Brett Ellacott accepts World Trophy

Brett Ellacott became the new ORC/PRI World Champion at Arena Essex on September 15 after a gruelling and punishing race which saw all but six of the forty-four starters wrecked or retired by the end. Ellacott, racing under the Autospeed banner, becomes the latest in the longest running competition of its kind, and the first non-PRI driver in a considerable amount of time to gain the title.

The race began fairly smoothly, with home driver Jason Jackson taking an early lead before the wrecking started to take its toll on the field, especially in a track-blocking pile-up at the roadway end, where Jackson was piled in by last chance winner, Phil Stevens, quite likely in the latest round of the long running banger war between their teams which was a feature of the whole meeting. As the race progressed, Ellacott sprinted ahead pursued by track mate Phil Powell who eventually was to lose second spot to the defending RJK Export Drivers' Champion, Sonny Sherwood. Powell held on to take third, with Northampton regular, John Golden, taking fourth, with Incarace's Mark Holdsworth and Buxton's Graham Heywood being the only other finishers.

There was plenty of controversy at Arena Essex as the 1300 Stock Cars met for the PRI Supreme Championship on September 15, which was won by Andy Brown ahead of a real battle between Paddy Palmer and Darren Cardy, which blew up in the race that followed as Cardy was loaded up for putting Palmer into the armco on turn one before almost rolling. Don Witherall actually did roll in the first start of the Championship final, which worked out well for the frontrunners who were all involved in a turn two pile up. Brown then worked his way forward, Darren Pratt unable to hang on to his front row advantage, though the front places were exchanged several times through the race.

The two allcomers races held later in the meeting produced wins for Paul Haralambou and Scott Hughes. Cardy, who finished the Supreme Championship in third place behind Palmer, awaits further penalties for his actions during the second race.

Andy Brown would later fail post race scrutineering, the Supreme title being passed to Andrew "Paddy" Palmer.