MSA - Reports - Round 5 2007

Championship Rounds Race Reports

Britain’s most experienced Pro Modified racer, Andy Robinson, celebrated victory in the MSA British Drag Racing Championship by winning the series’ last race, Santa Pod Raceway’s National Finals, in magisterial style. With a win and two semi-final finishes from the four preceding races, Robinson already held an unassailable lead. In all, 26 entries from six nations scored points during Pro Mod’s inaugural season as the MSA Championship class.

After stuttering on his first two qualifying passes, Robinson hit low-6-second form at over 220mph to dominate the show. His quickest pass, 6.223sec., came in the semi-final against Kevin Slyfield and his fastest, 225.14mph, in the final, alongside a 6.259 to defeat Philip Englefield.

Englefield also hit 6’s to reach his second final of the year and secure second place in the Championship. His first qualifying pass produced his best weekend figures, 6.730—208.61, and he continued in similar vein till the final, when tyre-shake reduced him to an 11sec. losing effort.

Ian Bishop and Kevin Slyfield both graced the event with career-best figures. Bishop edged teasingly closer to the 6sec. zone, clocking 7.028 (at 195.60mph) in his semi-final loss to Englefield. Slyfield registered improvements on each pass he made, finishing with figures of 7.279—193.97 to complete his Pro Mod debut year in encouraging fashion.

The racers will meet again at Easter for the start of next season’s MSA British Drag Racing Championship. With new cars already under construction in Britain to add to the heady, multi-national mix, Pro Mod 2008 promises an intriguing campaign.

1. Andy Robinson 6.358 / 222.67
2. Philip Englefield 6.730 / 208.61
3. Ian Bishop 7.068 / 191.49
4. Kevin Slyfield 7.538 / 193.97

Philip Englefield 6.907 / 204.53 def. Ian Bishop 7.028 / 195.60
Andy Robinson 6.223 / 221.76 def. Kevin Slyfield 7.279 / 193.97

Robinson 6.259 / 225.14 def. Englefield 11.134 / 75.76

Low Elapsed Time of the Event: 6.223sec. – Robinson

Top Speed of the Event: 225.14mph – Robinson.

Points standings after MSA Championship Round 5:

Po	No	Driver	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	B*	T
1	4	Andy Robinson	56	36	94	77	108	25	396
2	38	Philip Englefield	35	32	76	10	77	25	255
3	4038	Robert Joosten	98	35	0	54	0	0	187
4	3614	Gordon Appleton	37	33	53	32	0	0	155
5	2	Michael Gullqvist	0	34	0	96	0	0	130
6	387	Ian Bishop	0	10	37	31	46	0	124
7	391	Patrik Wikström	0	0	0	111	0	0	111
8	3606	Danny Cockerill	0	38	58	0	0	0	96
9	606	Kev Slyfield	0	0	35	10	45	0	90
10	6	Mats Eriksson	0	34	0	54	0	0	88
10	934	Mikael Lindahl	0	10	0	78	0	0	88
10	3666	Ray White	34	10	34	10	0	0	88
13	832	Bruno Bader	0	32	0	52	0	0	84
14	8	Marc Meihuizen	0	33	10	35	0	0	78
15	1	Urban Johansson	0	37	0	32	0	0	69
16	3738	Rolf Ammann	0	31	0	31	0	0	62
17	10	Norbert Kuno	0	0	0	53	0	0	53
18	3	Seppo Saapola	0	32	0	10	0	0	42
19	7	Roger Johansson	0	10	0	31	0	0	41
20	175	Michael Nord	0	0	0	33	0	0	33
21	9	Marko Lantto	0	32	0	0	0	0	32
21	489	Niclas Andersson	0	0	0	32	0	0	32
23	1341	Per-Olof Eriksson	0	31	0	0	0	0	31
23	3623	Robert Koper	0	31	0	0	0	0	31
23	3625	Henri Joosten	0	31	0	0	0	0	31
26	60	Paul Brander	0	10	0	0	0	0	10
27	1081	Hans Knuters	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

*Bonus points for attending all 5 rounds.