Crash, Smash and Championship Glory? What’s Coming to United Downs This Sunday

Published On: 22 March 2025Last Updated: 22 March 2025By CornishStuff

📷 Action from the National Micro Bangers in February 2024 (Kev Tucker)

Cornwall’s First Formula Two Stock Car Meeting of the Year Hits St Day on 23rd March

Short oval racing returns to United Downs Raceway in St Day on Sunday 23rd March, kicking off the Cornish season with a packed schedule of action. The meeting begins at 12 noon and will feature the first local round of the national Formula Two Stock Car season, along with National Micro Bangers and Bangers – promising plenty of high-speed drama and hard-hitting moments.

📷Ben Borthwick – English Open Champion in 2023 (Alan Parkinson)

Voice of Autospeed Trophy Returns

Topping the bill is the Voice of Autospeed Trophy – a prestigious award created in memory of the late Bill Dalley, a legendary Stock Car racing commentator and announcer who served the sport for more than fifty years. First raced for at United Downs in 2012, the trophy features a statuette of an old-fashioned microphone on a wooden base and remains a sought-after prize among drivers.

Formula Two Stock Cars – Local Stars Line Up

Formula Two Stock Cars – single-seat machines built for speed and contact – will take centre stage with a strong showing from Cornish racers. Among them, Charlie Lobb of Wadebridge, Track Champion in 2023, is set to make his season debut after being forced out of the final round last year due to a gearbox issue during practice.

Joining Charlie on the grid will be Dale Moon of Penwithick, the Track Champion in both 2020 and 2017, and Ben Borthwick of Doublebois, who took the title in 2019. Neither have raced yet in 2025 but are expected to be in the thick of the action this weekend.

Former British Champion Steven Gilbert of South Petherwin heads into the event on the back of a strong start to his season, having claimed an impressive runner-up finish at Smeatharpe on 16th March.

📷980 Charlie Lobb of Wadebridge (Connor Minniss)

National Micro Bangers – Expect Big Hits

The National Micro Bangers class lives up to its reputation: “small cars, big crashes.” With popular choices like Vauxhall Corsas, Nissan Micras and Ford Fiestas on the track, fans can expect fast-paced, no-holds-barred entertainment.

Brandon Blight of Bodmin and Jamie Smith of Wadebridge – both known for their crowd-pleasing antics at the same event last year – are set to return, alongside Callington’s crowd favourite, Blossom Congdon. The Micro Bangers finale will be a Destruction Derby.

Bangers – Huge Entry for Season Opener

Almost 60 drivers are expected to compete in the Bangers, making it a bumper start to the season. Redruth’s Phil Chapman, last year’s Track Champion, will face off against St Dennis-based Points Champion Scott Kendall in what promises to be a thrilling set of races packed with spinning, contact and unpredictability.

The United Downs Raceway event on 23rd March looks set to deliver everything Cornish oval racing fans love – speed, noise and plenty of crashes. Racing starts at 12 noon.