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Pertemps clinch UK title as Milford Waterfront win Welsh Grand Prix

John Moore on 18th July 2017

The hometown boat won the final round of the season, the championship leaders sealed the UK title and a returning driver notched up a double on an action-packed weekend at the 2017 P1 Welsh Grand Prix of the Sea.

Milford Haven’s debut weekend on the P1 calendar was awash with superb Welsh food, live music, smiling fans and great racing.

An outstanding performance on Saturday gave Milford Waterfront a resounding event lead after winning all three races on day one and a real chance to take the overall UK SuperStock title.

Their nearest rival at the end of Saturday’s racing was reigning champions Pertemps Network after they recorded three second-place finishes.

While the local team were jubilant, both Arthur J Gallagher and Spirit of Inverclyde had their day end early following technical issues during the opening race.

Arthur J Gallagher travelled to Wales without their usual driver David Taft and a frustrating Saturday didn’t help their mood, but the man behind the wheel for this weekend, John Donnelly, flew out of the blocks to win the opening race on Sunday.

Pertemps were never threatened in second place and Milford Waterfront claimed third after fighting back from a slow start which saw them round the first corner in fifth.

Experience Kissimmee were quick to get going but were then struck with mechanical problems which ended their pursuit; they resiliently went on to notch up fourth and and sixth place finishes despite the issues continuing throughout the day.

The strong performance on Sunday by Arthur J Gallagher showed no signs of slowing when they hit the front early in race five and never looked back.

Sam and Daisy Coleman in the Pertemps boat moved one step closer to taking top spot in the overall standings with another second-place finish while Milford Waterfront rounded off the top three yet again.

The last race of the 2017 UK Championship series was a tactical affair with Arthur J Gallagher once again powering into the lead, but this later proved futile as they ran out of fuel with a couple of laps remaining.

As a result of the Arthur J Gallagher withdrawal, Milford Waterfront were victorious in the finale to clinch top spot on the podium.

Spirit of Inverclyde rounded off their debut campaign in second place, their highest ever race finish, and although Pertemps finished last in the race they knew they would retain their UK SuperStock title so long as they completed the race.

An enthralling 2017 SuperStock series has come to an end with every team able to look back fondly at their achievements with a passion to come back for more in 2018.

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