Just 2.9 seconds separated the top 3 drivers battling it out to take the top spot at this year’s Island Car Centre Sandown Sprint, which was once again a huge success.
This year’s motorsport event was a tale of 2 halves as Saturday’s dry weather was soon replaced by very wet conditions on Sunday, creating a bigger challenge for the 93 competitors looking to set their quickest time on the 700m Culver Parade track.
Despite gusty winds on Saturday, spectators turned out in their hundreds to enjoy the high-octane action. Many were keeping an eye from the outset on who would take the Sprint title this year following 2022’s ding-dong battle between Will Nicholls and Damien Bradley.
After 2 days of competitive runs, it was Damien in his Subaru Legacy that came out on top securing 1st place with an overall time of 67.84 seconds. This was just 2.16 seconds ahead of Clive Stangle in his Mitsubishi Evo. Rounding off the podium was last year’s winner Will Nicholls in his Ford Fiesta R5 rally car, only 0.74 seconds behind Stangle.
The podium order wasn’t set throughout though as at the end of Saturday it was looking like Peter Steel in his Radical SR1 would take a podium spot. However, the wet conditions the following day saw him drop to 6th overall.
A smash involving local Luke Everson in his Honda Civic EP3 on Saturday caused some delay but the 1st day of action went largely without incident. But when the tarmac became slippery on Sunday it was a different story with 2 crashes and a spin highlighting how the conditions had changed.
2023’s instalment of the Isle of Wight Speed Trials yet again saw a lovely array of vehicles taking part including historic and unique cars that would normally only be seen at major motorsport events. The paddock at Yaverland Car Park was full of those wanting to see the cars and drivers up close.
The successful return of Sandown Sprint following last year’a inaugural staging certainly cements that there is local interest in motorsport, with firm hopes that it will continue for many years to come. Motorsport action returns to the Isle of Wight on 1st October with the Island Stages Rally, also organised by the Isle of Wight Car Club.
You can see the full results from the Island Car Centre Sandown Sprint 2023 at https://fdmc.ewebnet.co.uk/sandown2023/overall_combined.html.
i see a island driver crashed they are good at that over there
Tell me about it, they are always going past our house with ridiculous popping noise it seems they can’t even reach third gear without popping in these hideous, brainless modified cars for chavs. I think these gas guzzling environmental destroying things should go straight in the crusher !
My bet is you are over 60 lonely and grumpy
Now that’s where you are incredibly wrong!!
Over 70 and grumpy?
It’s like Nascar comes to Sandown !