TWENTY DRIVERS booked their places on the grid for the BriSCA F2 World Final in September with 218 Rob Speak and 647 Chris Burgoyne winning the World Semis at Hednesford on Sunday.

The first semi looked a juicy prospect with a combination of threatening skies and Speak, 886 Chris Bradbury and 7 Gordon Moodie in the first three grid slots, but sadly the race would become a slight anticlimax. Speak shot past Bradbury on turn one to lead with Moodie tucking in behind him – and that’s how they stayed to the flag, Moodie remaining on Speak’s bumper but never launching an attack as he settled for a row two start for King’s Lynn, even lifting off completely on the last lap to the disappointment of some present. Bradbury took third from the rapid 100 George Macmillan Jnr and 732 Daz Kitson.

British and European champion 401 Barry Goldin had pole for the second semi with 606 Andrew Palmer, Burgoyne and 324 James Thackra next, and it was the Scot who got the big push on turn one to take up a lead he would not lose. Goldin initially gave chase but his car let him down and he dropped back before retiring to end his hopes of a second World title. Thackra stayed ahead of Palmer all the way for second as Burgoyne picked up the win, and resolved to work hard on improving his shale form before the big one in September. Further down the order a good battle for ninth saw young gun 169 Richard Stott qualify for the World only a few months into his F2 career, 721 Graham Kelly bumping 270 Mark Gibbs out of a qualifying spot late on.

The meeting Final saw Moodie and Speak renew their rivalry, the Scot firing Speak wide to take third but one turn later the eight-time world champion returned the compliment and Moodie went into the wall. Up front 700 Adam Rubery had just taken Stott for the lead when the red flags flew for the stranded 990 Paul Rice, the result counted back a lap giving Stott the win and therefore securing Burgoyne inside pole for the World Final having competed in the same semi as Stott.