It hardly seems possible; but a year has passed and we are now less than one week from the largest short oval motorsport weekend anywhere in the UK - the 41st Ipswich Spedeweekend is upon us! The event takes place this Saturday July 7th and Sunday July 8th

As always the National Hot Rod World Championship headlines an incredible weekend of racing. The race benefits from generous sponsorship from CP Dynes Drainage Contractors for 2012 & 2013 which will see the race being televised on Sky Sports for the first time in a number of years. Can Malcolm Blackman hold on to his title? Will Matt Simpson take pole position again this year and fulfill his potential? The challenge from overseas is as strong as ever for 2012 - can the Northern Irish take the title back across the Irish Sea? John Christie certainly appeared very fast in patches at the Thunder 500 - can he take the title home? The challenge from the Republic of Ireland is headed by points champion 970 Shane Murphy; Shane looked very fast in the early stages of last year's race and is always at the sharp end when it comes to championship time - he would dearly love to take this one! The Scottish challenge will, of course, be headed by 72 Wullie Hardie (who races in the English series) and the Scottish points champion 844 Billy Bonnar - who is also no stranger to the wide open spaces of the Foxhall circuit. From further afield; 66 John van den Bosch from Holland and 467 Winnie Holtmanns from Germany will be representing mainland Europe and our final entrant will be South African Champion 11 Neville Loosemore who is certainly taking his campaign very seriously indeed!

There are battles throughout the grid and, as always, the 75 lap race will test man and machinery to the limit. The atmosphere will be electric as we build towards the moment where the most famous words in motorsport - "gentlemen start your engines" are uttered to bring the 35 engines to life. The build up to the race will be presented to the usual high standards expected from Europe's largest short oval motorsport promoter as the thousands in attendance encourage their favourites as the gladiators do battle for one of the most coveted championships in UK short oval motorsport is contested.

In fact, the National Hot Rods are there in greater numbers than has been seen for a number of years. At the time of writing a sensational 28 cars have booked in for the support races - including a certain Carl Boardley! The return of the former World Champion (and the only man to take the title four times in a row) has certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons. Can Carl capture the form that made him one of the most dominant drivers in the history of the formula? It is sure to be a fascinating part of the Spedeweekend!

The 2.0 Hot Rods will be competing for the TOM Waste British Championship with Northern Irishman 70 Shane Murray defending the title around a track he knows very well. The Northern Irish entry is as strong as ever but the English drivers will be determined to make sure the title stays on these shores! World Champion 306 Will Reed heads the English challenge but with the likes of 65 Mark Willis, 565 Dan Smith and the English Champion 43 Paul Wright on the grid - the headline event of the Saturday evening is absolutely wide open and it is difficult to pick a winner out of the 34 entrants.

The National Bangers return in 2 Litre 4-a-side team action - sponsored by Refine Metals (UK) Ltd! A huge number of cars have booked in and with notable teams such as the Predators, Cream Team and Midnight Runners booked in; the action is bound to come thick and fast as the big banger boys get stuck in! The last time this event was run as part of Spedeweekend two years ago saw no shortage of action and there is no reason to expect any different this year!

The 1300 Stock Cars are expected by many to steal the show this year as they do battle in the Quaife Engineering sponsored Supreme Open. With just under 60 cars booked in at the time of writing from all over the UK; the track will be crammed full of some of the finest exponents of contact racing the UK has to offer. Will it be a international battle as the English, Northern Irish and Scottish drivers attempt to take the spoils in the name of their respective nations? Or will personal rivalries on track see national loyalties forgotten in favour of gaining the upper hand on an old foe?!

Another formula competing for a major roof-colour carrying championship at this year’s Spedeweekend will be the Lightning Rods who will be contesting the Engine Services British Championship. Defending champion 904 Brendan McConnell will be in attendance as part of a strong challenge from across the Irish Sea and there will also representation from Scotland to do battle with the finest drivers in England in one of the most competitive formulas seen on Spedeworth/Incarace's circuits. The big Sierras are always action-packed at Spedeweekend and this year will be no exception as 36 drivers do battle.

The Superstox have been one of the best formulas on show around the Spedeworth circuits for a number of years now and 41 cars will gather to compete for the Dumpsport Performance Eaton Family Trophy - one of the most beautiful trophies on offer in all of short oval motorsport. This trophy will carry particular poignancy this weekend following the sad loss of Spedeworth's founder Les Eaton on January 23rd this year. The formula is very much on the up at the moment and demand for a booking has unfortunately outstripped supply. However, do not miss these purpose-built machines as they take advantage of the final chance to set up their cars prior to their World Championship on August 18th at the Suffolk venue.

The 2 Litre Stock Cars have experienced a resurgence lately and numbers have steadily improved. It has been gratifying to see an influx of new drivers to the class and many of those new drivers will be on show among the 31 entrants at Spedeweekend as the drivers gather to determine the victors in the Betfred Trophy and Scrapco Golden Helmet. The big ironed-up Sierras are often one of the highlights of the Spedeweekend - will old scores be settled or new rivalries formed??!

The Stock Rods always put on an exemplary show at Spedeweekend and the TOM Waste European Challenge Cup will be the target of all of the drivers on track. With the top English, Scottish and Irish drivers gathering to do battle - another fine show from the Stock Rods car be expected. The wide open spaces of the Foxhall circuit certainly enable the drivers to show Stock Rod racing at its best.

Reminding those in attendance of a certain age of how things "used to be"; the Historic Stock Cars will have just under 40 cars in the pits to compete for the Bob Studd Trophy - sponsored by Aford Awards. The formula has had a sensational season to date with a number of meetings being fully booked and the lineup of old cars on the track at Ipswich make for a spectacular sight. Some of the drivers may have a little less hair than in their younger days but do not be fooled - every single driver on that grid will want to take the prestigious silverware home with them and will use the bumper to do so!

The final formula on show this weekend are somewhat of a last-minute addition as the youngsters in the Ninja Karts get the chance to show what they can do in front of the large Ipswich crowd. The formula are on show every two weeks at Aldershot Raceway and have been sensational throughout 2012 and thoroughly deserve their opportunity to shine. The "Stars of the Future" race will be part of Saturday's racing and has been generously supported by West London Truck Bodies.

All in all, another sensational weekend of racing lies ahead. For those of you who have been before - there is a reason why you come back year on year and we thank you for your continued support. For those of you who have yet to sample the jewel in the crown of Spedeworth Motorsports' fixtures; we would urge you to make a special trip to Foxhall Stadium (IP4 5TL) this weekend - once you have sampled the incredible atmosphere and amazing spectacle of Spedeweekend; you will not want to miss it!!!

Racing starts at noon on both days.