Lee Fairhurst 217 with borrowed gold roof and World Champion trophy at Northampton. Photo Colin Casserley

Lee Fairhurst (#217) has won the battle for the Gold Roof and taken the title of BriSCA 2012 World Champion creating history in the process by being the first driver ever to achieve the feat from dead last on the grid.

Fairhursts taking of the crown is even more astonishing when consideration is made for the fact that he didn’t even qualify for big race itself through the normal route.

Luck was not on Fairhursts side during his semi-final at Birmingham back in July, where despite leading for many laps, a hit from Frankie Wainman Jnr (after a yellow flag had bunched up the grid) caused his fuel tap to close, ending his chances of a seeded grid spot for the World Final.

Lee was forced to the last chance World Consolation, the first race on track at the Skegness World Final night, where despite his best efforts he only managed 3rd place. Only the top two drivers from the Consolation get the final two places on the World Final grid, effectively making Fairhurst the First Reserve for the World Final should any other driver not make it to the grid.

Lee Fairhurst 217 on the pre-World Final parade lap. Photo Colin Casserley

Roll on World Final time, and as the drivers came out on track to form the Championship grid, Lee Fairhurst (217) for the second year in a row made it into the World Final as ‘First Reserve’ as father Derek had engine trouble.

On to the big race itself and as many people predicted, the race did not get under way without incident. A massive pile up into turn one brought the race to an immediate halt, with the promoters choosing to give all drivers 15 minutes to repair their cars as best they could, before the race was re-gridded for a complete restart.

A full race report will appear on F1stockcars.com later in the week breaking down the action packed race.

Lee Fairhurst 217 celebrates winning the World Championship 2012. Photo Colin Casserley

Final podium positions were:
1st – Lee Fairhurst (#217)
2nd – Dan Johnson (4) – started from the back end of the grid having qualified from the World Consolation
3rd – Frankie Wainman Jnr (#515) – started on pole position

6th – Ron Kroonder (H217) – highest placed overseas competitor

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