The GKC GP Plate took place at Boyndie Drome Circuit on Sunday 14th June, attracting another superb entry of 75 drivers from across Scotland.
The headline event was the 45th running of the prestigious Granville Grubb Memorial Trophy, a 20-lap Gearbox spectacular that brought the meeting to a thrilling conclusion.
The event also marked a significant milestone for Grampian Kart Club with the introduction of new digital flag panels around the circuit and a giant driver information display overlooking the start/finish straight-another major investment in improving safety and the race experience at Boyndie.
Drivers faced damp conditions during the morning, with the circuit steadily drying throughout the day to produce challenging but exciting racing across every class.
Bambino (6-8 years) - Sponsored by FJB Contracts
Walter Forrest made another trademark flying start to establish an early lead, but Regan Abercrombie quickly broke clear of the chasing pack and set about closing the gap.
Abercrombie reeled Forrest in before making the decisive move on the penultimate lap to snatch victory. Zak Macdonald completed the podium after moving ahead of Rio Lawrence in the closing stages.
1st – Regan Abercrombie (Stirling)
2nd – Walter Forrest (Rothienorman)
3rd – Zak Macdonald (Kelso)
Top Novice: Rio Lawrence (Inverurie)
Honda Cadets (8-12 years) - Sponsored by AB51 Carbon Clean
Bruno Simonelli led from the outset with Jack Thomson and Aron Hawcutt tucked in behind. The leading trio quickly edged away from the chasing pack, with the gaps between them remaining remarkably consistent throughout the race.
Simonelli produced a composed drive to claim victory ahead of Thomson, while Hawcutt completed the podium. George Macdonald headed the chasing group in fourth.
1st – Bruno Simonelli (Dingwall)
2nd – Jack Thomson (Glenrothes)
3rd – Aron Hawcutt (Rothienorman)
Top Novice: Lewis Miller (Leven)
Micro Max (8-12 years)
James Strath led the opening lap before Benjamin Finlay swept into the lead on lap two. From there, Finlay steadily built an advantage and crossed the line over four seconds clear of the field.
Strath secured second while Lucas Sebright rounded out the podium after another consistent performance.
1st – Benjamin Finlay (Leven)
2nd – James Strath (Anstruther)
3rd – Lucas Sebright (Edinburgh)
Top Novice: Lucas Sebright (Edinburgh)
Inter Max (10-13 years)
Hamish Gordon converted pole position into an early lead and steadily increased his advantage throughout the race to claim a dominant eight-second victory.
Behind him, Aarryn Rigg initially headed the chasing pack before Louis Pyper produced a late charge, climbing from fifth to second over the closing laps. Callum Miller completed the podium after another strong drive.
1st – Hamish Gordon (Leslie)
2nd – Louis Pyper (Inverness)
3rd – Callum Miller (Greenlaw)
Mini Max (10-13 years)
Misfortune struck before the start for Harry Shaw, whose race ended before it began with a broken throttle cable.
Following first-lap incidents elsewhere, novice Ryan Shaw emerged in front ahead of Oliver Bird, Douglas Craighead and Archie Bruce. The leading quartet remained nose-to-tail throughout the race, with Shaw gaining time through the faster sections while Bird clawed it back under braking.
The four drivers crossed the finish line covered by just half a second, with Shaw holding on for a superb maiden victory by only three tenths of a second.
1st – Ryan Shaw (Fraserburgh)
2nd – Oliver Bird (Daviot)
3rd – Archie Bruce (Aberdeen)
Top Novice: Ryan Shaw (Fraserburgh)
Junior Max (10-13 years)
Lewis Stewart led away from William Alexander, James Darling and Cruz Strachan before an incident in the infield brought out the red flags. Following medical attention to the driver involved, the race restarted behind a slow single-file formation.
Stewart quickly re-established control after the restart, while Alexander dropped down the order. Darling inherited second and David Hiorns climbed onto the podium after an excellent recovery drive. Strachan, Kayden Thomas and Sophie Ingram completed the top six.
1st – Lewis Stewart (Conon Bridge)
2nd – James Darling (Moffat)
3rd – David Hiorns (Tillicoultry)
Senior Max 162 (16 years+) - Sponsored by Murray Motors Fraserburgh
Jemma Hiorns led the opening laps from Mya Simpson and Jonathan Edwards before Edwards worked his way into second on lap five.
The battle for victory came alive in the closing laps as Edwards caught Hiorns and passed her at Pit Corner, only for Hiorns to fight back immediately along Boyndie Straight. Edwards wasn’t finished though, reclaiming the lead later in the lap before holding off Hiorns and Simpson in a thrilling finish, with the top three covered by just 1.4 seconds.
1st – Jonathan Edwards (Cornhill)
2nd – Jemma Hiorns (Tillicoultry)
3rd – Mya Simpson (Dundee)
Top Novice: Leon Calder (Invergordon)
Senior Max 177 (16 years+)
Chris Waddell was untouchable in the 177kg class, pulling clear to take a commanding ten-second victory.
Ashton Lee Foubister secured second with Martin Stephen completing the podium ahead of returning driver Bryan Morrison.
1st – Chris Waddell (Falkirk)
2nd – Ashton Lee Foubister (Fraserburgh)
3rd – Martin Stephen (Mintlaw)
Granville Grubb Memorial Trophy
Ally Smith made the perfect getaway to lead Alex Hawcutt, Ryan Simpson, Robert Strachan, Neil Anderson and Ross Greig into the opening lap. Hawcutt looked set to challenge before retiring with mechanical problems on lap six, promoting Simpson into second and Strachan into third.
Smith controlled the race from the front to secure another impressive victory, while Greig finished fourth ahead of Keiran Smart and Duncan Ingram.
1st – Ally Smith (Peterhead)
2nd – Ryan Simpson (Banff)
3rd – Robert Strachan (Turriff)
Granville Grubb Memorial Trophy
The 45th Granville Grubb Memorial Trophy featured a reversed grid from the earlier Gearbox final grid and produced one of the races of the season.
Robert Strachan launched brilliantly from the start to lead the opening lap ahead of Duncan Ingram, Gary Scott, Keiran Smart and Ally Smith. Smith worked his way into second by lap four, but by then Strachan had already built a five-second advantage.
Alex Hawcutt stormed through to third before Ryan Simpson also joined the fight at the front. Despite Smith relentlessly closing the gap in the closing laps, Strachan held his nerve under intense pressure. A slight coming together at Kevin’s on the final lap wasn’t enough to stop the Turriff driver from taking a memorable victory and lifting the famous Granville Grubb Memorial Trophy.
1st – Robert Strachan (Turriff)
2nd – Ally Smith (Peterhead)
3rd – Ryan Simpson (Banff)
Full race results can be found on Speedhive.
Podium celebrations took place outside the clubhouse, complete with the traditional bubbly spray.
Grampian Kart Club now looks ahead to one of the biggest events of the season as the Scottish Karting Championships arrive at Boyndie Drome on 18-19 July.
Press release : Alan Wyness (GKC Press Officer)
Photography : Gilles Gardner – view gallery
