THIS past Saturday saw the second and final open practice session at HRP Lochgelly Raceway prior to the first meeting this Saturday, February 28th.

An incredible 72 cars arrived for practice and the pits and the number of people at the track gave the impression that the season had started one week early!

Some fantastic machinery was on display yet again with the refurbished Superstox of Bryan Forrest and the 2.0 Hot Rod of Robbie Burgoyne catching the eye. A great day was had by all in the early spring sunshine.

This Saturday sees the 2015 season kick-off in incredible style at HRP Lochgelly Raceway as we see a mammoth five formula programme containing well over 100 cars as Hardie Race Promotions (in Association with Spedeworth Motorsports) make the change to regular Saturday night racing!

The racing will start at 6pm sharp with the youngsters taking centre stage in the Ministox. A fantastic twenty cars are currently booked in including English visitor 515 Tommy Aylward in his NEC Show car and northern visitor 033 Gareth McWilliam from Crimond. These two will join the regular HRP and GMP drivers (as well as an impressive crop of rookie drivers) on the grid for what should be a great night of racing from the junior contact formula!

The Stock Rods have been the subject of much discussion and, despite some rather spurious rumours doing the rounds, the formula looks to be in excellent health at HRP. HRP are delighted to welcome former Stock Rod multi-champion 551 Gary Butler to HRP Lochgelly Raceway this Saturday night. No doubt Gary will be looking to dial his car in for the upcoming PC Paints & Components World Championship here on June 6th but, with drivers of the stature of national points Champion 25 Siobhan Martin, British Champion 7 Andy Grant, 658 Chris Lattka and 647 Jonathan Lattka, he certainly won’t have it all his own way.

The Superstox have been one of the success stories in Scotland in recent years and with no less than seven new drivers registered for 2015 already – the formula looks to be in great health. HRP are delighted to welcome former multi-champion 51 Colin Aylward to HRP Lochgelly Raceway this Saturday night as he brings his stunning NEC Show car north for only its second outing. He will be joined on track by fellow Englishman 324 Simon Turner and one of the more regular visitors from across the Irish Sea and current Open Scottish Champion 955 Kyle Beattie. A fantastic entry of Scottish drivers sees the likes of European, Scottish and National Points Champion 177 Stuart Gilchrist, 53 David Frame, 265 Barry Stephen and 309 Bryan Forrest all taking to the track but the one to watch could be former double Scottish Champion 477 Colin Frame who is racing from blue grade at the start of the season – we don’t expect that to be the case for very long!!!

The 2.0 Hot Rods have their biggest year so far at HRP Lochgelly Raceway in 2015 as the David Philp Commercials 2.0 Hot Rod World Championship will be contested here on August 15th. The domestic drivers are headed by current Scottish and National Points Champion 71 Gordon Alexander. Drivers such as 67 Kerr Paterson and 58 Alex Wilson finished the 2014 season strongly and with 17 Kenny Purdie (pictured left) now at the wheel of a new Saxo and 900 Robbie Burgoyne looking quick last week in practice – it really is all to play for!!! The Scottish drivers will have some visiting competition this Saturday night as the 2014 Best in Britain Champion 75 Chris Crane, 186 George Turiccki and 31 Charlie Jowers lead the English challenge while former Stock Rod star 944 Derek McMIllian and current European Champion 54 Adam Hylands lead the challenge from Northern Ireland!!!

The final formula on show needs no introduction to anyone who saw their exploits in 2014. Arguably the best stock car formula on show in Scotland last year – the 1300 Stock Cars are back and BACK IN FORCE!!! With 35 cars currently booked in for this Saturday night; mayhem is pretty much guaranteed!!! 923 Chris Hamill will be joining 34 Scottish drivers on the grid including former multi-champion Fraser Clark, former Scottish champion Lee Buchan, former Best in Britain Champion Craig Haxton and a whole host of young chargers (and some not so young) as the bumpers start flying!