Weekend of hovercraft racing not just hot air

Claydon House will be playing host to the British Hovercraft Championships on the weekend of July 19 and 20.

The house has been a venue for the sport for several years and over 70 of the country’s top pilots will be there for two days of racing.

The craft, some of which are capable of speeds up to 80mph, will race over the combined land and water course.

Thrills and spills will be bound to occur during the close racing as the craft have no brakes and collisions, although frowned upon, are inevitable.

The craft are classified into five classes with power outputs ranging from 35 to over 200 british horsepower and weighing less than 200 kilos in race trim.

Drivers will range in age from the 14 year old juniors to over 70 years old.

Among the local drivers are Kevin Thomas, from Bicester. He will compete in the formula 35 class.

Les Bran from Banbury will also compete but whether it is in a new 200-plus horse power Formula 1 machine or the Formula 2 machine he has been using for the earlier rounds this year remains to be seen.

Macyla Greaves, from Aylesbury, will double up her duties as deputy race director with racing and will share her craft with her daughter Honor.

There will be 14 races per day for the five classes, junior races and all action open races where qualified drivers will compete in craft of all classes

Practice starts at 10am on the Saturday with racing from 11am to 5pm.

There is an earlier start on the Sunday with practice from 10am and racing from 11.30am to 4.30pm.

Entry is £5 per person and £15 per car.

The organisers say they are hoping for two exciting days of racing.