Changeable track conditions and poor tyre choice meant a disappointing Easter Monday for our hot rod racer Mark Shelper.
Bristol-based Mark could only finish in the minor placings at Ipswich yesterday (Monday 10 April) after struggling with his Peugeot 206cc on a wet track in practice.
“We couldn’t get the car working in the wet at all in practice, and the heats changed loads but it really wasn’t very good at all. 
“The track dried out for the final, but we went the wrong way a little as we only put two slicks on the outside. The car was much better, but then the inside wet-weather tyres overheated and lost grip again”.
Overall, though, it was a very successful (and high-mileage) weekend for Mark, with three big-scoring races at Skegness on Good Friday.
The Weltch Media logo has been on Mark’s Peugeot 206cc since the start of last season, continuing our long-standing involvement in motorsport. In the past we have supported Ben Power in the UK Legends Car Championship and James Holman in the Irish Championship. We’ve also backed James in several online iRacing events, and in 2018 we teamed up with Mendips Raceway to present the Weltch Media West of England Hot Rod Championship.
Team Shelper Racing is sponsored by the Injection Centre, JB Racing, Elite Racing Transmission and Woodfield Stables.
Mark made headlines in 2022 by being the only driver from the South West to qualify for the world championship final. He is hoping to repeat the feat this year by finishing in the top 16 in the English points table.
National hot rods are the top level of short track racing in the UK, with sophisticated lightweight production car replicas producing around 240bhp.
Photos: Mark’s Peugeot (788) in action at Ipswich yesterday by Martin Kingston
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