THE stock car season is beginning to draw to a close – already – and between now and the end of the season it is time for the major titles to be decided.

Last week Frankie Wainman Jnr became the formula I World Champion at Coventry where he led home Rob Speak and Lee Fairhurst.

Wainman last held the title in 2005 when he won it at Northampton and this is the third time that he has won the title.

Speak, who recently announced his retirement from the sport had been hoping to do the double – the formula I and II World Titles in the same season – come to nothing!

On Saturday, on the shale at Mildenhall, it was the turn of the formula II drivers to contest their World Championship and it turned out to be quite a race. It had been raining quite heavily and the shale surface was wet with a lot of build up on the outside of the track which would prove to be a problem.

Scottish drivers on the grid were Chris Burgoyne (Airth) who started the race on the outside of the front row whilst Dennis Middler (Carnoustie) was on row 13. Gordon Moodie (Windygates), who won his World Championship at Mildenhall in 2006, was one of the drivers in the consolation semi-final but unfortunately he didn’t qualify for the main race after tangling with another car.

After all the build up the cars set off with Middler getting caught up in a shunt right at the start causing his retirement from the race. Burgoyne was edged wide at the start and was soon caught up with other cars and he had to retire from the race. Wim Peeters (Holland) took the lead and he proved to be uncatchable and all but lapped the field as he won his first World Championship, emulating the feat his father Willie did at Northampton in 2005. Incidentally they are the first father son duo to have World Championships to their names!

Steve Wycherley (Huddersfield) was a distant runner up with David Polley (Manea) third.

In the meeting itself Burgoyne was second in the consolation heat and then after being spun in the final came charging through the field to finish third.

At Barford on the Sunday the ORCi stock rod drivers were racing in their World Championship with Michael Bethune (Kirkcaldy) the defending champion. Amongst the other Scottish drivers on the grid were the British Champion Jim Pitcaithly (Kirkcaldy), Trevor Calvin (Lanark) and Leon Stewart (Ratho).

Pitcaithly was a very early retiree followed soon afterwards by Bethune. Luke Oliver led the race from Trevor Ashwood and Calvin only for the latter to be spun out of the race when he moved into second place. This left Oliver clear and he won from Doug McLean (Glenrothes) who made up quite a bit of ground over the closing stages of the race.

The minis were racing at Crimond for their National Championship over the weekend and after the heats Euan Millar (Heck) was on pole with Steven Burgoyne (Airth) on the outside of row 2. However, it was Ethan Pope (Devon) who came through to win.

Over the weekend of the 17/18th September the 2 litre National saloon drivers race in their World Championship at Skegness where the front row of the grid is shared between Deane Mayes (Diss) and the defending champion Simon Welton (King’s Lynn). Luke Grief (Stenhousemuir) is the best placed Scottish driver on row 4 whilst Ross Watters (Leven) and Kyle Irvine (Glenrothes) share row 8 with Barry Russell (Brechin) is on row 9 and Paul Honeyman (Stenhousemuir) on row 11.

However the other drivers have a chance to get onto the World Final grid but only those who finish in the top six in the last chance qualifying race.

At the Racewall it is going to be a busy time with plenty of titles up for grabs.

On the 17th, when the racing returns to the Racewall the prostox drivers have their Scottish Championship to contest with Tam Melrose (Mayfield) the defending champion. He is sure to face a stern challenge from Ricky White (Thornton) and Paul Barron (Cowdenbeath) so it should be quite a race. The following week brings the Lightning Rods into the limelight when they race for their Scottish Championship and there will be a new name on the trophy this year.

October will be a hectic time for most of the formulae especially with the track points titles to be decide as well.

The first meeting in October brings the saloons into action to decide the Celtic Challenge whilst the National Hot Rods have another of their World Championship Qualifying rounds to contest. The following week will see Luke Grief (Stenhousemuir) defend the Scottish title he won last year and will he become the first English born driver to retain the title? This is certainly a meeting to pencil into your diary as saloon Scottish Championships are events not to be missed.

The ORCi stock rods take top billing on the 22nd when Michael Bethune defends his title and again there should be a good turn out of cars for the occasion. The stock rod drivers will also have the Michael Hastie Memorial trophy up for grabs.

The white/yellow drivers have been racing over the year in a series of challenge races and they will line up in graded order with the top points scorers in each grade starting at the front of the grid.

Last year Daniel Scrimgeour came out on top – will he be able to defend his title? Only time will tell.

The season ends with the annual running of the UK Superbowl and with this event counting for World Ranking Points there will be a good turn out of drivers from England and Ireland as they look to improve their place on next year final grid. The formula II drivers have the James Cochrane memorial trophy up for grabs.

The following day the formula II drivers are racing for their Champion of Champions race which is open to all formula II drivers who have won a race at the Racewall and is usually quite an interesting race.

The saloons will race for their Gordon Barclay memorial trophy whilst the 1300cc saloons will contest their inaugural Scottish Championship. There are now almost 20 registered 1300cc saloon drivers so it could well be quite a race.

The track points championships also have to be decided and whilst some are close just now they may well be decided before the end of the year.

Next year looks as if it is going to be a fantastic season for the Racewall supporters. Whilst the formula II final is again on shale – this time at Coventry, the semi-finals are at the Racewall on the 5th August.

There will be a minimum of 56 cars in the pits – drivers for both semis plus the reserves and those for the domestic races so we could be looking at around 80 cars in the pits.

The formula II Scottish is on the 6 May with Dennis Middler defending whilst the F2 National will be held on 20 August.

The saloon World Final is at the Racewall this year and will be held over the weekend of the 19/20 June. The final is scheduled to be staged by the Autospeed Promotion, who over the years have enjoyed a close relationship with GMP, and they have decided to stage the race at the atmospheric Racewall. A World final at the Racewall brings out plenty of cars and spectators and it is sure to be quite a race, full of excitement and entertainment.

To date there is no news of what major stock rod championship will be staged at the Racewall and news of that should be with us shortly.

The racing is back at the Racewall this Saturday featuring the BriSCA formula IIs, the ORCi stock rods, and the 1300cc saloons whilst the prostox drivers will be contesting their Scottish Championship with the meeting starting at 6.00pm as usual.