SUNSHINE FOLLOWS RAIN: Round 4 Preview
Colchester Model Car Club, Sunday 27 July 2025
Eastbourne lead Aldershot by just one point going into KOC25 RD4 this Sunday at Colchester Model Car Club. One mishap or poor team selection could flip the script again. Can Aldershot step up and keep the pressure on Eastbourne?
The series returns to Colchester’s twisty, kerb-lined track for the first time since 2023. The big blue kerbs can punish greed, and, as ever, local knowledge is hard to beat. That edge matters even more this time: the home club skipped the last round (clashing with the Iconic Cup) and arrive rooted to the foot of the Teams table with a point to prove. Expect Colchester’s six-driver squad to be hard to beat.
Teams Championship snapshot (after three rounds)
Eastbourne – 5 2. Aldershot – 6 3. West London – 10 4. Adur – 11 5. Colchester – 13
The Frontie Drivers’ Championship is even tighter. Richard Harrison and Mark Trinder are dead level on 572 points, with Mark Young not far behind. After 40 years of racing, it was interesting to note Mark Young TQ’ing a qualifying round at Colchester’s BRCA National last weekend in Touring Car, perhaps giving him an edge for KOC. However, different weather and a fresh layout mean Harrison and Trinder will still fancy their chances.
The Talent Cup and Masters titles are also finely poised. With Team Associated/CML backing raising the Talent Cup stakes, both Harry Johnson and Chloe Snashall used last weekend’s National for extra practice. Weather and layout limited any gains, but Harry heads to Essex with a four-point cushion and the stronger warm-up result. At the other end of the experience spectrum, Damian Giddins’ mission to overhaul Dave Ringsell at the top of the Masters is similarly hard to call. Ringsell knows Colchester well; time will tell whether Giddins will take an advantage from the weekend’s wet–damp–wet–dry track time.
Shout-out to Marlon McKluskey, absent this weekend after surgery. Get well soon, Marlon – we’re all looking forward to your return.
A driver perhaps praying for sunshine more than others is Ricky Copsey. Usually a nailed-on front-runner, the West London ace appeared to struggle more than most last weekend; his six-point lead over Aldershot’s Ben Cane suddenly looks fragile. With 6 scores from 10 counting, Ben Moorey, Jack Collins and Billy Fletcher could break into the championship fight with strong finishes over the final two rounds – four races – of the season. This one may well be decided in the last race at West London in September.
One championship should be wrapped up at Colchester. Although Elliot Theobald snapped Finley Harrison’s Rookies Cup streak at RD3 and could still pinch the title by winning out, Elliot appears to be absent from this weekend’s grid – meaning Finley will clinch it with any finish on Sunday. Rookie kerb-dancing remains compulsory viewing.
Weather-watchers will note a forecast of sunshine and cloud – and with only a handful of places remaining, entries close at 10 pm on Tuesday. Round 4 traditionally marks the business end of the championship, and 2025 is shaping up as the tightest fight in KOC history. Eastbourne could extend their lead, Aldershot could wrestle it back, and Colchester could blow the whole thing wide open in one perfect home round. See you trackside.
