TWO wins for Ludlow driver Scott Moran at the ‘Best of British’ event at Shelsley Walsh strengthened his place at the top of the British Hill Climb Championship leaderboard.

But he admits that the chasing pack are likely to cut the gap as the season reaches its climax.

In perfect conditions and in front of large crowds, five-times former champion Moran drove his Gould GR61X racing car in his usual smooth style to take rounds nine and ten, gaining maximum points.

He said: “I am really happy with that as the car ran faultlessly and I have been pushed really hard this weekend by both Trevor Willis and Wallace Menzies. And when Will Hall gets his car fully sorted he too will be a real threat as he was doing 147mph over the finish line!

“Although I appear to have a big lead in the championship at the moment on paper, things will balance out and the others will be much closer when dropped scores are taken into account as only so many rounds can count.”

Willis and Menzies each took second and third places in the run-offs to keep them in contention.

With a capacity entry, the competition was always going to be fierce throughout the various classes and no more so than the huge 1100cc racing car class which saw a win for Scottish driver Steve Marr in his PCD Saxon from young driver Tom Poole in the new Empire Evo, followed by racing car constructor Steve Owen in his OMS28.

In the road going class for car up to 2 litres, spirited driver Richard Brant held off a strong challenge from Lotus drivers Ken Williamson of Oxford and Teme Valley’s Sarah Thorne to maintain his class lead in the Midland Hill Climb Championship.

Other class winners included Bruce Aitkin in a Citroen Saxo, Roy Standley in a Mitsubishi Evo5RS, David Warburton in a Caterham 7, Mike West in Westfield SEW, Andrew Russell in a Ginetta G15, Ash Mason in a Westfield, Allan McDonald in his Mini Evo and Karl Schollar in his Shelsley Special Spectre Mk7.

Well in front in the Hill Climb Leaders championship is south west driver Colin Satchell who extended his lead with a clear class win in his beautifully prepared Peugeot 205 and reigning Midland Hill Climb Champion Mike Turpin of Hereford once again took an emphatic win in his class with the Vauxhall VX220.

The hugely popular racing car classes saw wins for David Tatham, Tim Davies, David Uren, Trevor Willis, Joshua Moss, Stuart Ridge, Ben Tranter and Ed Hollier.

An invitation class for competitors in the Pirelli Ferrari Hill Climb Championship saw Nick Taylor take the win in his F430 Coupe, followed by former championship winner Richard Prior in his F355 GTB.

The next competitive weekend will be the Reg Philips Trophy on Saturday, July 2, with the Vintage Sports Car Club meeting following on Sunday July 3.