Legends make their Mark at Pembrey this weekend
publication date: Oct 15, 2009
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author/source: Peter Hughes
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Triple British Rally Champion and James Bond stunt driver Mark Higgins will be trying his hand at a different form of driving at Pembrey Race Circuit on Saturday. He will be competing in the UK Legends Racing Championship, a series for purpose built 5/8 scale replicas of pre-war American cars. Powered by 1250cc Yamaha motorcycle engines these lightweight machines are capable of speeds well in excess of 100mph and always produce close and spectacular racing. | |
| Originally from the Isle of Man , Mark (right) now lives near Carno in Powys.
He will be driving the car of regular Legends' racer Ben Power, 19, from
Welshpool. Welcoming Mark’s appearance at Pembrey, Ben said, “He is an incredibly talented driver and it will be great to see how he gets on in what is a very competitive series.” Fresh from victory on the recent McRae Stages Rally in Scotland , Mark commented, “Obviously, this will be a bit different from rallying but the racing in Legends always seems so incredibly close. I’m really looking forward to it.” The three races that Mark will be taking part in form just part of a packed weekend of action at Pembrey. |  |
Feature of the two day race meeting is the penultimate round of the British Truck Racing Championship. These 5.5 tonne monsters produce more than 1000 horsepower and accelerate to 60 mph faster than a Porsche 911. For safety reasons, the trucks are limited to a maximum of 100mph but the thrills come thick and fast. They share the programme with their smaller cousins in the Pick Up Truck Championship. These too are purpose built racing machines, renowned for racing door handle to door handle with no quarter asked or given. In addition to the Legends races, the weekend also sees the finals of the Welsh Sports and Saloon Championship which will see Wales ’s top race drivers battling it out for the title of champion Welsh driver. The series is currently led by Russell Haggerty in his Raw Striker sports car ahead of the Renault Clio of young Cardiff racer Nick Jones. | |
| Qualifying for the weekend’s racing begins at 9:30am on Saturday with racing from 11:30am after warm up sessions from 9:45, while Sunday’s race programme starts at 10:20 am. Admission is £12 per day with accompanied children up to 14 admitted free. Pembrey Circuit is 10 miles from junction 48 of the M4 motorway, follow the chequered arrows. | |