The seventh and final round of this year's Pace Ward Mitsubishi Lancer Register Sprint Series on Saturday (26th October), witnessed Anthony Lidster score his second outright victory in as many events whilst Logan Black, who finished second, did what he had to do to claim the 2013 overall title. Third place on the day went to Gary Hayward, which meant the top three finishers at Teesside were also the top three finishers in the final standings, although not in the same order.
Amazingly, this weekend's outcome meant that in Class D - the category for the most highly modified cars - Black in his Evo VII and Lidster in his Evo VI finished on exactly the same number of points. Therefore, the tiebreak rule had to be implemented which meant taking an average lap time of all the rounds both drivers had contested throughout the year and seeing who was quickest. After the calculations were complete, it was revealed that Lidster was the season's top Class D finisher by a just 0.18-secs!
The Class C title went to Paul Allin and his Evo V, after he scored his third class win of the year and impressively posted the third fastest time of the day. In Class B, even though Barry Jordan won at the weekend, Ben Casement did enough to take the category's end of season spoils in his Evo VIII, whilst in Class A, driving his trusty Evo II, Ian Fleming rounded off an excellent year with win number three and consequently the Class A title.
Teesside Autodrome's sprint course comprises almost a full lap of the International circuit and includes a combination of technical sections punctuated by short straights. The annual trip to this popular venue, which stands two-miles east of Middlesborough, adds a twist in the tail to the MLRSS season, as the usual timetable is moved back six hours so that the competitive runs take place in the dark and under floodlights.
Going into the final round, the battle for the overall title was between two drivers: Logan Black and Anthony Lidster, their rivalry clearly seen at the end of the four practice runs, with only 0.2secs between them. However, ahead - albeit by just 0.11secs - was Barry Smithson in his Evo VI. Fourth fastest at this stage and quickest in Class C was William Griffiths in his Evo IX, whilst Kenny Brookes (Evo VIII) and Alan Rochell (Evo VI) set the pace in Classes B and A respectively.
So the scene was set for an epic end of season shootout, not only for the overall title, but for each of the four class titles as well. As dusk fell, the competitors could be seen attaching an array of auxiliary lamps to the front of their cars for the only event of the season to be run in darkness.
With Black ahead on points going onto the final round, Lidster was determined not to give up on the title without a fight and set the pace from the word go, posting a time over a second faster than anyone else on the first of the evening's runs. At this point, Hayward was second, a slender 0.03secs ahead of Black who was as determined as his main opponent to keep his grip on the top prize.
Outside Class D, the intensity of the competition was just as fierce, with Griffiths carrying on from where he left off from the practice runs to lead Class C, whereas Barry Jordan and his Evo VIII were now the combination to beat in Class B, with Rochell continuing to set the pace in Class A.
As drivers lined up for their second attempt at the Teesside course it was now properly dark and the tension was starting to mount. Having missed the first run to replace a driveshaft, Allin nailed it on run two and went straight out to set what was to be the fastest Class C performance of the day and a time that would be good enough to secure him third place overall.
Ahead were the two Class D protagonists: Lidster and Black. And, whilst Lidster held the edge for the rest of the evening, Black shadowed his every move, scuppering Lidster's hopes that his adversary would succumb to the pressure and make a mistake.
With Allin doing enough to secure Class C, it was now the matter of settling the scores in Classes B and A. With series leader Casement aiming for a finish rather than any heroics and risk losing the Class B title, the battle for class honours on the day was fought out between Jordan and Brookes. Jordan had a nightmare of runs and it looked as though Brookes' 55.89 on the fifth and final attempt would be enough to clinch the Class, but Jordan dug deep and responded with a 55.74 to hang on to the lead by his finger tips.
Likewise in Class A, Rochell was having a few moments as the evening went on and, seizing the opportunity, the ever-consistent Fleming did what he had to do and snatched victory on the final run by just 0.68secs.
Meanwhile, at the top of the timesheets, Lidster was another who saved his best till last, setting FTD on the final run of the evening to secure his second outright win of the season. Whilst it was enough to equal his and Black's scores in Class D, it was not enough to take the overall title. That accolade went to
Black, who was understandably delighted when it was confirmed he had become the 2013 Pace Ward MLR Sprint Series Champion by a margin of 100 points and was awarded the winners trophy plus a cheque for £500. "2013 MLR Sprint Series Champion! That sounds good", said Black. "I'm absolutely over the moon to take the overall title after such a competitive and tight season. Every event goes down to the wire, sometimes with only hundredths of a second between the top runners.
"It's been great to show that you don't need huge horsepower to do well and I have to extend a huge thanks to AP-Tuning, Ross Sport, Millers Oils and Auto Genie Valeting for all their support and hard work, as without it there is no way I would have been able to compete at such a high level throughout the season. I'm now looking forward to 2014 already!"
