Top spot lost after high-speed crash

A dramatic high speed crash cost Newark sidecar racer Simon Horton his championship lead.

Horton, competing as part of Wintec Racing team, travelled to East Fortune, Scotland, for the penultimate round of the Pre-Injection Sidecar Championship knowing a win would cement his number one position ahead of the final round at Cadwell.

However, the event did not go as planned as the driver flipped his machine on the third lap and he dropped to second place in the standings.

Fortunately, Horton and his stand-in passenger, Brian Stepen, were able to walk away from the incident with just severe bruising.

Horton said: “We were both very lucky. The outfit was badly damaged so I am now busy stripping it down and rebuilding for the final round.”

Horton’s regular passenger, Adam Buxton, was in Mexico, which left the Newark driver depending on a stand-in passenger, who then pulled out at the last minute.

That meant Horton went to Scotland looking for a passenger as he defended a nine-point lead. Stepen filled the vacancy for the team over the weekend, but Horton said he missed his regular passenger.

“The pace was a little faster than what Brian was used to and Adam was certainly missed at this round,” said Horton.

“In hindsight maybe I should have sat this one out, but I needed to try to at least pick up a few points at East Fortune.”

Despite being without his regular team-mate, Horton qualified in sixth place, earning a third row start to the first race.

On the third lap, Horton began to build pace and went charging into the first left-hand corner.

However, the car, travelling at full speed, flew into a field and flipped over, throwing Horton and Stepen out of the vehicle.

Wintec Racing will be back to full strength for the final round at Cadwell Park on October 27 and 28.