ARCHIE Brown wrote another chapter into the Stock Car racing history books when he won the National Championship for Saloon Stock Cars at Smeatharpe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Brown, of East Huntspill, captured the National title to become the first driver ever to hold all four major honours in the sport (World, European, British and National) at the same time.

The qualifying heats for the National Championship were contested at the United Downs Raceway, St Day in west Cornwall on Saturday afternoon. After the four heats, Kegan Sampson of Kings Lynn was the top points scorer, while double heat winner Bryn Finch of Menheniot, Cornwall, earned the other front row starting position for the title race. Brown, who had a steady afternoon during the qualifying phase, finished as the fifth top scorer.

Ahead of the National Championship, drivers completed a pre-race parade, before the 31-car grid assembled. Having failed to score in the qualifying heats, outgoing National Champion Ryan Santry of Diss was left to defend the title from the last row of the grid.

Sampson and Cody Bradford of Heathfield disputed the early lead, but Brown stayed in contention and made his move to hit the front on lap four. Soon after, Ian Govier of Churchinford required attention, and that caused the race to be suspended. That proved to be a pivotal moment for Brown, for when the race resumed, he had a clear track in front of him. As Brown stormed clear of those in pursuit, he was able to open up a telling advantage.

The next bundle of cars behind Brown battled furiously for position, and as they each lost time, Brown extended his lead to almost one third of a lap. From those in pursuit, Stuart Shevill of Motherwell clearly emerged in second place. The race settled into a slightly calmer period, but moving into the second half of the race, it was evident that Shevill was slowly reducing the gap to race leader Brown.

With the laps ticking away, the question was whether Shevill could close sufficiently on Brown to mount a challenge. The gap between them ebbed and flowed as the lead duo tried to pick a route through the backmarkers. In trademark fashion, Brown stayed calm, and despite the Scotsman’s best efforts, Shevill had to concede that Brown was out of reach.

Brown crossed the line to take the chequered and carve his own piece of history. Shevill was a gallant runner-up and Jack Grandon of Southampton placed third. Incredibly, Santry had charged through the pack to record an admirable fourth place finish, and as the National title passed from him to Brown, Santry was the first to sportingly congratulate the new champion.

Young lady racer Rebecca Smith of Halstead, Essex, took top honours in the Formula Two Stock Cars, as she won the World Championship qualifying round final, as sponsored by A1 Windows & Doors of Taunton. The points gathered by Smith will help ensure she secures a place in a World Championship semi final on 23 August at Smeatharpe.

Another lady racer claimed success in the non-contact Stock Rods, as Georgie Polley of Southampton grabbed a heat and final double, to put behind her the disaster of her last appearance at Smeatharpe when she smashed into the inner barrier.