Father and son Welsh racers are Legends in their own time
publication date: Jun 12, 2010
| A father and son racing team is flying the flag for
Wales in one of Britain’s top motorsport series. Nick and Ben Power from Guilsfield, near Welshpool, Powys, have formed the two-man Guttercrest Racing team to compete in this year’s CPC Legends Racing Championship. After three rounds, at Oulton Park, Brands Hatch and Cadwell Park, Ben lies 10th in the table and Nick 28th. At Cadwell, Ben was named driver of the day and achieved his first podium finish. |  |
| Ben, aged 20, made his debut in the series last year –
finishing 8th
overall and 2nd in the rookie table, having switched to the circuits
after winning the Junior Rallycross crown in 2006 and Supermodifed
Rallycross titles in 2007 and 2008. Nick is returning to competition after a 20-year absence, having competed in selected rallies in the 1990s. Legends racing has spread from the US oval tracks, and the cars have an American look, being 5/8-scale replicas of classic US models. Guttercrest Racing use identical Ford Coupe 1937 replicas, with 1250cc Yamaha motorcycle engines. The series includes Welsh events at Anglesey on July 31 – August 1 and Pembrey on August 14-15. “It’s twice the fun running two cars this year,” said Ben. “The cars are great to drive, so it’s no wonder my dad wanted to get behind the wheel again. “Although there is some variation in the body shapes, all the cars are identical mechanically, so it really comes down to the skill of the driver.” With identical cars and the fastest drivers having to start at the back of the pack, Legends Racing reputedly features more overtaking in a single race than in a whole season of Formula 1. It is no surprise the series has been a huge hit with race-goers and TV viewers, and for 2010, Eurosport and Motors TV are showing every round of the series. “I’ve enjoyed helping Ben progress over the past few years,” said Nick Power. “Now I’m enjoying racing alongside him in a family team.” Guttercrest Racing is backed by the family-owned aluminium guttering company Guttercrest, based in Oswestry. For 2010, the team has further Welsh support from Cardiff-based PR consultancy Weltch Media, as well as Ripla Designs. | |
Three-times British Rally Champion Mark Higgins is returning to the race track as part of the Welsh-based Guttercrest Racing team in the CPC Legends Championship. Higgins, who achieved further fame as a stunt driver in the James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, will join Ben Power for the day - replacing Ben’s team-mate and father Nick for round five of the series at Mallory Park in Leicestershire on Sunday June 13. Manx-born, Welsh-based Higgins has rally experience at world championship level and was voted National Rally Driver of the Year four times by readers of Autosport magazine. He made his Legends racing debut at Pembrey last season, also in a car run by the Powers. | |