NO new record time was set at this year's Craigantlet Hill Climb, held on a testing section of the Belmont Road on the outskirts of east Belfast on Saturday, but slippery conditions meant there was plenty of spectacular action for the crowd to watch.
Rain showers and overcast conditions meant that grip and traction were a challenge for the competitors, yet Trevor Willis's winning time of 40.37 was only a little slower than the all-time record of 39.12 seconds, set last year by Scott Moran.
The event is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, both among drivers and spectators, and among those watching the hill climb were a group of Italian tourists: "We did not expect this to be so dramatic, cars sliding and the speed is just incredible," said Antonio Esposito.
As well as hosting Irish championship rounds, Craigantlet is part of the Avon Tyres/TTC Group MSA British Hillclimb Championship.
Worcester-based driver Willis, driving his 3200c OMS 28, had won the championship's first two rounds.
Despite being pipped in practice at Craigantlet by Dave Uren, Willis won the day in the fastest category.
Other highlights included Ed Hollier from Honiton in his Empire Evo Hyabusa-engined single-seater and Allan McDonald from Dalbeattie, in his incredibly fast Evo 2 based four-wheel-drive Mini. Fuelled by ethanol it recorded the fastest 64 feet time of just 1.83 seconds, with an overall best time of 49.97 seconds.
Motoring journalist David Finlay, from Helensburgh, was continuing his quest to compete in hill climbs in showroom specification production cars.
This year he brought a Lexus RC-F V8 5.0 litre saloon to Craigantlet and recorded a best time of 57.53 seconds.
We did not expect this to be so dramatic, cars sliding and the speed is just incredible
This was good enough to score a point in the British Hillclimb Championship - only the second time a showroom car has done this in the competition's 70 year history; the first time was last year, when Finlay took a Honda Civic Type R up Craigantlet...
The Millers Oils Northern Ireland Hill Climb Championship second round was full of excitement.
In the Modified Series Production car category, just 2.47 seconds covered the class, with only 1.36 seconds between second and fifth place cars.
Davy Evans from Kircubbin said: "I smashed my personal best by 4.3 seconds. Had we had a third run I would have hoped to gain another place."
In class 15 for 'all other racing cars' there was a close battle between Bangor man Chris Houston in his new 1598cc OMS-CF08 (best time of 46.53 seconds) and Richard McGimpsey from Newtownards in his 1300cc RMG BUSA (48.05 seconds).
Lee Burke from Strabane was new to the event, competing in his nut-and-bolt rebuilt 2123cc Subaru Impreza. The rebuild took a total of three years...
- The Craigantlet Hill Climb is organised by the Ulster Automobile Club and sponsored by Ballyrobert Vauxhall, Mazda and Lotus and Simon Brien Properties.
- The Ulster Automobile Club thanks the residents of the Belmont Road area: "the motorsports action could not happen without their perseverance throughout the day".
