyles

“I was closing when in second over the last couple of laps but got caught up with the backmarkers. I never seem to have any luck in the big races and only come close but overall I’m happy.

“Overall it was a good weekend with winning the Inter Nations Cup on Saturday and also winning a heat on Sunday.”

There was some consolation later in the night for Skoyles when he took the chequered flag in the Inter Nations Cup.

Skoyles’ massive points haul propelled him up the leaderboard into the final qualifying spot for the series. Although he has missed out on gold for 2018 he could still end up taking silver.

Most of the top drivers, including both Lee Sampson and Skoyles, were caught out in the melee which saw cars facing every which way but the right one after an explosive start.

When a caution was called after two laps to allow Scott Greenslade to receive medical attention, Skoyles was well down in 19th place and looking like he would struggle to make the top ten, never mind challenge for the win.

Scotland’s Ross Watters was the leader when the race restarted and, despite his lack of shale experience and smoke pouring from his car, he astounded all by keeping British champion Deane Mayes at bay for the first half of the race.

Eventually the experience of Mayes came to the fore and he forced a way past.

Mayes extended his lead and was looking like the world champion elect only for the back-marking Simon Venni to intervene and spin out the leader.

This then handed the lead to Max Stott who was being pursued by Scotsman Barry Russell and Skoyles.

Skoyles had driven magnificently to come back from the disastrous first lap to get himself into contention.

A lap later, a returning car baulked both Russell and Skoyles and, despite Skoyles getting past Russell and closing the gap between first and second in the last couple of laps, he wasn’t able to mount a serious challenge to Stott who took the victory.

Fellow West Norfolk driver Sampson endured a rough night and he only just qualified for the Inter Nations cup with a seventh-place finish in the Consolation – a race where he had a big battle with Jacob Downey.

Sampson was also unlucky in the Steve Newman on Sunday where he looked the quickest car on track but was undone just after taking the lead from Ryan Santry.

Banger racing returns to Lynn on Monday (1pm) with the annual Crash for Cancer meeting which sees the big van bangers in action.

Racing also comes from the Reliant Robin World of Shale with the first ramp rollover competition to have taken place at Lynn for more than 20 years.