THE second practice session at the Cowdenbeath Racewall on Sunday saw damp conditions with the drivers faced with a slippery track, writes our Racewall reporter, Jim Turner.
Amongst the new faces was Formula 2 driver, Liam Colalucia, who was down from Crimond and Connie Anderson, from Crimond, in her Stock Rod; Ben Kerr, Norman Moore Jnr and Brian Kerr, who were almost local.
There were quite a few Formula 2 drivers at the track with Liam Rennie bringing both his tarmac and shale cars.
Whilst the other cars looked on a par, with Peter Watt was marginally faster than the others.
There were five Saloon cars at the track including Darren Rae, who had raced at King’s Lynn the previous evening.
Craig Warner was back in action with seemingly the misfire cured and turned out some quick laps.
Fastest though was Barry Russell who looked at home in the conditions, and towards the end was hanging the car's tail out as if he was on shale!
Connie Anderson was having her first run in the ex- McAllister Stock Rod and apart from a 'moment' early on was neat and tidy.
George White was back for another run and again ran well. Both Cammy McDonald and Lee Smart, in his new car, looked good.
Whilst the top drivers, Michael Bethune and Jamie Dawson were in a class of their own and made light of the conditions.in the Prostock Basics, Ben Kerr and Norman Moore Jnr were making their debuts along with Kevin Nicol, who won at the winter meeting.
There was a good turn out of the ORCi Ministox and it looks as if they are going to have a strong season.
The quickest were Ollie Sime, Sean Boyle, Ben McLellan and Bailey Wilson, but Mason Howe and Jamie Balfour were just a tad slower.
Newcomers Cody Wilson and Oakley Sime were getting the feel of a greasy surface, whilst Zola Paterson was trying out her new car.
In the Micro F2s, Rogan Richards and Evah Adsley adapted to the conditions quickly, and were by far the quickest of those at the track and Jaxan Moore and Jaydyn Wilson showed a good turn of speed which angers well.
The first half of the stock car season in Scotland looks to be a promising one with the British Championships for Saloons and Ministox grabbing the headlines.
Mind you the Formula 2 drivers have three World Championship qualifying rounds to contest - all within a short time frame which will also see their Supreme Championship and the prestigious Scottish Championship decided.
The Banger drivers have their World Cup up for grabs where the Scottish drivers will be hoping to make it three wins in a row.
The Stock Rod drivers have their European Championship at the Knockhill Trioval, and the National Championship at the Racewall the following day!
The first of the major titles up for grabs is the National Banger World Cup, which will be run in May.
After a long time without a win, Sean Riddell then Cameron Innes were the victors in successive years. Can the Scottish drivers make it three wins in succession?
Later that month it's the Stock Rod drivers who are the headliners with Jamie Dawson out to defend his title at the Trioval.
It is going to be a busy time at Knockhill with no fewer than seven different formulae in action.
Making their racing debuts at the Trioval will be the Senior and Junior StoxKarts, the Modstox as well as the Micro F2 drivers.
The following day it’s over to the Racewall where the Stock Rods have their National Championship up for grabs whilst the StoxKart and Modstox drivers have Scottish Championships to decide.
Within a month there is another two day meeting, both at the Racewall, where the Saloons and ORCI Ministox drivers have a British Championship to contest.
Luke Dorling will be hoping to defend his title but the home drivers will be keen to keep the title in Scotland.
The last home driver to be the British Champion was Stuart Shevill Jnr back in 2022.
However, it is going to be an exciting affair with the Raymond Gunn Tribute race the main event on the Sunday.
Don't expect the ORCi Ministox drivers to let the Saloon drivers take the headlines though with Mason Sealy the present holder of the titled version with the Keir Millar Memorial Trophy their target on the Sunday.
Also in action that weekend are the National Ministox, who have their Scottish Championship on the Sunday.
It will be interesting to compare both the Ministox Formula over the weekend.
Then the Formula 2s take over with three World Championship qualifying rounds within a week.
The first is at Knockhill on the June 24, a Wednesday night with the winner of the final also picking up the Supreme champion - a title presently held by Charlie Guinchard.
On Saturday the drivers head up to Crimond for their qualifying round where the final is also for the F2 Challenge Trophy with Paul Rice the present holder.
The ORCi Ministox drivers will be deciding their Scottish Championship as well!
The following day the drivers are at the Racewall to complete the hat trick of qualifying rounds with this time the final doubling up with the Scottish Championship with Liam Rennie the defending champion.
A strong three days racing by any driver will almost certainly give him a top three grid place in one of the semi-finals.
Not only do the Formula 2 drivers have their 'Scottish' to decide but so too do they Saloons, where Graeme Shevill would like nothing better than to retain his title.
What a way to bring the curtain down on an exciting first half of the year and whet your appetite for the second part which starts towards the end of July.
This year both the Formula 2 and Saloon World Finals are to be held at the Northampton Shale track and over the same weekend.
What a way to bring the curtain down on an exciting first half of the year and whet your appetite for the second part which starts towards the end of July.
The season gets underway at the Cowdenbeath Racewall next Saturday evening featuring the Formula 2s Saloons, Ministox and Prostock Basics with the meeting getting underway at 6.00pm as usual
The opening Formula 2 World Championship qualifying round was run on the shale at King's Lynn on Saturday and attracted a big turn out of cars. Amongst them were Scottish drivers Gordon Moodie and Chris and Steven Burgoyne.
The heats were won by Charlie Guinchard, Toby Partridge and Martin Jones, with Ant Riley coming out on top in the consolation heat.
Joshua Wilson then won an action packed final and whilst Moodie was again seventh but S. Burgoyne wasn't classified.
Kyle Taylor then won the Grand National but none of the Scottish drivers were classified.
The Saloon drivers were racing for the Charlene Kingston Memorial Trophy which was won by Billy Smith.
Darren Rae was the only Scottish driver and whilst he finished all his races failed to record a top ten finish.
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