After what seems like an eternity, the start of the new grass track racing season has finally arrived, and what a thriller it promises to be! On Sunday, April 13th, Ledbury MCC will host the Herefordshire Grand Prix event at Sparrington Farm, Pencombe, HR7 4SL. This 2025 opener has attracted a truly super entry and will include racing for GT140, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, Upright and Pre-75 solos, along with 500ccc and 1,000cc Right-Hand sidecars.
Words and Images by Mike Wood
Indeed, the entry for that 1,000cc sidecar class is totally full, with 24 crews ready to lock horns and do battle for the Tony Brown Challenge Cup and some tasty prize money. Just about the only star missing is the current holder of the cup with Mark Cossar still recuperating following an injury sustained at the 2024 Masters event. This promises to be one hell of a contest as Britain’s best attempt to lay down an early marker for the campaign ahead!
In the 500cc chairs, the 2024 ACU British Championship 2nd and 3rd place finishers, Josh Goodwin/Scott Goodwin and Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb, both start at Ledbury. They will be joined by Shaun Hughes/Louis Bennett, making a very welcome return following a lengthy injury layoff, Barrie Bennett/Rowan Lucas, Michael Skelding/Louis Skelding and Nick Bull/Nathan Alder.
Moving over to the 500cc solo’s and what a contest this also promises to be! The spectacular Chad Wirtzfeld, Alfie Bowtell, Jack Roberts, Cameron Taylor, Luke Harris, Daryl Ritchings, Arran Butcher, Ryan Ashcroft and the experienced Martin Williams are just some of the stand-out names. That 500cc entry also had a late inclusion, with James Wright now confirmed as a starter. Derbyshire-based Roberts also goes in the 350cc event where the likes of Max Derrick, Max Broadhurst, Liam Ashcroft, Barry Powell, Dave Mears and Steve Garside, having recovered from a 2024 knee injury, provide the challenge.
2024 ACU Intermediate Youth Champion Thomas Vining will make his adult racing debut at the Ledbury event as he lines up in a stacked 250cc entry. With the experienced Graham Thomas and Timothy Greig also coming under starter orders, it certainly looks like being a very interesting baptism of fire for the young and very talented Vining. The likes of Jake Breeze, Austin Riches, Aidan Arthur and Shane Knight, amongst others, have also thrown their names into the hat for Sunday’s 250cc class.
Double ACU GT140 Champion Ian Clark certainly looks like the man they will all have to beat in the race for glory at the Ledbury opener. Wayne Broadhurst, 2nd, Mark Chessell, 3rd and Luke Wicks, 4th in last year’s ACU British Championship, will also be in attendance and on the start line with a whole host of other top GT140 pilots looking to make a winning debut to their 2025 season. In this class, along with the regulars, there’s going to be one very interesting addition as the very experienced multiple ACU British Champion Tony Atkin makes his GT140 debut. Tony will also be competing in the Ledbury Upright solo’s class, whilst ten Pre-75 solos complete a busy race programme.
So, get along to Sparrington Farm where the scene is set for a super Herefordshire Grand Prix.
Admission costs are £15 for Adults, £12 for Concessions and for Under 16’s its FREE. Sunday’s practice is due to commence at 10.30am, with the first heat in the programme scheduled to blast off at 11.30am. And there’s an extra bonus for you grass track supporters with not only camping being available from Friday 11th to Monday 14th but also the Formula Grass track Club will be using the Pencombe venue to host their own first event of 2025 just 24 hours before the main meeting. For that one, the first race is due off at 1pm.
