MIKE Ellicott, of Launceston, has been crowned British National Champion 2009 for cars which are in the class of "large scale off road" 1/5 and 1/6 size.

He is a sponsored driver from the HFR racing team based at Paignton. This company and race team are newly formed for 2009! The team has five drivers, all at national and international status.

The race team consists of team manager John Ellacott, Drivers Mike Ellicott (2008 regional champion, 2009 British National Champion), Ian Oddie, (Multi World Champion), Supernational winner Andy Knight (international finalist, 5th supernational), Darren Curtis (Supernational finalist 10th) and John Ellacott (8th British national championship).

Mike finished the year on maximum points (500) 5 points clear of second place, and 21 points ahead of third.

Races were at eight purpose built venues across the UK, from Helston Cornwall to Wakefield in Yorkshire. The best five of eight races are then added, on a points basis.

The cars are highly tuned and developed solely for this racing type, with hydraulic carbon disk brakes, special alloy construction, and special Oil Suspension systems. Each car is scrutineered and checked so as to match the rule book.

Each race consists of: arrival at venue on Friday or early Saturday with motorhome, set up pits, then open or and timed practice, which allows time to choose the correct tyres, compound and pattern along with setting brakes and suspension etc.

Sunday race day starts with scrutineering and drivers briefing, then the racing qualifying heats start, usually 10 to 15 minutes each with usually eight to 12 cars racing against the clock, after three to four rounds for all drivers.

Then it is the finals, which are usually 15 to 20 minutes each based on a Christmas tree system, the slowest drivers group start first with the fastest two or three drivers moving up to the next round, up to the semi-finals where the fastest five from each semi-final go through to the main 30 minute race final.

Watch out for next year as in Cornwall at Carnebone near Helston is a round of the European and International Championships held by the K.O.R.T. Raceway.