DAVID WATTS WINS THE 2025 NKRA BLUE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP
After 6 Rounds in 2025 with 4 different winners, David Watts is the winner of the NKRA FORMULA BLUE CHALLENGE.
The Final Round at Clay Pigeon tuned out, as with virtually every round this year, to be dry and fiercely competitive, with any from 5 drivers capable of winning. James Dawkins and David Watts set the scene for this final round, sharing heats wins between them. As it was, James Dawkins claimed Pole from Stuart Gray with David Watts and Billy Thomas on row two. Behind these, on row 3, sat Max Gunter and Alex Fortune. Robin Stoddart-Stones and Nigel Vickery occupied row 4 with John Hartshorne and Mike Bell bringing up the top 10.
From the lights change, James Dawkins took the lead followed by Stuart Gray and David Watts, Max Gunter managed to displace Billy Thomas for 4th. Nigel Vickery slid inside Robin Stoddart-Stones for 7th spot, whilst further back Dean Smithers was making up for disastrous heats and was up to 9th from a 14th start position. Next lap and Dean Smithers was up to 8th, then one lap later up to 7th. Meanwhile, James Dawkins had set a scorching pace shadowed by Stuart Gray with David Watts waiting to pounce on an error from the front two.
So it remained until lap six when the pressure from Stuart Gray paid off and he passed James Dawkins going into the ‘s’ chicane. Further back Dean Smithers continued his progress up into 6th place and Graham Joseph slid past John Hartshorne for 10th place.
Despite the level of pressure being applied, Stuart Gray held off the attentions of James Dawkins to win by 0.3 of a second. David Watts finished 3rd, thereby claiming the Championship title. Max Gunter came home 4th, only 0.07 seconds ahead of Billy Thomas. !
In the final outcome, David Watts wins the 2025 NKRA Formula BLUE Challenge Championship from Dean Smithers, Billy Thomas, Mike Bell and Alex Fortune.
The Master sub-class results mirrored the main class results with a win for Stuart Gray, from James Dawkins, with David Watts in 3rd. Max Gunter finished 4th from Billy Thomas on count back. In the overall results it is a Championship win for David Watts from Dean Smithers Alex Fortune and Ron Shone.
Gray dominated the Veteran sub-section, with a pole to flag win. Vickery finished 2nd from Robin Stoddart-Stones, on count back. Graham Joseph claimed 4th place, also on count, back from John Hartshorne. It is Ron Shone, however, who wins the Series by virtue of drawing upon his drop option. John Hartshorne finished 2nd overall, from Stoddart-Stones with Graham Joseph in 4th and Stuart Gray in 5th.
Stuart Gray also dominated the Legend’s sub-group’s race with a zero points tally. 2nd on the day was Robin Stoddart-Stones with John Hartshorne in 3rd. Graham Joseph finished 4th with eight points, one point ahead of Ron Shone on 9 points. Overall, it is Ron Shone who wins the year, once again by relying on his drop option. He takes the title from John Hartshorne by two points after a full year of racing ! Graham Joseph claims 3rd spot from Robin Stoddart-Stones by virtue of a better drop option.
Max Gunter won a hard fought Top Weight sub-class race, from Billy Thomas, with Alex Fortune in 3rd, Dean Smithers in 4th and Ron Shone in 5th. Overall, Dean Smithers takes the title from Billy Thomas and Alex Fortune.
For more details and results , PLEASE CLICK HERE
With the BLUE CHALLENGE now completed, the NKRA officers would like to offer their congratulation to all trophy winners, especially those who will be adding their names to the list of Championship winners !
All attention turns to the GRANDE FINALS scheduled for the weekend of September 6th & 7th at the Clay Pigeon Raceway. This will be a 2 day event with entries closing at midnight on Saturday August 30th.
TO ENTER THE GRANDE FINALS EVENT, PLEASE CLICK HERE