Tenbury Wells driver Alex Summers is the new MSA British Hill Climb Champion after securing the title in Scotland in the penultimate round, thereby enjoying a festival atmosphere at the season’s Finale held at Loton Park, near Shrewsbury, over the weekend.
Summers, aged 24, works as a prototype engineer for prestige sports car makers Aston Martin and is part of a family of hill climb racers, with brother Felix also driving, alongside parents Richard and Lindsay Summers who are regular competitors throughout the Midlands in a variety of competition cars.
Partnering Summers this year has been five-times British champion Scott Moran, of Ludlow, using the family Gould GR61X racing car, previously shared by Scott’s father Roger, who himself was national champion in 1997.
Roger commented: “We saw it as a calculated risk to allow young Alex to share our car and really had no worries as we had watched him for quite a few years so his natural talent and driving skills were never in question.
“The car, which is actually ten years old has run faultlessly all season and must be the most successful Motor Sports Association hill climb machine ever, as to date it has notched up 157 wins and six championships.
“This year Alex has demonstrated a great respect for the car, while at the same time driving in a very mature yet committed way and at his age and in the right car, I am sure that he has many more potential titles within his capability.”
Alex Summers, said: “This championship win is a dream come true for me, as having started out in karting at the age of eight, my parents have supported and funded me ever since. I am especially grateful for their commitment during this year and that of my girlfriend Debbie’s family and of course, Scott and the Moran family, all of whom I view as my own extended family.
“Previously I have been chasing the pack, but after taking the lead in the third round I have lead ever since, which puts a tremendous pressure on me as the series is such a very close and competitive one. The best drivers in the country are still fighting hard for every point, so with my own title secured I have had a fantastic weekend here at Loton Park as my fellow competitors are genuinely delighted for me.”
Since starting out in karting, Summers has competed in a Formula Ford, an OMS 2000M and latterly a DJ Firehawk, in which he set many class records. Teaming up with Scott to drive the Gould in the unlimited class, he won eight rounds outright and only missed out on a podium finish in one of the 34 championship rounds held across the UK, to secure his first title.
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