Matthew Bell (Morpeth) was optimistic of taking the Formula ICA Championship after winning the first points-scoring final at Rowrah yesterday. But his plans were dashed on the last lap of final two when he was eliminated by Tom Armour (Hornchurch), who was later disqualified from second place. Despite crashing off into the tyres half a lap from the end of final two, Bell still leads the Renault-backed championship by 19 points, with one more round (two points-scoring finals) to go. He started the first final at the Cumbrian circuit third on the grid, passing Richard Kent (Olney, Milton Keynes) who ran wide at Iredales, then pole-sitter Benjy Russell (Wisbech, Cambs). Danny Cruttenden (Wilmington, Kent) started the race in second place, but dropped back down to fifth on the opening lap. By half-distance he had recovered, passing Russell at the Stewart Esses and closing up on Bell.

Despite threatening to take the lead at one point, Cruttenden finished the race second, with Russell completing the podium. Cruttenden had a better start to the second final, taking an early lead. Matthew Bell briefly went ahead at the Esses half-way through the race, but Cruttenden regained the lead two laps later. Tom Armour climbed from seventh on the grid to second place by the 16th lap, while behind the top three a train of eight karts, led by Benjy Russell, battled for fourth place. Russell reached the flag ahead of the charging midfield pack, and was promoted to second by Bell’s retirement and Armour’s disqualification.

Two podium positions in the two finals lifted him from ninth in the championship standings to fifth, while Daniel Rowbottom (Mamble, Worcs), who drove from 14th on the grid to third place in final two is third in the championship. The final meeting in the six-event B4 Group/ MSA Super One championships is at Shenington, near Banbury on 10th/11th September.

Formula ICA Provisional Driver Standings:

1st Matthew Bell 457 pts;

2nd Danny Cruttenden 438pts;

3rd Daniel Rowbottom 406pts;

4th Richard Kent 388pts;

5th Benjy Russell 379pts;

6th Jonathan Walker 379pts.