Ben Power in action in the Guttercrest Racing Legends Car (No 55) at Rockingham. Photo by Rodney Tietjen
Mid Wales racing driver Ben Power lies second in the National Legends Cars championship after a successful, if rain-soaked, weekend which saw him set the fastest lap at Rockingham circuit in Leicestershire.
Power, aged 24, from Guilsfield, near Welshpool, was among the fastest drivers at the track all weekend – placing third in practice and setting the fastest laps in both heats on Saturday.
He finished seventh in race 1, second in race 2, and fifth in an incident-packed final, as the weather played its part in events.
On Sunday, it was questionable whether the racing would go ahead, and race 1 was stopped after four laps, due to the monsoon weather. As he had started off the back of the grid, Power had only managed to get up to seventh by the time the race was halted.
In race 2, with the track still wet, he finished a strong second to champion Dean Brace.
In the final, he worked his way to third place, well ahead of the main pack; but after an extended safety-car period, which closed the field, he lost a place in the sprint to the finish line, and had to settle for fourth.
He again clocked the fastest lap, and the results leave him second behind Brace in the chase for the title.
“The weather was really the winner this weekend,” said Power. “But I’m very pleased with how we coped overall. Despite a few disappointments, it was a good weekend, which keeps us well in contention.”
The championship continues at Donington Park later this month:
- 23-25 August – Rounds 9 and 10, Donington Park;
- 13-14 September – Rounds 11 and 12, Snetterton;
- 4-5 October – Rounds 13 and 14, Pembrey;
- 1-2 November – Rounds 15 and 16, Brands Hatch.
Legends racing originated on the US oval tracks, and the cars have an American look, being 5/8-scale replicas of classic US models. Guttercrest Racing runs a Ford Coupe 1934 replica, with a 1250cc Yamaha motorcycle engine.
With identical cars and the fastest drivers having to start at the back of the grid, there is said to be more overtaking in a single Legends race than in a whole season of Formula 1.
Guttercrest Racing is backed by the family-owned aluminium guttering company Guttercrest, based in Oswestry. The team has further support from award-winning Cardiff-based PR consultancy Weltch Media, and Ripla Designs.
