8th June 2008

Handy Motorsport has moved into third position in the 2008 Legends Cars Championship after two frenetic race meetings at Mondello Park in Ireland.

Mondello is a short drive from Dublin and provided a different challenge for the team as Simon explains: "This was our third event of the season and we've had a lot of preperation to do beforehand. During pre season we were getting the new water cooled engine ready but that did not work out so we switched back to an air-cooled 1,200cc unit at the last round. We also had to alter the car's set up from the last round at Rockingham which is the only anti-clockwise circuit we race on in the UK. Mondello runs clockwise so that meant a little more time in the workshop than normal. It is a tight and twisty circuit with some subtle gradients and enough straights to offer several overtaking places."

Simon's races went well with all six of his race finishes being in the top ten. His team mate, the more experienced racer Stephen Treherne, scored almost exactly the same throughout the weekend. "I'm happy with that, although I am always looking for better finishes." said Simon afterwards. "The good thing was that our two KÄRCHER cars were on the podium both days - Stephen on Saturday and both of us on Sunday. It's only our third event as a two car team - I've been used to running just one car so the progress is very satisfying."

In terms of the championship standings, some 30 drivers have already scored points so far and this weekend saw another four drivers in the mix including multiple Formula Ford champion Peter Dempsey. Stephen Treherne has moved clear of arch rival Lawrence Davey into third place whilst Simon remains in seventh.

"Seventh place is still not where I want to be," says Simon. "But considering the problems we had with the new engine at the opening meeting of the season at Brands Hatch it's not too bad. The championship is mighty competitive at the moment, you only have to look at the table - the guy I am chasing in sixth place, John Higgins, is a former World Champion and also twice National Champion."