THE BriSCA formula II semi-finals return to the GMP Cowdenbeath Racewall this weekend and the fans will see some close and fast racing, although there will be plenty of drivers very nervous about their starting position, writes our Racewall scribe Jim Turner.

To reach a semi-final drivers must participate in a series of qualifying rounds – each track stages one - and it is the best five scores that dictates where the drivers starts. There is the added bonus of getting five points per qualifying round so it could be possible to get onto the grid with out scoring a point!

The top 56 points scoring drivers have qualified for the semi- finals with the odd numbers paired in semi 1 and the even numbers in semi 2. However, only the top ten from each semi-final go through to the final itself and the best placed driver, who raced in a semi, in the meeting final will dictate which group starts from pole position.

Liam Bentham (Ormskirk) topped the points and as such is on pole position for the first semi-final and has also qualified for the National series to be run at the end of the season.

It was right at the end that Bentham ousted Gordon Moodie (Windygates) from the top spot although Moodie starts the semi-final 2 from pole position. Sharing the front row with Bentham is David Polley (Menae) who has a good record at the Racewall and must be classed as a favourite to win. However, sharing the front row with Moodie is Adam Rubery (Brierly Hill) and whilst he is fast has little experience around the Racewall.

In semi 1 Andrew Palmer (Peterborough) and Rob Mitchell (Colne) share row 2 whilst behind them are the British Champion Craig Wallace (Tranent) and Kelvyn Marshall (Macclesfield).

Further back is Dennis Middler (Carnoustie) and he is back on row eight. Middler will have to hope for a good clean start to the race before he starts to pick up places with only the top ten home being seeded straight through to the final.

Moodie will be looking for a good start to his semi and if he can survive the opening lap challenges should be the favourite to win. Behind Moodie is Euan Millar (Lockerbie) who has had an amazing first season in the formula IIs and with his knowledge of the Racewall must be eying up a top three finish.

Alongside Millar is Luke Wrench (Skegness) and whilst he has had a good season may struggle a bit with lack of set up for the Racewall.

The injured Chris Burgoyne (Airth) should have started from row 4 whilst the only other Scot in semi 2 is Robbie Dawson (Aberdeen) and whilst he is on row 9 he will probably be moved up to row 8 with Burgoyne being missing. Robbie has been quick around the Racewall this year and it would be no surprise to see him finish in the top ten.

It’s been sometime since the semis were held at the Racewall, 2008 in fact when the winners were Barry Goldin (Bolton) and Moodie.

Whilst the first semi-final ran reasonably smoothly, the second semi-final turned out to be a bit of a disaster with the drivers jumping the start then slowing which caused a massive pile up! However, the starter hadn’t dropped the green flag to start the race so they were given a couple of races to sort out their cars.

For the second season in a row the World Final is again on shale, this time at the Norfolk Arena, King’s Lynn, and whilst the regular shale drivers must have a slight advantage there are a few Scottish drivers who are not that out of place on a shale surface.

However, after a shunt when defending his British Championship at the Mendips Raceway at Bristol, Chris Burgoyne (Airth), who could well have been one of the favourites, will not be racing again this year after fracturing a vertebra and is now in a brace.

There looks to be a good split between drivers who nearly always race on shale and those who prefer tarmac but there are a few who score well on both surfaces.

Amongst those who do well on both tarmac and shale are Moodie, who won his World title on the shale at Mildenhall in 2006, Polley, Sam Wagner (Darlington) and Mickey Brennan (Colne) but the likes of Daz Shaw (Castleford), Billy Webster (Leeds), Rob Mitchell (Colne) and Michael Lund (Gisburn) race almost entirely on shale so will be at a slight disadvantage in the semis.

However, it has all the makings of a classic affair –a nervy one as well - and whilst the top ten in each can relax the others will have to wait for the last chance semi-final at King’s Lynn and whilst that will play into the hands of the shale drivers some of the tarmac specialists may give it a miss!

SEMI- FINAL GRIDS

SEMI 1 ROW SEMI 2

Liam Bentham David Polley 1 Gordon Moodie Adam Rubery

Andrew Palmer Rob Mitchell 2 Euan Millar Luke Wrench

Craig Wallace Kelvyn Marshall 3 Billy Webster Micky Brennan

Michael Green Mark Gibbs 4 Chris Burgoyne * Sam Wagner

Michael Lund Matt Linfield 5 Simon Farrington Jake Walker

Ben Lockwood Mark Simpson 6 Ollie Hertzog Gary Allan

Josh Coleman Tony Blackburn 7 Matt Stoneman** Mark Dorrill

Andy Ford Dennis Middler 8 Chris Mitchell Jamie Avery**

Mick Ford James Riggall 9 Robbie Dawson Leyton O’Reilly

Chris Bradbury Dan Fellows 10 Daz Shaw Sam Weston

Ollie Skells Carl Issitt 11 Matt Everard Jamie Rogers

Lee Dimmock Chris Mikulla 12 Aaron Vaight Scott Aldridge**

Lewis Geach Steve Smith 13 Lee Darby Philip Mann

Henry King Matt Clayton 14 Glen Scott** Charlie Whitfield

Reserves

Sheldon Wadsworth Tim Bailey Justin Fisher**

Carl Pilkinton Michael Wallbank Dave Massey

Nathan Maidment** Dave Harley Courtney Finniken

Antony Riley