Great Scott! Moran marvels on Prescott Hill (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Great Scott! Moran marvels on Prescott Hill

2:00pm Wednesday 30th April 2008

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LUDLOW driver Scott Moran made the best possible start to his British Championship campaign at Sunday's Prescott Speed Hill Climb.

He was fastest in practice, first in the unlimited racing car class and a clear winner in both the championship run-offs.

Three-times champion Martin Groves from Bicester, however, had a difficult weekend.

He and co-driver Paul Ranson had persistent gearbox trouble on their Gould single-seater and Groves was a midfield seventh in the first run-off.

Then, as rain in the afternoon made the Bugatti Owners' Club hill very tricky, he spun out of the second run-off on Prescott's challenging Esses bends, fortunately without damage to car or driver.

Hereford's Deryk Young was the only competitor to keep the flying Moran in sight in the morning run-off, with a fine run in 37.75.

But, the afternoon battle was fought out in very different conditions. Just as first man Scott Moran came to the line, the rain started and only Moran and second man up Rob Turnbull reached the summit on almost dry roads.

Second man up, Sutton Coldfield veteran Turnbull, took his chance with a sub-40 second climb, only to be pushed down to third by Trevor Willis (Aylesbury) who mastered the difficult conditions to take second overall.

Last year's British Championship was a battle between Groves and Moran that lasted all summer long. The message from Prescott is that this year's title race could be closer still.

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