The first award winners from the 2004 John Cooper Challenge have been confirmed following the two speed events on the calendar. Martin Wallbank (S Class) and Barney Craggs (Club Class) have already assured themselves at least one trophy following a sprint at Lydden and a hillclimb at Wiscombe Park in April.

The two speed events are a precursor to a schedule of 10 races over the balance of the season, starting at Donington Park on 15 May. However, to reward the drivers posting the best results in the two speed events, these two additional awards are presented.

Wallbank, who had never contested a speed event before, narrowly took the S Class award but it took a tie-break to split him from Arthur Forster after they each scored a first and a third place in the two events.

It was equally competitive in the Club Class as only two points covered the top four drivers. Speed event specialist Barney Craggs just took the trophy having scored two second places, which put him one point ahead of Stephen Campbell and Ed Stark, while Jonathan Shepherd was only one point further back.

Stark, the Club Class winner at Wiscombe, has been the revelation of the season so far, having never competed in a motorsport event before the start of the year. The pace of the 20-year old BMW apprentice has also taken him into the early lead of the novice standings.

However, with a full season of racing now to come, the order could well change. Amongst those glad to have got the speed events out of the way is defending champion Mark Speller, who is far more at home on a race track than competing in the speed events!

The John Cooper Challenge now moves to its first race of the season at Donington on 15 May.