The Trackstar race season kicks off with a bang once again with the Unlimited Bangers, as they return for the prestigious annual British Open Team Championship, more affectionately known these days at the Icebreaker.
The bookings have been strong with 30 teams set to do battle for the honours over the course of the day. Team Black ‘D’ are the defending champions, but in an unusual turn of events are not set to compete, so it looks like we are set for new winners.
Team Extreme will be looking to reassert their dominance on the event, after having a stranglehold on the title taking back to back titles for their various teams from 2018-2020. They return with two very strong line ups. The ‘A’ team features 209 Tom Waller, who had top form here at the Adrian Flux Arena across 2022, with the ‘B’ team featuring current Unlimited World Champion 388 ‘Little Stevo’ McGrath. Stevo is no stranger to victory lane here either, and will be looking to put in a strong display alongside his teammates for the day to clinch the titles and start 2023 how last year ended.
Looking at the booking list, it looks set to be a very ‘crashy’ affair, but the majority of teams boast a collection of talented drivers that have the ability to wreck and win races. The Silver Boys faction will be hopeful of taking the silverware back North-West with three strong line-ups. The ‘A’ team looks the strongest, featuring 299 Tommy Callaghan, who secured the Unlimited World of Shale Qualifying Points here last season in a solid campaign. He is joined by 455 Ricki Finney who took second place in that event, as well as 459 Blake Platts, who put in a strong display at the Halloween Carnival Night winning the 25 & Under GB Championship alongside a third place in the King of the Fens race. Completing the A team is 374 Sam Markham who was also in good form at the aforementioned meeting, coming runner-up to Blake in the 25 & Under GB Championship. With a line up like that, keep your eyes peeled on them, as it’s likely they’ll be at the business end of the points.
BRCM make a welcome return to the Norfolk shaleway. It’s not often we see the Mendips based team here at the Adrian Flux Arena, but they certainly got stuck in at this event 12 months ago, and it’s likely they’ll be in the thick of the action even more this year judging by The Predators guests this year. The Predators and BRCM crossed paths heavily at the PRI World Final down at Mendips back in September in what was an entertaining afternoon, and ‘Slim’ 178 Kieran Bowman has been busy making sure he has a strong line up to battle as well as chase some silverware. We all know Slim is capable of entertaining – the local favourite secured the Entertainers League here last year alongside the BWS Entertainers League too, as well as being voted the Caged! Entertainer of the Year, but he proved on multiple occasions he can pedal a car around the shaleway and finished third place overall in the National Points. Joining him in the ‘A’ team is a trio of very interesting guests that certainly set tongues wagging prior to the meeting. World of Shale Champion 828 Jordan Sharpe adds the comfort of knowing that some points could be added on the board, but also support won’t be far away if needed in the event of a crash. 114 Liam Lake and 341 Andrew Jones are surprise additions, but very wise ones if the battle with BRCM is to continue given their wealth of experience battling the boys in Blue & Silver. West-Country visitor 648 Jamie Smith is also a welcomed visitor, and he joins the Predators faithful in 129 Joe Skutela, 279 Brad Bowman and 595 Drew Burdett in the B team. 129 Joe Skutela was another top entertainer of the 2022 season and will be looking for more of the same again this year.
It’s great to see the Posh Wash booked in, bringing two teams to Norfolk for the day too! They’ll certainly be among the thick of the action with targets such as 114 Lakey and 341 Jonesey booked in, they could certainly be destined to go for the Predators also. 284 James Head will be reliable for points, whilst 323 Dean Kelly, the Wyatt brothers and 195 ‘Grenade Dave’ Forrest will be getting stuck in.
The Junkyard Blobs should not be overlooked; having taken third in the standings at last year’s event. 252 Gareth Griffiths was a race winner at the 2022 Icebreaker and the team will be looking to fair strongly once again.
The Dover Boys were one of the best teams collectively over the 2022 season and boast another strong line up that will either fair well in the points standings, or say stuff it and have their sights set on the entertainer awards instead. 51 James Licquorice will likely be tooled up with a Jaguar S-Type, with the one goal of hitting any boot he sees sat up. 673 Darren Fendley took the most race wins here last season, but also displayed his crashing exploits at the Micro Team meeting in December. Joining them is 116 Nat Cohn and 188 John Reeves who both have a wealth of experience that will prove more than vital on the day.
The Gladiators took second place last year and have two strong line ups once again this year. Smith pairing 549 Phil and 589 Simon know this track like the back of the hand and can certainly take some valuable points, but the whole squad can turn the heat up on the entertainment level when needed.
CrashZone were one of the emerging teams of last year having a breakthrough season with some strong appearances here at the Adrian Flux Arena including their War of the Worlds showing. The trio of 113 Lee Waller, 410 Jake Calvert and 526 Jak Denikiewicz will be looking to get in the centre of things here today.
Aftermath will certainly be among the entertainers here this afternoon, with the A team playing host to 23 Sonny Parsons, 84 Will Cole and 100 Callum White, who will waste no time in getting the front bumper stuck in. 100 Callum White came runner-up in the Caged Entertainer Award and it’s likely that he’ll get off to a strong start here today. The B team features guests of 440 Lennon Phillips and 920 Terry Church, alongside 101 Cieran Harmer, which was surely a tactical move should there have been any Black booked in. Lemon and Churchy both have the ability to score a handful of points also, so they could be a team to watch.
Wherever you look, no team should go under the radar today, with talent across the board, it’s set to be a top day!
The Unlimited Bangers are not alone, being joined by the Junior Bangers for the day. 291 Liam Waterfall will be on a high after his National Points Championship win which he clinched on the last day of the season. It will be interesting to see how things develop with 609 Levi Murkin, with the pair exchanging some heavy hits last time out. 869 Jamie Steele came through to take second place in the points standings after a very good meeting here on December 27th shot him up the order. 750 Rhys Parrin pipped 85 Jade Ellis and 515 Regan Flatters to the White & Yellows Points title earning him a rise up the grades to the reds, so it will be interesting to see how he fairs from their. Jade and Regan will be looking for a strong start today. Keep your eye out on some of the lower grade drivers too! 78 Lee Macey Jnr, 95 Dylan Gamble, 478 Morgan Bailey, 339 Jack Garrod Jnr and 556 Lincoln Douglas have all impressed on recent occasions.
We hope you have a wonderful time, as we welcome you back to the Adrian Flux Arena for what looks set, to be a top day of banger action.
