THE final round of the Stroud Tool Hire Championship proved to be a gripping affair until the end of the last race on Saturday.

Twenty drivers booked in on a hot sunny afternoon to race on Cotswold Model Car Club's outdoor track near South Cerney.

In the Stock class, the two contenders for the title were only one point apart at the start of the day, Sam Tanner having 90 points and Andrew Mottram 89.

Andrew had mechanical gremlins during the heats, leaving Sam and Richard Johnson to fight for Top Qualifier position and an extra five points.

Sam grabbed TQ in the final heat by a margin of eight seconds to go into the final with a five-point advantage.

He kept the lead from pole position for only two laps until a stone jammed the steering, dropping him to fourth.

Richard Johnson then took and held the lead until lap 11 when a storming Andrew Mottram took over in front.

Sam clawed his way back to third spot which he held until the last lap when again suffered steering problems before finally finished fourth.

With the worst scores dropping, Sam Tanner (Schumacher Mission) claimed first place with 96pts in the Stock Class of the Stroud Tool Hire Championship with Andrew Mottram, also Schumacher Mission, in second with 94.

Closest racing this year came in the Nitro final with Ricky Mottram (Yokomo GT4) taking first place, Andrew Saunders second with his Team Associated TC3 and Doug Tanner (Yokomo GT4) in third.

First three drivers all finished on 20 laps and were separated by only ten seconds.

The Modified turned into a race between Mitchell Saunders with his Team Associated TC3 and Paul Leyfield (Tamiya TB01). Mitchell was the winner.

The Open Class final was a mixed bag of cars but Mick Nash with his two-wheel drive Thunder Tiger saw off the others. Jason Dodson was second.

The final positions in the Stroud Tool Hire Championship are as follows. Stock Class: 1 Sam Tanner 96 points, 2 Andrew Mottram 94, 3 Richard Johnson 80.

Electric Modified Class: 1 Mitchell Saunders 101, 2 Paul Leyfield 89, 3 Brian Hook 59.

Nitro Class: 1 Doug Tanner 105, 2 Brian Hook 85, 3 Ricky Mottram 85. The Cotswold Model Car Club thanks Stroud Tool Hire for sponsoring this championship and for all the help they have given the club.

Next race meeting, in Chipping Sodbury town centre this Sunday between 11am and 3pm, is part of the attractions at the eighth Chipping Sodbury Classic Run.

Please call Doug Tanner 01285 651251 for full details.